A budget-friendly beachcaster that is nicely balanced and performs well
Best suited for casual surf anglers or those new to the sport
Featured in our guide on the best sea rods as a top budget beachcaster
Feature | What This Means |
---|---|
Casting Weight: 4-8oz | The rod is designed to cast leads between 4-8 ounces (113-227g), making it suitable for most beach fishing situations |
High Grade Slim Carbon Blank | Constructed using premium carbon fibre material that allows for a powerful yet surprisingly thin rod diameter, helping to reduce weight while maintaining strength |
Medium-Fast Tapered Blank | The rod’s action provides a deeper bend under load, offering versatility for different casting techniques while helping prevent fish losses during the fight |
SW Proof Zirconium Oxide Guides | Saltwater-resistant guides with special Zirconium Oxide rings that reduce line tangles and friction, compatible with both monofilament and braided lines |
Sliding DPS Reel Seat | Adjustable reel fitting system that accommodates both fixed spool and multiplier reels, even larger models, with secure locking |
X-Shrink Wrap Casting Grip | Special grip material that provides enhanced hold during powerful casts, particularly useful in wet conditions |
Tip Highlight | Visible marking on the rod tip that helps detect bites in low light conditions, essential for dawn, dusk, and night fishing |
2 Sections | The rod breaks down into two pieces for easier transport while maintaining optimal power transfer and action |
Rubber Butt Cap | Protective rubber end piece that prevents damage to the rod’s base and provides additional comfort when fighting fish |
The Shakespeare SALT XT Beachcasters are unique rods for their price. By using the best quality carbon, the medium-fast tapered blank is very powerful and strong, but also has a very low diameter. The action produces a deeper feel in the blank and allows you to switch between techniques depending on the situation. As well, it helps reduce the risk of breaking off a fish and can still manage easy long-range performance.
The X-wrap shrink handle helps to give extra grip during those far casts and the rubber bulb at the end of the butt section helps to prevent damage and also makes fishing more comfortable. Besides that, these rods are equipped with a special sliding reel seat, making them very suitable to be used with either a fixed spool reel or multiplier.
Here’s how the rod performed in testing and/or from experience and feedback from other anglers.Â
When rating the build quality of a rod, consideration has been given to the basic components.
These include the materials used in the blank, handle, reel seat, and line guides.
We also take into account any additional features that make life on the bank easier for anglers.
How a rod casts is one of the key fundamentals that determine a great rod from a mediocre one.
Easy, frictionless casting that provides accuracy and distance is all rated in this category.
The ability to play fish effectively is an important feature of any fishing rod.
Fishing is a sport, and as part of this sport, feeling the pulls, lunges, and the fight of a fish is an exhilarating experience.
This is all taken into account when rating fishing rods.
How much any fishing rod costs is always a key factor in an angler's final choice.
A rod can have all the bells and whistles under the sun, but if it is unaffordable, it may not be the best choice for some anglers.
This rating considers how the rod performs in all the other categories versus its price point.
Offering remarkable value for money in the budget-friendly segment, the Shakespeare Salt XT Beachcaster delivers solid performance and versatility that makes it particularly appealing to newcomers and occasional beach anglers.
The Salt XT demonstrates impressive build quality for its price point, featuring a high-grade carbon blank construction that achieves a notably slim diameter without sacrificing strength. The two equal sections create a traditional UK rod feel, while the hybrid guide setup and sliding DPS reel seat accommodate both fixed spool and multiplier reels with equal competence.
The X-wrap shrink handle provides a reliable grip during powerful casts, and the thoughtful addition of a rubber bulb at the butt section both protects the rod and enhances comfort during extended sessions. While some anglers have reported concerns about spigot strength during extreme distance casting, many long-term users report years of reliable service without issues.
For a budget-conscious rod, the Salt XT delivers surprisingly capable casting performance across its 4-8oz range. The medium-fast tapered blank produces a deeper feel that proves particularly useful when switching between different casting techniques. These action characteristics not only aid in achieving respectable distances but also help reduce the risk of fish losses during the fight.
The sensitive tip offers good bite detection, while the mid and butt sections retain enough power to handle most beach fishing scenarios.
