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What Is An “8 and bait” Fishing Rod?
Simply put, 8nbait or “8 and bait” are terms referencing the ability to cast at least 8 ounces of lead combined with a heavy bait.
- 8nbait refers to at least an 8 ounce sinker combined with a large piece of bait.
- 8 and bait rods are rods that are capable of throwing an 8-n-bait payload.
Typical Length and Weight Rating
Fishing rods used for this type of heavy setup generally hover somewhere around 12 feet long, and are rated for somewhere between 8 and 20 ounces. A 12 foot rod sort of hits a sweet spot for this application. It provides good distance without wearing you out too quickly.
2 Piece vs 1 Piece
I like a 2 piece 12 foot rod for traveling convenience, but many hardcore surf casters instead prefer to go with a 1 piece custom graphite rod. Custom rods can start to get pricey really quick, so I usually stick with something commercially available. I prefer this 2 piece Tica surf rod on Amazon – UGSA12XH2S Tica Surf Spinning Rod.
It’s an Attitude
Sometimes people reference their setup as an 8-n-bait, when in fact it might not actually be using an 8 oz. sinker. I saw where one guy referenced 8nbait as more of an attitude than a specific setup. Nevertheless, it basically means a really beefy surf casting setup made to handle very heavy payloads. This could be either a spinning or a conventional combo.
Advantages Of An 8 And Bait Fishing Rod
There are several reasons that fishing setups capable of casting heavy payloads are popular in certain regions.
- Bottom holding ability
- Distance casting
- Better ability to efficiently fight big fish.
Use an 8-n-bait to hold bottom
An 8nbait setup will allow you to cast enough weight to hold your bait to the bottom in strong current. Larger baits, in particular, are more likely to get swept up by strong currents, so you’ll need a lot of lead to keep them pinned down. More about this below.
Provides good casting distance
With a “normal” surf rod, you won’t really be able to lay into a heavy weight, as you might break your rod. A true heaver, on the other hand, is very stiff and helps you push a heavy bait out past the sandbar. This is sometimes what’s required in order to even get bit. A heaver also helps you cast enough weight to cut through any wind.
Shortens the fight with bigger fish
Another significant benefit of a heavy surf rod is that you are more able to quickly horse a large fish in. The faster you can get a fish in, the more likely it will have enough reserve energy to safely swim away after the battle.
Who Uses 8-n-bait Surf Fishing Rods
- Anglers fishing in heavy current
- When using large baits
- Or, fishing in a crowd where there is current
When fishing in heavy current
Extra heavy surf rods are used more in specific areas where heavy current is a significant obstacle. This could be in passes, certain beaches, or most notably the famed Point at Hatteras, North Carolina. That’s why you might also see these setups referenced as Hatteras Heavers.
These “heavers” are usually used to target large bull red drum, sharks, striped bass, among others.
A true 8nbait rod will require at least 8 ounces of weight to fully load the rod. You may think that sounds like a lot of weight, but in some areas it really does take that much, or more, lead to hold bottom.
I know there’s a vast segment of the surf fishing community that would rather go to the house for the day if it takes that much weight to fish. It’s certainly not for everyone. But, in some areas that’s what it takes to fish effectively.
Using really large baits
I personally use 8-n-bait style setups for bull reds and sharks from the beaches and passes in Florida. I prefer to cast, rather than kayak or swim a bait out. So, I need a heaver in order to get any distance when throwing out fist sized or larger baits.
Big baits are not very aerodynamic, and having extra lead helps get it some distance out there.
Larger sized baits also pick up a lot of current on the bottom, therefore you need a heavier sinker to keep it from quickly drifting out of position.
A “heaver” surf rod is what’s going to allow you to cast such a large bait and weight effectively.
Sometimes you must stay in sync with the crowd
There is an alternative to using really heavy sinkers to hold bottom. Lighter weight Sputnik sinkers can be used to anchor more firmly to bottom than heavier bank or pyramid sinkers. For example, you could get away with about a 6 ounce Sputnik to get the same result as an 8 ounce or larger pyramid. This would in turn let you get away with using a lighter weight rod.
Sputnik’s are normally my preference, so much so, that I have an article about why Sputnik’s are better than pyramid sinkers. However, you shouldn’t use Sputnik weights if you’re fishing in a crowd that’s drifting 8nbait setups. What you’ll end up with is a tangled mess with your fellow anglers.
When fishing among a group of anglers whose lines are slowly drifting, you are going to have to try to match their pace. This is common in places where quality fishing areas have lots of current. In such cases, you cannot use a Sputnik style sinker, but rather you’ll have to get on board with using an 8-n-bait setup.
Conclusion
If you keep finding yourself in scenarios where you’re unable to hold bottom, or you’re unable to get a large bait out far enough, the 8nbait setup might be the answer.
When shopping for your own heaver fishing rod, you should look for something that is rated ABOVE 8oz. 8-n-bait means what it says, which is 8 ounces PLUS the weight of your bait. So, a 10-16 ounce rod rating is more like what you’ll be looking for. If you need help in choosing the right surf rod, I have another article about that here.
It sure is a lot of fun heaving out a massive chunk of bait from shore. You never know what you might hook into!
Good Luck,
Augustus Clay
For more information on other surf fishing topics, check out the other saltwater articles on my site. Or, StripersOnline is another great resource for learning more about surf casting topics.
