Hello & 12' Rod Selection

[ReelCreel]

Since I am new to this site...HELLO! And now for the dilemma I need your help with. About once a year I get to get back to the east coast for some saltwater fishing (I know its not a lot, but when your job moves you inland to Ohio it's the best that I can currently do). Just last year I rediscovered my love for pier and surf fishing. I want to focus more on this and "need" to round out my kit. Specifically I am looking at getting a conventional 12 ft "heaver". My interest here is for soaking big baits in the distant surf zone for big fish including sharks and perhaps slinging an anchor sinker off piers for some "trolley" rig fishing.

In my research as tempered with my budget and tastes I have boiled things down to a choice between two rods...(1) a BassPro Ocean Master OM12SC (6-12 oz weight; 20 - 50 lb line) and (2) a St. Croix Premier PSRC120XH2 (4-16 oz weight; 20-60 lb line). I see a lot of positive references to the Ocean Master and it has a very attractive price point. But I do not see much about the St Croix Premier...I like a couple of other (smaller/less pricey) St. Croix rods I have but the 12 ft'r price is twice that of the OM.

So, please help me out here and share your thaought and recommendations. Thanks.

[surfchunker]

I've heard of a few broken rod tips on the St Croix's with not the bust of luck with the warrenty ... the OM heavers are tuff and alot of people lke them I have two .... but I prefer the 3-6 oz model over the other one ... I can throw 8 with it and it's not as near as heavy as the other one .... another good choice around $100 is a Tsunami 12 heaver .... I used one for a while and I liked it .....

What part of Ohio are you in .... I grew up in Columbus and alot of my family still lives there ...

Welcome

[RuddeDogg]

Welcome to the family ReelCreel. There a whole bunch of brands to choose from. Question is how much money do ya want to spend? Like surfchunker said, Tsunami is a good brand, OM, Om Cape Point, Penn, Tica, and Diawa to mention a few. I have the Diawa Emcast Surf paired with Penn 525's and love em.

[Newsjeff]

Go with the OM heavy.

Great rod for the money.

[BubbaHoTep]

Welcome to Pier & Surf! I've also heard lots of good things about the OM for the $$.

[ReelCreel]

Thanks to all that replied. It looks like I will be getting the Ocean Master heavy...it will be a heck of a deal after I apply some of my BassPro awards points to the purchase.