An Epic Guide To The Best Fishing Rods In NZ For 2024
The Best Fishing Rods In NZ For 2024
Get ready to reel in the thrill of a lifetime as we dive into the world of the best fishing rods in NZ right now. A good rod can make all the difference between a memorable catch and a day spent wondering what happened. The crew here at Land & Sea have been hard at work being out on the water, researching and testing all kinds of rods to find the best ones out there for every type of fish and style of fishing.
So, whether you're an adventurous trout fisher or a serious ocean angler, we've got you covered. So, grab a cuppa, sit back, and dive into our top fishing rod fishing recommendations for this year.
Here's what we've unpacked:
- What Are The Best Fishing Rods In The World? - The Top 5 Brands
- What makes a good fishing rod?
- The 9 Best Fishing Rods In NZ For Every Type Of Fishing
- The Best Fishing Rods In NZ For Every Type Of Fish
- Tips On Buying The Best Fishing Rod For You
- Recap Of The Best Fishing Rods In NZ
What Are The Best Fishing Rods In The World? - The Top 6 Brands
Here are the ‘big fish’ in the world of fishing rods;
- Shimano - A world leader in innovation and continuous improvement. Their rods are built to be strong, lightweight, and incredibly reliable.
- Daiwa - They have rods catering to every budget without breaking a sweat. With over 70% of their range designed specifically for the NZ market, you'll find rods as affordable as $50 to premium models costing as much as a grand.
- Oceans Legacy - An Australian-based brand that has one of the best value for money jigging rods on the market
- Okuma - Generally a little less expensive than its competitors but offers value for money with a warranty for long-lasting performance using premium materials.
- PENN - One of the most popular brands out there, PENN offers a diverse range of rods that are suitable for boat or shore fishing.
- Abu Garcia - They have an extensive range of models ranging from casting rods to spinning rods, with the Veritas VRT4TRL-S 903h 6-10kg model being of our top selling travel rods.
Shop the best fishing rod brands in the world at Land & Sea NZ.
What makes a good fishing rod?
A good fishing rod is a winning combination of the following;
- Power
- Balance
- Strength
- Sensitivity
This means the rod should have the right amount of strength to handle the fish, be well-balanced for comfortable all-day casting, and have sensitivity to detect even the slightest bites. You need to consider all these factors to have a fantastic and successful fishing experience.
Don’t Miss: Your UItimate Guide To Buying A Fishing Rod In NZ
The 9 Best Fishing Rods In NZ For Every Type Of Fishing
Here are nine rods we've hand-picked for you, based on the style of fishing, budget and overall performance.
Best Overall Fishing Rod
The Shimano Backbone Rod Range
This range strikes the perfect balance between affordability and reliability. They are entry-level rods that are highly reliable. Whether you're casting from the shore, trolling in open waters, or live baiting for that prized catch, the backbone range has a rod for almost every style of fishing. Renowned in the NZ market as possibly the best value for money rod range available.
Best Budget-Friendly Fishing Rod
The Daiwa 21 Exceler Oceano Rod Range
Trickle-down technology from the Saltiga rod range has made its way to this price point, making the Daiwa 21 Exceler Oceano rods the best value-for-money rod componentry in the market. Pick the perfect rod for you within the Exceler Oceano range this 1002 model is perfect for land based fisherman.
Best Fishing Rod For Spin Fishing
Ocean's Legacy Cloud 9 Spin Rod Range
One of our most popular rod ranges, the Ocean's Legacy Cloud 9 spin rods, are the ‘magic rods’ that can do almost everything from soft baiting to slow jigging to stray lining.
Best Fishing Rod For Casting
The bee's knees of casting rods, Daiwa's Saltiga range is the absolute top-of-the-line and at the forefront of technology. They are the specialist rods for catching Kingfish on top water.
Best Fishing Rod For Travel Fishing
Abu Garcia Veritas Travel Spin Rod Range
This is our most popular 3-piece rod range that comes with its own durable travel tube, which is ideal for protecting your rod whilst travelling.
Best Fishing Rod For Fly Fishing
Scott fly fishing rods are some of the most premium fly fishing rods you'll find in the market. They are beautiful rods handmade in the USA, however they dominate NZ’s freshwater fisheries, making the investment worthwhile.
