Fishing Rods Australia

Whether you are looking for your very first rod or a new addition for a growing collection of fishing rods, you need to think carefully about what you expect from your new rod before you lay down your money.

Modern anglers have a wide variety of equipment to choose from, which is fantastic news, but it does mean we need to do a little more research before investing in a new rod than perhaps our fathers or grandfathers did. With this in mind, we thought it would be a good idea to write a concise guide to choosing a new rod, in the hope that it will make the task a little easier for our customers.

As you can see, we have hundreds of fishing rods for sale in our online store, so a primer is sure to come in handy, especially for those of you who are looking to buy fishing rods for the very first time. Our guide is written in the form of a FAQ as we thought the best way to help our customers buy fishing rods online and, would be to answer all of the most important questions we get asked frequently.

Let’s Get Started!

We are going to start by looking at the various types of freshwater and saltwater fishing rods currently available, then consider factors such as length, and ease of use, before offering some general tips on how to shop for fishing rods online.

What Are the Main Types of Fishing Rods for Sale in Australia and Which One Is Best for Me?

The best way to narrow down your choices when you want to buy a fishing rod online is first to consider the different types that are available and which ones are likely to suit the style of fishing you enjoy.

Fly Fishing Rods – Often used for freshwater sport fishing to catch trout, bass, carp and many other species however can be used for saltwater fishing too in the right WF class. As you probably already know, fly fishing involves casting a lightweight lure into the water, imitating the insects or baits on which fish feed.

To be able to cast efficiently and over a reasonable distance, you need a lightweight rod that bends and flexes. Lines used with fly fishing rods are also lightweight, to allow the light lures to pull the line after them as they are cast into the water. If you are interested in learning how to fly cast and fish, a fly fishing rod is an essential purchase.

Baitcasting Rods – The first thing you will notice about baitcasting fishing rods is that the reel gets mounted on top of the rod, not underneath. This allows more of the weight of the fish to be transferred to the rod, putting less stress on your line.

Baitcasting reels are designed to increase casting distance and give you greater control over where your bait lands when you cast, making them a good choice for more experienced anglers.

Because of the improved casting accuracy and the ability to transfer stress from the line to the rod, baitcasting fishing rods are a good choice when fishing for barramundi, mangrove jack, fingermark, murray cod, queenfish and other large species. They are commonly used by saltwater anglers but are also popular with freshwater anglers who target larger species.

Spinning Rods – These are the most popular type of rods for beginners and with good reason. With good quality spinning rods, you can practise both lure casting and bait fishing, making them a versatile choice for less experienced anglers who have yet to refind their fishing skills. Spinning rods are not just for beginners; they have their purpose for veteran anglers who want a versatile rod whether fishing flesh baits, soft plastic lures, hardbody or spinners.

You will notice that the reel is mounted under the rod with spinning fishing rods, which can provide a reduced cast accuracy compared to a baitcaster. However, beginners find the spin reels easier to manage, so if you have tried a baitcaster and ended up with too many bird’s nests on your line, a spinning rod could be a good choice for your next purchase!

Surf Rods – Whether you are shopping for fishing rods in Perth, Sydney, Brisbane or Darwin, you are sure to come across a fair selection of surf rods on your travels. Surf fishing is popular in all coastal areas of the country, which is why so many fishing rods in Australia are of this type.

As you can guess from the name, this type of rod is designed for fishing off beaches: either standing on the shoreline or wading in the surf itself. Surf fishing rods are constructed to be able to take the weight of the heavy tackle needed to land big sports fish that venture close to the shore and are made from materials with superior anti-corrosion properties.

Typically surf rods range from 9 to 15ft in length. These longer lengths allow you to cast further, generally beyond the breakers. However, some parts of Australia feature relatively sheltered beaches with little swell. In this case, you can use much shorter rods if desired.

If you’ve never spent the day fishing on the beach, you don’t know what you’re missing. Buy a surf rod today and join the rest of us!

Rock Fishing Rods – A rod of between 8 feet and 10 feet in length is typically a right choice for rock fishing. You can still use a rock rod for surf style fishing, but due to a rock rods shorter length in comparison to most dedicated surf models, you generally achieve more control for spinning with lures.

