I say beginner because that's what i am, not to imply that i necessarily want something cheap or entry level. If this becomes a 'thing' for me i'd rather be stuck with something i'll like. No particular price range in mind. I'll pay a little more if it bumps the quality but would be perfectly happy spending less if it'll be in the same ballpark performance wise. Probably pick up a pair of whatever as my father will be going with me. So, that said what am i looking for?

If this has been covered before i'm perfectly happy with links . Thanks in advance.

Go to the saltwater section here and click on inshore fishing, the first link has lots of good basic information

You have different choices. As far a rod length goes. I have 13 and 15ft rods. A good entry level rod is the Okuma the ugly stick is good and strong but it is heavier. I say go feel them out and see what length your comfortable with. Reels thats also preference. I like spinning reels easier to clean. I have a penn battle and a daiwa5500 its big, a quantum smoke,penn is cheaper and works just as good depends what you are going after. Hope that helps.

Yep! I know Okuma makes nice bass gear for the $, i will check them out. Really going for anything that bites. I've caught big drum in the surf but a friend of mine has been doing well on sharks, wouldn't mind catching one of those.

My whiting rig is 7-7.5' rod with a 4000 series shimano reel loaded with 12lb mono. 12" 20-30lb fluoro leader on a Carolina rig with enough weight to keep it in place. Depends on current. One Oz pyramid work in most cases. #1 circle hook baited with a thumb nail size piece of FRESH dead shrimp. You can also do a double drop with 2 hooks. Don't let the small hook fool you. It will catch the larger fish as well. Wade out, fish between the bars and hold your rod. In a rod holder you will be baitless in no time this time of year.

You would be amazed what you catch just standing on the water line and casting out as far as you can, tons of various species.

I usually like to toss out two rods minimum, one longer one 9 or 10 foot or longer with a #1/0 to 3/0 hook and a big chunk of cut bait, that one would stay in a sand spike, line is usually 15 to 30lb mono, although I do like 20 to 40lb braid better, get longer casting distance. The longer the rod the better, I personally have back problems, so anything longer than 10 feet give me fits.

The second rod is usually smaller 7 to 8 foot, with a hook ranging from #4 to #1/0 with a small amount of shrimp on it. That's the one you use for "feel fishing".

Those are circle hooks BTW, all I use.

also try to Google it.

Let's do this right the first time... We should create a "Beginner" Forum...Place all the stickies in this forum and let others contribute as well, then add... What do you think? I agree with Pferox... Let's not clutter up the first page or two. Thoughts/comments?

http://www.basspro.com/Offshore-Angler-Power-Plus-Rods-Spinning-Rods/product/30663/ (15fter)
http://www.academy.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_10051_106163_-1__?N=273169066 (8000) or alittle better is
http://compare.ebay.com/like/22125132992...gsi=y&cbt=y
>100 for a solid cheap set up

I agree, I use the Offshore Angler Power Plus rods, they are relatively inexpensive and quite strong.

I also use Penn Pursuit reels, a diamond in the rough when it comes to lower end reels.

BTW, the link in my siggy is a great place to get all the different styles of surf weights you need, he is a good guy and is very helpful in choosing the weights you will need.

Look him up after you decide on your rods and what the lure weights for each rod is.

This is going to come off bad, i can tell, please bare in mind it's probably just ignorance on my part. But, i would never spend $20-$30 on a bass rod and expect to get something good. I grasp (i think) that a surf rod stands much less to lose from a weight/sensitivity standpoint in going to a cheaper alternative seeing as i don't have to hold the thing. But is it worth it to spend another $80 or so on something? My perception is (coming from my given fishing background) that theres a lot of good choices in the $100 range that i would consider significantly better than something in the $40 (all-star original) range, where in the grand scheme of things, considering it'll cost me a tank and a half of fuel just to get there and back, an extra couple bucks wouldn't amount to too much. I hate to say I 'want' to spend more money, because i don't, but like i said that is just my perception that i will be getting something of a significantly better quality.


Also, i have had a few beers and realize that was long winded

Well, I dunno, never had a fish tell me "I'm not going to hook up on you because you have inexpensive gear".

Throw away that bass fishing mind set and get into the reality of Salt Life, otherwise Garry Dobyns is gonna get rich off you just in broken rods.

Ugly Sticks, are top of the heap in the salt world, not many bass fisherman would even be seen with one of them in their boat. I know, I fished bass in central Florida and was wound up in all the newest, best, hype carp. Million modulus and 50lb black drum don't mix, no matter how you stir it.

AND, my all star rods have brought in a whole lot of slots reds and spots in the flats, and are still going strong.

We're trying to tell you how to get the biggest bang for your buck. You asked for beginner gear, and we are telling you.

The best wade gut rod is a $20 Shakespear Tiger spinning combo, fish the reel until it dies and then throw on a Penn 4000, any one you want to put on, but I will tell you those expensive metal reels get pretty heavy after holding it for 5 or 6 hours.

When you talk surf fishing you are going to be putting reels into some of the worst conditions imaginable, salt water (they get dunked), sand (they get dropped or set down) that reel better be sealed, or easy to tear down and clean and lube after every trip.

I don't use a "little smear of grease" on my reels, they are packed, because if they are packed full of grease water can't get in.

Until you learn how to handle gear in this kind of environment, I strongly suggest you hold off on the expensive gear, because it sure hurts when that $150 dollar reel gets dunked and freezes in a matter of minutes because sand got into the continuous anti-reverse. While I am fishing away with my old ratcheting anti reverse in water almost over my head.

Hope this didn't come across wrong, but this is a salt water reality check.

^^^ Have to agree. Surffishing should be inexpensive. I took the penn pursuit 5000 and put it on my FTU surf rod great combo for under 100 I can pull in anything except for a shark no problem. Plus if it happens to get dunked I'm not pissed my $200 reel is in the surf, or I broke my $200 rod. Higher end rods feel better but other then casting I'm not holding a surf rod allday. I say the Okuma is lighter than the ugly, only because i had shoulder surgery and its a little easier on me casting a couple rods.