Boat Rods

Introduction:

Explore our range of boat fishing rods designed for anglers who love fishing from boats. Perfect for jigging, bottom fishing, uptiding and offshore angling, these rods are built for durability and performance in Ireland’s waters. Find your ideal sea fishing boat rods and elevate your fishing game.

What Are Boat Fishing Rods?:

Boat fishing rods are the short, powerful cousins of beachcasters – built to fish straight down from a boat into deep water rather than casting from shore.
Here’s the breakdown

What They Are:

Short rods – usually 6–8ft long (sometimes even shorter for wreck/conger work).
Built strong – designed to handle heavy leads (8oz–2lb) and big fish in tide.
Used with multipliers or big fixed spool reels.

Why They’re Different:

You don’t need to cast far from a boat – you’re dropping rigs straight down.
Shorter length gives more control when lifting fish in a strong tide or over the gunwale.
Heavier ratings (20lb, 30lb, 50lb class, etc.) to match the species and leads.

Types of Boat Rods:

General Boat Rods (20–30lb class) – all-rounders for pollack, ling, rays, tope.
Heavy Boat Rods (30–50lb class) – for deep wrecks, conger, shark, skate.
Uptiders/Downtiders – longer rods (9–10ft) designed to cast away from the boat at anchor (popular in the UK for tope/flatfish).
In short:
A boat rod is a short, powerful rod made for dropping heavy rigs into deep water and fighting big fish from a boat.

Types of Boat Rods:

Light to Medium Boat Rods (12–15lb Class):

Ideal for smaller offshore species and general sea fishing, these rods provide versatility and control. Shop our 12–15lb class boat rods for reliable performance on Irish waters.

Medium Boat Rods (15–20lb Class)

Designed for targeting slightly bigger fish, huss, cod, and ray, these rods offer strength and stability. Find the 15–20lb boat rods to tackle the toughest offshore catches.

Heavy Boat Rods (20-30lb - 30-50lb Class):

Designed for targeting bigger, more powerful fish, tope, bigger ray, and blue shark, these rods offer strength and stability. Find the 20-30lb 30-50lb boat rods to tackle the toughest offshore catches.

Boat Spinning Rods:

Perfect for lure fishing or trolling, boat spinning rods provide precision and flexibility offshore for bass, pollock over shallow reefs

Boat Rod & Reel Combos:

Convenient for beginners, our rods and reels
come as ready-to-fish setups, many loaded with line offering everything needed for a complete fishing experience.

How to Choose the Best Boat Rod:

Select your rod based on target species, line class, and fishing method—whether trolling, jigging, or bottom fishing. Consider rod length, action, and sensitivity for optimal performance. Beginners in Ireland will benefit from boat fishing rods designed for reliability and ease of use.

Top Brands and Reviews:

We offer trusted brands such as Daiwa , Shakespeare , CJT, Tronix , and AKIOS. Check our boat rods review section to compare performance, durability, and value. Find boat rods prices that suit both beginners and pros.

Boat Rods for Sale:

Shop our boat rods for sale online across Ireland. With boat rods for sale in Ireland, enjoy affordable, high-quality rods built for offshore fishing. Browse sea fishing boat rods for sale for a range of sizes and strengths.

FAQs:

Question: What is the best boat rod for offshore fishing in Ireland?

Answer: If you’re heading offshore in Ireland, the “best” boat rod depends on what you’re targeting – big conger and tope out deep, or more general species like pollack, ling, rays, and spurdogs. Here’s the straight talk:
For general offshore fishing (pollack, ling, rays, spurs, cod when they’re about)
20–30lb class boat rod is the sweet spot.
Something like the Shakespeare Ugly Stik GX2 Boat 20–30lb – tough as nails, forgiving, and won’t break the bank.
The AKIOS Nano Tech Boat 20–30lb – lighter, more modern build, plenty of backbone for Irish reef fishing, but still nice to play pollack.
For heavier fishing (tope, conger, skate, shark trips)
30–50lb class rod.
Ugly Stik Elite 30–50lb – old school, indestructible.
Penn Regiment III Boat 30–50lb – modern blank, loads of grunt, pairs well with a 20/30 size reel.
For proper skate/shark (west coast or Donegal)
50–80lb rod is the weapon.
Think Shakespeare Ugly Stik Big Game or a Penn Ally.
You need that lifting power when you’re hauling up a 150lb+ skate from 400ft down.
If I had to pick one “best all-rounder” for Irish offshore fishing:
I’d go with a 20–30lb class Ugly Stik or AKIOS Nano Tech Boat rod. It covers 80% of situations in Irish waters – you can still have fun with pollack on lighter leads, but also handle a tope if one shows up.

Question: How do I choose between light and heavy boat rods?

Answer: Select light rods (12–20lb) for smaller species, and heavy rods (30–50lb) for larger game fish.

Question: Can I use a spinning rod for boat fishing?

Answer: You can use a spinning rod on a boat — but only in certain situations. Here’s the straight talk:
When it works
Light boat fishing/lure work → A spinning rod (7–9ft, 20–50g casting weight) is perfect for jigging, shads, and lures for pollack, mackerel, or wrasse.
Calm inshore waters → If you’re only dropping small weights (1–3oz) or working lures, a spinning rod is great fun.
Vertical jigging → Spinning rods with braid handle this nicely when targeting pollack on wrecks.
When it doesn’t
Heavy leads in deep water → Standard spinning rods can’t handle 8oz–1lb leads you often need offshore in Ireland.
Big fish (tope, conger, skate, shark) → They’ll overpower most spinning rods, and you risk snapping the blank.
Strong tides → You’ll struggle to hold bottom with the lighter casting weight.
Rule of thumb:
Use a spinning rod for light boat fishing, lures, and inshore species.
Use a proper boat rod (20–30lb class+) for deep water, heavy leads, and big species.

Question: Where can I buy boat rods online in Ireland?

Answer: The Angling Hub offers a full range of boat rods for sale in Ireland with delivery across the country.

Conclusion:

Browse our full collection of boat rods for sale and choose the best rod for your next fishing adventure. Durable, high-performance rods with trusted brands ensure you get the most out of sea fishing rods in Ireland.