Saltwater Rod Systems: JB’s Custom Rods builds saltwater rods for one reason, we fish ‘em. We like the high surf of the Outer Banks, the Virginia Capes, the Delmarva Peninsula and the Gulf Coast of Alabama and Texas. We enjoy pier fishing in these locales as well.
The fishing rods offered on this page are a culmination of over 100 years of combined fishing experience on all coasts of the USA. We work just hard enough to enable us to fish. These rods are custom built each and every one. They are not "fancy Dan" rods but they are pretty, if we do say so ourselves. But more importantly, they will make you fish better and enjoy yourself immensely. You will be proud to own a J B Custom Saltwater Rod and you will be asked, "where did you get that?"
In-Shore Special Purpose Rods:
This spinning rod is just the ticket for finesse fishing live bait or popping cork fishing. Big speckled trout, red fish, stripers, bonefish and permit all respond to the proper presentation of live bait. Shrimp, alewives, pilchards and live crabs all require a rod capable of throwing bait accurately, delicately and not compromise distance. The Shrimp Rod is built on a 7-1/2-foot graphite blank. We use high performance, high frame match guides and it is finished to handle the tough conditions of saltwater angling. The extra length and match grade guides perform flawlessly for throwing delicate live baits. Plus, it still has the backbone and strength to fight big tough fish. This rod never ceases to amaze us with its versatility; it will throw a jig or metal like you can not imagine. Just what you need, when blues, stripers, little tuny and Spanish mackerel are out range for ordinary rods.
The Shrimp Rod has already proven itself along the Texas Gulf Coast and the Outer Banks of North Carolina. You've got to try it to believe it!
The Poppin’ Cork Rod
This is a bait casting rod designed specifically for throwing a popping cork and shrimp or artificials like Mirrolures® and Zara Spooks®. This rod has lots of backbone and is no sissy.
The Poppin’ Cork Rod from JB Custom Rods features the revolutionary "acid wrap" or "spiral wrap" that has become the darling of the professional bass circuit. When battling big fish this unique guide placement ensures that the line never contacts the blank and increases casting distance.
The Poppin’ Cork rod is made from a 7- foot graphite blank and special trigger handle. The high frame match guides that spiral around the blank will enable you to cast accurately and with more distance than your ordinary rods.
Whether you are poppin’ a shrimp and cork along the Texas coast or walking a Zara in the mangroves of South Florida, this rod can handle the fish and the job!
The "Pier Rat" Rod
All you Pier Rats, and you know who you are, will love this rod. This rod is built in both spinning and baitcasting configurations. The baitcasting configuration is wrapped in the "acid wrap" or "spiral wrap style"and trigger reel seat. The spinning version has a rubberized cork butt with cork foregrip.
The Pier Rat Rod starts with an 8-foot graphite blank and is fitted with high performance, high frame match guides. When king mackerel, little tuny, Spanish mackerel, and blues are just out of reach at the end of the pier, this rod will toss a StingsilverÒ, HopkinsÒ or jig in their midst.
The Pier Rat Rod is built tough for the rough and tumble treatment pier rods tend to get out on the "planks". J B Custom Rods has designed this rod to handle lures, live bait or bottom rigs. We have thrown 10-inch live hardtail jacks for Kings and small 3-inch alewives for Spanish with this rod. Since the Pier Rat Rod has an 8-foot length this rod will also do justice in the high surf when sea mullet (whiting), pompano, specks and flounder are close in. This rod has to be in your arsenal; put one in your rod rack!
"Da Heaver"
Cape Point, South Beach, Oregon Inlet, Assateague, Chincoteague, Cape Charles and Ocracoke all mean big fish to the priests of the high surf. Specifically, fishing for red drum with "eight n’bait". For the uninitiated, "eight n’bait" means an eight ounce sinker with six to eight ounces of bait. This requires a rod unequaled in strength and dependability. The only other rods that require this type strength are offshore rods for tuna and billfish.
When the big red drum cruise the rips, more often than not, they are just out of reach of folks with ordinary rods. You need a rod born and reared in high surf country, made by surf fishermen who know what you require.
"Da Heaver" by J B Custom Rods is an 11-foot graphite casting rod designed to toss "eight n’bait’ and not kill you in the process. This rod is not for everyone, only those brave enough to tackle big fish, in big surf, in all kinds of weather. Due to the popularity of this rod there is a waiting list. Call or contact us to see if you qualify!
J B’s Personal Surf Rod
J B fishes the high surf of Hatteras Island, Ocracoke and Portsmouth Islands. He prefers spinning tackle cause he is getting too old to toss eight n’bait. So, he and his buddies have designed a rod that anyone can use and catch fish with in the high surf. This rod has also seen service on the Piers of South Alabama and the Florida panhandle. Jack Crevalle, king mackerel, and red drum have all fallen victim to its power.
J B’s Surf Rod is built on 10-½ foot graphite blank with high performance, high frame match guides. It has a rubberized cork wrapped handle and fixed reel seat. Upon special request we can build this rod in casting configuration with or without a reel seat for clamp-on reels such as Penn Squidder and Newell. This rod is as versatile as they come in a high surf rod. It will easily handle six n’bait, plus a wide range of lure weights. We can throw 2 ounces up to 8 ounces. This rod will make you look like you know what you’re doing even if you don’t! You will get asked, "where did you get that?"
J B’s Flounder, Spot, Sea Mullet and Foolin’ Around Rod
This rod is a one handed spinning or casting rod, which ever you prefer. It is designed to offer you a light, medium action rod for flounder, spot, whiting, specks, pompano and other such tasty fish. We have even "snuck" it out on the pier for Spanish mackerel when folks aren’t watching.
J B’s FSS&FAR Rod is built on a 7-foot blank that will handle up to 1-1/2 ounces quite nicely. It is a lighter rod than J B’s Shrimp Rod.
Sometimes in the evenings after everyone has settled down, we will take this rod and a hand full of jigs or bait and just poke along the surf line. We have also used this rod on yellowtail snapper and bonefish. It is amazing what we catch and the fun we have doing it with this rod. It will match up with your favorite freshwater spinning or baitcasting reel