You will find many fishing rods in Brisbane, Perth, Sydney and other coastal cities that are designed for rock fishing and, of course, right here in our online store. For the newcomer, it can be quite hard to know what type of rock fishing rods are going to be the best choice for you when you first start out. Please do not hesitate to get in touch with us if you need a hand picking out the right one.

Sea Fishing Rods – Sea fishing rods in Sydney, Perth, Brisbane and other coastal cities are available in several different styles, such as spinning rods for boats, game fishing rods for boats and overhead rods for boats.

Game fishing and overhead rods are much heavier and much more robust than most inshore fishing rods as they are designed to handle the weight and aggressiveness of big game fish such as black marlin, tuna and sailfish.

Compared to game rods, Boat Spinning rods designed for offshore saltwater angling are typically lighter, as you would expect. However, they are still made from high-quality materials that will suit a myriad of offshore fish species from the surface to the reef.

If you would like to try sea fishing (and we seriously recommend that you do!) before investing in one of the sea fishing rods for sale on our site, you can charter fully-equipped boats with guides in many different parts of the country.

Jigging Rods - Here at the fishing tackle shop, we also sell a fantastic range of jigging rods, which make the best choice when fishing with vertical or butterfly style jigs offshore from your boat. However, this style of rod can serve as a bit of an offshore allrounder as they will also suit general bottom reef fishing and basic trolling off the back of your boat too.

Squid Fishing Rods – If you haven’t tried your hand at squid jigging yet, the first thing you will need is one of our squid fishing rods. Strong and tough, these saltwater fishing rods are designed to withstand the constant jerking motion that is employed to make your lure (or jig as they are called in the squid fishing world) imitate the swimming action of a prawn.

Specialist rods have shock-absorbent tips, which should make it easier to land the squid that you hook. You can find squid fishing rods in Hobart, Adelaide, Sydney and anywhere else that squid jigging is popular. Still, for the best value for your money or quality, we recommend choosing one of the several squid fishing rods for sale in our online store.

River and Lake Rods - Generally this style of fishing commands the use of shorter rods which are easier to manage and control. This is especially true when using lures such as soft plastics, blades or small hardbody lures.

In our experience, we find the best selling and most commonly sought after length for fishing Australia’s lakes and rivers to be 7 foot in length.

With the most popular length addressed, we then need to look at line class and what you are targeting. Across Australia, some notable and common fish species in lake and rivers include the likes of bream, flathead, perch, trout, whiting, Australian bass among a myriad of other light sport species. Our suggestion when browsing through or range of river and lake fishing rods for sale is to ideally keep a keen eye out for a rod which sports appraised line ratings anywhere from 2Kg through to 5Kg.

When we get into to heavier lake and river category for fish species such as murray cod, barramundi or mulloway, our suggestion is to look for a rod that has a rating of 6kgs plus. Commonly a 6-10kg rating is ideal for the most part of targeting larger than average saltwater or freshwater estuary species.

That concludes our look at the main types of rods you are likely to come across, whether you are shopping for fishing rods in Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne, Sydney or anywhere else in Australia where angling is allowed. However, there are two more types of rod, which may also fall into one or other of the categories above, which we feel deserve an honourable mention:

Telescopic Rods – This type of rod is unlikely to be anyone’s primary rod, but they are convenient for packing away in an overnight bag or suitcase when you think you might have time to get a little fishing in while you are on holiday. The other great thing about telescopic rods is that they are typically very cheap when compared to most other types of rod so they can be an excellent choice for parents who would like to get their kids interested in fishing.

Travel Rods – Telescopic rods could also be classed as travel rods. still,with this category, we are referring specifically to rods that are designed to be broken down into several pieces once you have finished using them, making them very easy to pack into even the smallest of overnight holdalls or sports bags. You can find different types of travel rods on our site, including rods designed for surf and rock fishing, rods for offshore fishing and general-purpose freshwater or saltwater fishing rods.

Now that you have a good idea of the different types of fishing rods in Australia that you are likely to see in local shops and when browsing our online store, it is time to think about the size of rod that will be best suited for your purposes.

How Big Should My Rod Be?

Fishing poles and rods are available in various lengths. The best size for you will depend on what type of fish you wish to catch and what method of fishing you favour. So, it is essential to decide what you want to use your rod for before you choose a specific length.