Best Fishing Rod For Ultra-Light Fishing
An ultra-light rod range at an affordable price point. These rods are ideal for freshwater spin fishing & inshore aji fishing or super light jigging.
Best Fishing Rod For Surf Casting
Okuma Nanomatrix Surf Rod Range
This range has the best selection of surf rods at affordable price points. The Okuma Nanomatrix surf rods feature a great variety of different lengths & strengths for every type of landbased fisherman.
Best Fishing Rod For Trolling
We have to say that these are the most sought-after, tested and respected game rods available on the market. You'll find them with straight butts, bent butts or adjustable butts and with or without roller tips.
The Best Fishing Rods In NZ For Every Type Of Fish
Now let's unpack the best fishing rods by the type of fish.
Best Fishing Rod For Kingfish
The Jigstar Twisted Sista Jigging Rod
The ultimate jigging rod, the Jigstar Twisted Sista offers all the power required to handle the large, aggressive kingfish New Zealand is famous for. Available in overhead and spin in a range of strengths.
Best Fishing Rod And Reel Combo For Snapper
The Penn Spinfisher Vi 6500 Live Liner & Allegiance II 741 MH Strayline Combo
This is the ultimate stray lining combo that presents unmatched value. The Spinfisher 6500 is equipped with IPX5 sealing to ensure it can endure the toughest conditions in NZ's oceans. The Allegiance II 741 MH is a 7ft 4in, 1-piece rod with 8-12kg strength rating. It is an extremely reliable and durable rod at an entry-level price point.
Best Sabiki Fishing Rod For Catching Live Baits
The Okuma Sabiki Overhead Fishing Rod
This 7ft 3in 2-piece rod is revolutionary in its design as it allows you to wind your sabiki rig into the hollow shaft of the rod while still flexing and bending when you have a fish on.
This protects your sabiki rig allowing you to get more use out of them but also protects those on board from the flailing hooks when motoring around.
Tips On Buying The Best Fishing Rod For You
Now that you know what the best fishing rods in the market are, here are our top tips for choosing the right rod for you:
- Know the different types of rods - there are seven main types of fishing rods, and you can find out all about them here in our ultimate fishing guide.
- Choose a fishing rod based on its:
- Rod application - refine the style(s) of fishing you want to do.
- Price point - understand your price point; better specs and newer technology are introduced at higher price points first.
- Features & specifications - the more features and better the specs, the more reliable the rod and better the performance.
Recap Of The Best Fishing Rods In NZ
You asked for the best fishing rods in NZ, and we delivered. Here are the key points to remember from the review;
- Shimano, Daiwa, Oceans Legacy, Okuma, and PENN & Abu Garcia are the top six fishing rod brands on the market.
- A good fishing rod should have power, balance, strength, and sensitivity for a comfortable and successful fishing experience.
- The Shimano Backbone rod range is the best overall fishing rod with a perfect balance between affordability and reliability.
- The Daiwa 21 Exceler Oceano rod range is the best budget-friendly fishing rod with trickle-down technology from the Saltiga rod range.
- The Ocean's Legacy Cloud 9 spin rod range is the best fishing rod for spin fishing and can do almost everything from soft baiting to slow jigging to stray lining.
- The Daiwa Saltiga rod range is the best fishing rod for casting and is the specialist rod for catching Kingfish on top water.
- The Abu Garcia Veritas travel spin rod range is the best fishing rod for travel fishing and has its own durable travel tube.
- The Scott Fly Fishing rods are the best fishing rod for fly fishing, handmade in the USA.
- The Daiwa 20 Infeet rod range is the best fishing rod for ultra-light fishing and is ideal for freshwater spin fishing & inshore aji fishing or super light jigging.
- The Okuma Nanomatrix surf rod range has the best selection of surf rods at affordable price points.
- The Shimano Abyss game rod range are the most sought-after, tested and respected game rods available on the market.
- Start your fishing adventure with the best rod for the job and become a master of your chosen fishing methods. Visit our Auckland store to check out our rods in person, or shop fishing rods online to get fast & direct shipping New Zealand-wide.
See you out there on the water!