What’s the difference between sea fishing rods?

I’ve recently returned to the sport after several years away. I’ve come back a little bewildered by the description of beach rods in advertisements: surf rods, continental rods, beach casting rods. They were all beach casters back in the day. So what is the difference between them all and is it necessary?

Sea fishing rods have certainly come a long way in a reasonably short amount of time. I think it’s great that we have so many options available to us because it opens up lots of new avenues, giving us loads of different options when it comes to our favoured style of sea fishing. To make life easier, I’d break it down to two different categories, either continental or more traditional beach casting rods.

Continental rods are generally a lot thinner in the build, with either a really fast taper in the tip or a sensitive glass fibre insert. Although more traditional beach casting rods have become a lot thinner in the overall diameter as well, the carbon tends to be thicker in the wall of the rod. While this does make a beach casting rod heavier than a continental style rod, it also means they are a lot stronger and can handle more punishment.

The introduction of glass fibre tips on beach casting rods has been an absolute revelation, pretty much allowing you to get the best of both worlds. Please don’t be bewildered, in my eyes it’s a positive change and I’m sure you’ll still be able to find a rod that you will like.