New rods for 2019 with Lou Caruso. Part One - Entry Level Surf Rods 

how did you know the distance did you measure it?

Clifford Zuber bought the 8'8" elite a few days ago. Very nice. Threw jigs as low as 3/8- lures to 1 1/2 oz. casted far. Have a shimano stradic 4000 paired with it. 20lb sufix braid.

Hope the rod works out for you. There's a much less expensive alternative ... a 9 ft. Ugly Stik - MODEL # USSP902M - it's rated from an ( absurd ) 1/8 oz up to 3/4 oz. . However, you can ignore that high number. With a 10 - 12 ft top-shot of mono ( 15 - 25 lb ) in front of 20 lb. braid, it can throw 1 - 2 oz of Lead or Lures all day. Absolute max is a 3 oz. weight under a two-hook dropper rig. The beaches on the Panhandle are slow sloping, and have few obvious breaks or run-outs. Checking out the water at dead low tide is recommended, as is looking for concentrations of small washed-up clamshells. Save yourself a lot of hassle and use "Fishbites" for bait ... Sand-Flea, Shrimp, and Clam flavor, in White or Pink. ( beware hard, stiff, baits at discount stores. They should be soft and pliable, and they'll stay that way for a year if wrapped up and stored in the fridge. ) For a reel, three inexpensive choices: Okuma Ceymar 55, or Okuma Epixor 40, or Okuma Azores Z-40. Anything larger is overkill unless you're fishing at night, for Shark. Otherwise, dawn and sundown are good, especially on either side of high tide. During the Summer, you'll appreciate the cooler temperatures as well. A few Pompano might still be around, but there will be Whiting, small Shark, and the dreaded Hardhead Catfish. ( be very, very, careful ... unhook them with pliers lest you get stuck ... it hurts for days. ) Have fun, and don't forget the sunscreen, Polorized shades, and a big hat.