The rod’s versatility is one of its standout features, proving equally capable on clean and mixed beaches while handling a wide range of species. Its adaptability to different reel types and casting styles makes it an excellent choice for anglers still developing their preferred fishing approach.
While it may lack some of the premium features found on more expensive rods, the Salt XT offers exceptional value for money, making it an ideal choice for beginners or casual anglers seeking reliable performance without a significant investment.
Here is how the Shakespeare Salt Xt Beachcaster compares against other products in its category. This table shows the overall rating based on the average of the key attributes that go into making a great sea fishing rod.
Name | Overall Rating | Price | |
---|---|---|---|
Penn Tidal XR Beach Caster Rod | 8.4 | £126.99 | Sold Here |
Shakespeare Salt Xt Beachcaster | 8 | £59.99 | Sold Here |
Century Fireblade Delta | 8.6 | £274.99 | Sold Here |
Century Eliminator Boat Rod | 8.6 | £344.99 | Sold Here |
Daiwa Super Kenzaki Boat Rod | 8.4 | £139.99 | Sold Here |
Penn Wrath II Boat Rod | 8 | £59.99 | Sold Here |
Daiwa Saltist Spin Rod | 8.3 | £149.99 | Sold Here |
Shakespeare Ugly Stik Elite Spinning Rod | 7.9 | £41.99 | Sold Here |
Daiwa Seahunter Z Uptide Rod | 8.1 | £89.99 | Sold Here |
Daiwa Gekkabijn LRF Rod | 8.1 | £44.99 | Sold Here |
Penn Regiment IV Travel Rod | 7.8 | £123.29 | Sold Here |
Shakespeare Ugly Stik GX2 Kayak Rod | 7.6 | £34.99 | Sold Here |
Anyfish Anywhere Estuary MK2 | 8.5 | £199.99 | Sold Here |
Daiwa D Wave Surf | 8 | £59.99 | Sold Here |
Daiwa Wilderness Spin Rod | 8.1 | £89.99 | Sold Here |
There are four key attributes that form the basis of our reviews on sea fishing rods. These include the following:
Build Quality: – When assessing the build quality of a fishing rod we focus on the raw materials used to build the rod and how they knit together to output the rod’s overall performance.
Casting Ability: – Without stating the obvious here, we test how the rod casts both short distances and longer distances. We are examining how smooth the cast is and how much effort is required to gain the desired distance.
Playing Fish: – Here, we are looking at how a rod can dictate a fight, i.e. its power, how subtle it is and most importantly how enjoyable it is to play fish on.
Value for Money: – Under the ‘value for money’ review, we value and score the rod for its price-point against its quality and actual worth.
Here is how the Shakespeare Salt Xt Beachcaster performed against is peers in each of these important attributes:
Name | Build Quality | Casting Ability | Playing Fish | Value For Money |
---|---|---|---|---|
Penn Tidal XR Beach Caster Rod | 8 | 8.5 | 8 | 8.5 |
Shakespeare Salt Xt Beachcaster | 7.5 | 8 | 7.5 | 9 |
Century Fireblade Delta | 8.5 | 9 | 8.5 | 8 |
Century Eliminator Boat Rod | 9 | 8.5 | 9 | 8 |
Daiwa Super Kenzaki Boat Rod | 8.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 8.5 |
Penn Wrath II Boat Rod | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 9 |
Daiwa Saltist Spin Rod | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8.5 |
Shakespeare Ugly Stik Elite Spinning Rod | 7.5 | 8 | 7.5 | 8.5 |
Daiwa Seahunter Z Uptide Rod | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8.5 |
Daiwa Gekkabijn LRF Rod | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8.5 |
Penn Regiment IV Travel Rod | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 8 |
Shakespeare Ugly Stik GX2 Kayak Rod | 7 | 7 | 7 | 9 |
Anyfish Anywhere Estuary MK2 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 8.5 |
Daiwa D Wave Surf | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 9 |
Daiwa Wilderness Spin Rod | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8.5 |
If you would like to see more fishing tackle check out our full list of featured products below.Â
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