I had some success with the big surf sticks, though I'd say it was despite the size, not because of it. Feeling the bite was only really possible with the largest of redtails. On several occasions, I would reel in to check bait and I would discover a fish had been on for quite a while.

Personally, I found that my Bush Point setup ended up being far more appropriate for surfperch than the big 15' rod. After all, surfperch rarely exceed 3 lbs. My setup consists of an 8.5 foot Berkley IM7 spinning rod with a medium-sized Shimano spinning reel loaded with as much Fireline as I could put on it. Fireline is great due to the extra distance you get on casts. For surfperch, I put a one-ounce claw weight on a slider and bait it with mussels, clams, or shrimp.

Save the 15' rod for bank fishing for Columbia sturgeon or using Crabhawk traps.