The Sonik SKS Black is a 13ft two-piece beachcaster designed for UK shore anglers who need a versatile rod that covers the most common beach-fishing scenarios without stepping into premium pricing. It sits in Sonik's mid-budget SKS Black line-up, which is pitched as lighter and more powerful than the earlier SKS shore rods.
The blank is carbon fibre, with a claimed all-round action that handles both clean sand and rougher ground. Hardloy ceramic-style guides are fitted throughout, compatible with both multiplier and fixed-spool reels, and the custom Sonik sliding reel seat lets you position the reel facing up or down depending on your casting style.
The rod is supplied in a single 13ft length rated for 4-6oz leads, which covers the majority of UK beach work from calm summer evenings through to rougher winter conditions. The white tip aids bite detection at distance, and the shrink-wrap handle keeps the overall profile slim and comfortable during longer sessions.
Sonik describe the SKS Black as an upgrade over the original SKS shore rod, with a lighter blank and improved casting performance. The rod comes with a two-piece cloth bag with Velcro closure, so both sections are protected during transport straight out of the box.
If you're shopping in the mid-budget beachcaster tier and want a rod that covers the widest range of beach conditions without needing multiple setups, this is one of the options worth considering.
| Lengths | 13ft |
| Feature | What this means |
|---|---|
| Length: 13ft (3.96m) | A full 13-foot beach rod gives you plenty of leverage for distance casting and helps keep your line clear of breaking waves when fishing from the shore. |
| Sections: 2-Piece | Breaking down into two sections makes the rod much easier to transport to and from the beach, and it comes with a two-piece cloth bag to keep both sections protected. |
| Casting Weight: 4-6oz | Rated to cast leads and rigs weighing between 4 and 6 ounces, which covers the most common beach fishing scenarios from clean sandy beaches through to rougher, heavier ground. |
| Carbon Fibre Blank | The blank is built from carbon fibre, described as more powerful yet lighter than the previous SKS shore rod, giving you improved casting performance without adding unnecessary weight. |
| All-Round Action | The rod is designed to perform well on both clean ground and in heavier, rougher terrain, so you are not limited to one type of beach or sea bed condition. |
| Hardloy Ring Guides | Hardloy rings are durable ceramic-style guides that are compatible with both multiplier reels and fixed spool reels, so you can fish with whichever reel setup you prefer without needing a different rod. |
| Custom Sonik Slide-Lock Reel Seat | The sliding reel seat lets you position your reel either facing up or facing down on the blank, catering for different casting styles and personal preferences without any fuss. |
| Shrink Wrap Handle | A slim shrink wrap handle keeps the overall profile of the rod narrow and comfortable to hold, which is particularly useful during long casting sessions on the beach. |
| White Tip | The rod tip is finished in white, making it much easier to spot bites and movement at distance, especially in low light conditions on the beach. |
| Black Tyings with Metallic Red Tipping | The guide whippings are finished in black with a metallic red trim, giving the rod a clean, distinctive look that matches the overall SKS Black aesthetic. |
| Supplied With: Cloth Rod Bag | The rod comes with a two-piece cloth bag with a velcro closure, so both sections are protected during storage and transport straight out of the box. |
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"I have one of the 13ft versions ringed for multiplier use and it is vastly better than it has any right to be at the price. I had heard the usual tales about them snapping so I took it on the field and gave it some serious grief without issue. Its very light and casts long distances with ease using my normal pendulum cast." - worldseafishing.com's Review
"I did the same thing with the 14' version 3 weeks ago. Read about them snapping so decided kill it straight away. Took it to Perch Rock, loaded it full of bait and lead and thumped it as far as I could for a few hours. It feels good, looks good, casts well and has good bite detection. I gotta say, I think they are a cracking buy for the price." - worldseafishing.com's Review
"Ive got the sonik sks black 14ft only use it in winter time on East Coast of Scotland for cod so fishing into rough stuff/ semi rough depending on which mark i fish. For the money i think they are fantastic rods mine regularly casts 7oz plus a big bait. Had it 5 years and still going strong." - worldseafishing.com's Review
"Sonik are OK and do have issues with snapping. I have heard people complaining about the reel seats. One way to get over it is by adding heat shrink where you the reel to sit." - talkseafishing.co.uk's Review
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4-6oz (113-170g). This covers most common beach fishing scenarios, from clean sandy beaches through to rougher, heavier ground where you need a bigger lead to hold bottom in tide or surf.
350 grams. That's light for a 13ft beachcaster, making it comfortable to hold during long casting sessions and reducing arm fatigue when you're fishing all day from the shore.
A 6000-8000 size fixed spool or a 6500-7000 multiplier loaded with 15-20lb mainline. The sliding reel seat accommodates both reel types, so you can fish facing-up (fixed spool) or facing-down (multiplier) depending on your casting style. The Hardloy guides are compatible with both setups.
Yes, particularly for anglers stepping up from lighter tackle who want a forgiving all-round action. The 4-6oz casting weight covers the most common beach leads, and the rod performs well on both clean ground and rougher terrain, so you're not locked into one type of venue while you're learning.
A two-piece cloth bag with Velcro closure. Both sections of the rod fit inside the bag for protected storage and transport straight out of the box.
Yes, the rod is designed as an all-rounder that performs on both clean sand and heavier, rougher terrain. The 4-6oz casting weight range gives you enough lead to hold bottom in tide and surf, and the carbon blank has the backbone to handle bigger fish and the snags that come with rocky or weedy ground.
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