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As one who has always been a bay fisherman and rarely fished the surf, this pomp fishing has me interested, but probably need to lengthen my rod! Pun intended Laughing

Seriously though, in watching the video of the guy fishing for pomps in the Florida panhandle his rod seemed much longer then my longest which is 7'. Any insight from the CC pomp pros would be appreciated.

IrishSharker · Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2018 12:46 pm Post subject:

most people in just about any surf fishing application use 9-12ft rods. i have a few 11ft penn batallions that have a good tip for launching the 2-4oz i prefer.

lifeaquatic · Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2018 1:01 pm Post subject:

Top of the line example would be the Breakaway LDX 13 footer from local surf casting extraordinaire, Nick Meyer.

And judging from the voices Tyler does in his reports, I'm not quite sure if Tyler isn't the one making the video snippets on the Breakaway site Laughing

edit: Irish nailed the advice about as concisely as possible.

bulldog1935 · Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2018 2:04 pm Post subject:

I've mentioned this before, it's an exercise in ballistics.
20% greater rod length means 20% faster tip/line/bait speed.
Distance increases with the cube-power of velocity, so every 20% you add to the rod length doubles your cast distance for the same power put into the rod.
I fish 8-1/2' steelhead rods inshore for this reason.

Sinker · Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2018 7:48 pm Post subject:

Go see Nick at Breakawayusa .
More than just a rod, also reel rigs,and sinkers.
Remember go big or go home Very Happy

hickroots07 · Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2018 8:28 pm Post subject:

I know not much help here.... I use bait casting rods. The ones i cast the best are in the 10 to 11 foot range. I pair it with an avet sx mc cast. Its overkill for pomps but I like it. Also like Daiwa sealine 20 or 30. I dont strictly use them for pomps so they do a little double duty for big drum, reds and sharks up to 5.5ft (so far Wink

). You just never know what you will hook up to.
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hickroots07 · Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2018 9:51 pm Post subject:

bulldog1935 · Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2018 10:44 pm Post subject:

The ballistics absolutely apply to the lure velocity at release.
(the fact you can set casting drag by letting gravity haul your lure to the ground from a stationary rod proves the math)
Flex in the rod and the added weight of the rod affecting your ability to swing it to the same angular velocity would give you a different result.

Maybe someday you can tinker with my Lamiglas steelhead rods - they're a hoot.

I have a 7' TFO inshore rod with the exact same lure and line ratings, and the math fits perfectly between the two.
The 8'6" Lami will send 1/4 oz 50 yards with an effortless slow lob, and well beyond with more effort.
It acts a whole lot like a Henshall rod designed in 1871, but of course weighs a fraction (this is a 1910 Chubb Henshall rod).

With the stealth of a kayak, and especially for sight-fishing, the 7' rod is usually all you need (unless you're fishing weighted paddletails and need a high rod tip to keep them over the grass), but with hull slap in a power boat, the long rod makes a big difference in reaching out to fish.

I've also got 8'6" medium-heavies in another Lami casting and an older Loomis GL3 spinner - each of these are rated for 3/8 oz on the low end, 1 oz on top, will still cast 1/4 oz just fine, and will also fish a 2-oz spider weight with a piece of cut bait. The Loomis has landed bull reds in the surf, and kings from the jetties, though I'll admit to my bay reels being spooled by a few bulls. (ok, I have an embarrassing number of fishing poles)

For our OP, for cost-effective, might want to look at a Lamiglas X11 or Okuma SST steelhead rod that would let you use your same reel, fish it in the surf, and still be useful in the bays.

For a dedicated surf rod, the 13' Breakaway looks pretty perfect.

Regardless, it's always fun fishing when your tournament-quality cast makes the difference in catching fish or not.

Donnie · Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2018 7:03 am Post subject:

While I like pretty much all beach fish, except.... , pompano are really a blast to catch. Find a way to reach out and touch them - i have a number of pretty long rods, but with that ldx 13 footer , i can put a bait way out there. Toughest thing about pomps, is finding them, and then staying with them as they move about on a good day.
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HungerBuster · Flour Bluffian in training Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 371

Breakaway LDX 13 footer all day. The butt really makes it easy to cast. And once you learn the pendulum cast, NOTHING goes farther. I've had mine for eight years and she's caught everything. Folks always look at you like you're crazy or lying when you say "I cast over the second bar" (yes, the second bar), but this rod does it with ease if you put the time into learning how to cast. And although it's not price friendly when you look at it initially, it's a lifer. Worth every penny.
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Fish ON!

Tyler · Site Admin Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 12865

Bulldog1935 I have a lamiglass steelhead I use as my surf trout rod. It will throw soft plastics up to He Dogs. If the pomps are in close I might need to get some of those bright colored pomp jigs.

https://dks.scene7.com/is/image/GolfGalaxy/15BMBUBSWPMPNJG14LUR_Chrome_Chartreuse?wid=500&fmt=jpg
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bulldog1935 · Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2018 1:25 pm Post subject:

You know your rods Tyler.
My medium-heavy casting rod is a Rogue River Special (long discontinued and bought on close-out).
Dark green blank, full polish and gel-coat, with yellow TiN hardware.

Tyler · Site Admin Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 12865

bulldog1935 · Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2018 4:44 pm Post subject:

They seem to run their rods in short series, then change the replacement line.
My 9' G1325 med-light spinner (1/8-5/8, 6-12-lb) is no more, the closest med-light now is 9'6".
The G1000 Pro series is still around, though stocks at merchants are limited, and Lami will make you one with a 3-month or so queue.
The Pro in my photo above has the same model number the Rogue River Special used to carry, but a lighter "medium" rod now. And that's what I was looking for.

When you look at their website, they offer such a great range in length, lure and line weights, and styles, they have to trim the line as they go. Plus, everything is hand-made in Washington - no China.

I own an amazing Lami glass flyrod, their 605, 6' 5-wt that was rare when new.
I also have a 7'6" graphite/glass blend 5-wt fly rod, the Perigree, that are wonderful rods - a total pocket rocket, and a configuration that doesn't work in graphite - very rare, and collectors clamor for them.
Neither of these fly rods were ever offered as finished rods, only blanks.

BeachBum · Finger Mullet Joined: 04 Dec 2018 Posts: 43

Hiya!,

You can use a wide range of tackle for pomps. Last week they were up close and were catching them on lighter tackle. Always nice when they do that and one can land an 18"er on 10lb test. Other days they are at extreme distance and you need a good long distance rig. I have a nice set up I use for sharks, reds, and pomps. Seems a bit big for pomps. I currently use the old breakaway 2pc/1pc with a sealineX 50. I want to get a SealineX 20 for pomps to make it a bit more fun...and it should help with a bit more distance.

Breakaway would be my choice for distance. You can pair up a decent reel with a Tica and do well, too. Bottom line is getting a combo you feel comfortable with. I personally would not go to big and bulky with spinning reels.

FISH ON!!,

BUM