Whether you shop for fishing rods in Darwin, Melbourne, Sydney or right here in our online store, you will find that most rods are between 6 feet and 12 feet in length.

A rod of around 7 feet in length is a right choice for a beginner looking for general purpose fishing rods online while rock fishing and surf fishing rods typically 8-10 feet or longer. A longer rod will allow you to cast over longer distances, while a shorter rod will generally be stouter, making it easier to bring in hard-fighting fish when fishing from a boat.

If you fancy popping for Giant Trevally and other gigantic species, a heavy-duty popping rod of around 8-9 feet is a right choice, providing you with the ideal combination of strength and casting distance.

In summary of length, these are typically the most common lengths we sell specifically to individual angling styles.

• Lake-River: 6ft-7ft
• Rock: 8-10ft
• Surf: 10-12ft (6-9ft for light sheltered beaches)
• Boat: 5ft 6inch to 7ft
• Game: 5ft 6 inch to 6ft

What Is the Best Material for Fishing Rods in Australia?

Fishing rods for sale in Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and other cities in Australia are almost all made from graphite, fibreglass or a composite of the two.

Fibreglass rods are more durable, which makes them an attractive proposition for beginners. Still, they are typically much thicker, have quite a sloppy action, and do not support as much sensitivity when compared to graphite. However, if you are fishing solely with bait or in waters with rough bottoms where your line may get snagged frequently, a fibreglass rod could be a good option.

If you are already an enthusiastic angler and you are looking for a versatile rod that will serve you well for many years if cared for properly, we recommend focusing on the graphite and composite fishing rods for sale in our store.

The average fishing rod price for a rod with a decent graphite blank is very reasonable, and the extra control and sensitivity you gain is well worth the additional cost. Graphite is by far the best choice for inshore anglers who fish with lures.

Once you start looking at high-end composite boat fishing rods, the prices do rise quite steeply. Still, these rods offer the best performance possible for serious bluewater anglers, making them an excellent investment as far as saltwater fishing rods are concerned.

If you have any questions about rod materials, please do not hesitate to call during regular opening hours or to send us an email at any time. We are all experienced anglers and love nothing more than to help new anglers find their feet.

Which Brand of Fishing Rods in Australia Is Best for Me?

While some experienced anglers tend to favour one brand over another, there isn’t a single brand that we would say is better than all the others. For anglers who are looking to expand their horizons and upgrade their existing tackle, all of the quality fishing rod brands are well worth considering.

Shimano is an old favourite of course, and still, make some of the very best saltwater and freshwater fishing rods you will find anywhere in the world.

Daiwa is another well-established brand, with a history stretching back to 1955. Daiwa makes a wide range of rods, from budget fishing poles for beginners, all the way up to top-quality fishing rods that are as good as anything you will find from other manufacturers.

Among the other brands we carry, Penn makes a range of attractively-priced rods designed for Australian fishing conditions, Abu Garcia is another top brand with a long history. At the same time, Ugly Stik is a more recent entry into the market but still with over 40 years of experience in manufacturing quality fishing rods. If you are looking for a low-cost surf rod or travel rod, Rovex makes some cheap yet very capable rods.

In conclusion, we would recommend choosing your new rod based on length, materials and the type of reel and rod you may need for a particular target="_blank" style of fishing. Over time, you will probably develop an affinity for a specific brand, but right now, the main aim is to ensure that when you buy a fishing rod online, you pick one that will help you to get the most enjoyment out of angling.

What Is the Fastest Way to Choose a New Rod?

For new anglers who would like to get a new rod and start fishing as quickly as possible, the idea of spending hours researching different types of rods and the materials from which they are made is probably not very appealing. With this in mind, we have created categories of fishing rods for sale in our store based on the type of fishing you fancy trying first, as well as by rod type.

If you want to fish from your local beach, head to the surf rod section; if you think you will do most of your fishing inland, check out river and lake rods; if you’re looking for the tackle you can use on an upcoming saltwater game fishing holiday, boat fishing rods for game fish is where you want to be.

Whether you are shopping for fishing rods in Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Sydney, Adelaide or Darwin, there are many excellent reasons to shop with us. And if you need any extra help in choosing your first rod or your next rod, feel free to contact us at any time.