Shimano has redesigned its inshore saltwater Calcutta fishing rods for 2006. The rods have silicon carbide guides mated to special blanks with glass inner cores wrapped with special high-modulus graphite layers to combine sensitivity with durability in a lightweight rod. Some models have an exposed blank running through the reel seat for greater sensitivity when casting for inshore game fish, such as flounder and speckled trout, which have notoriously gentle strikes.

The Shimano Teramar inshore rod series is tailored to each of three regions, the Southeast, Southwest and West coasts. Special features include Fuji guides with new harder alloys, such as Hardloy and Alconite, which keep the rods light in weight to help prevent fatigue for anglers who spend all day casting in the backwaters. The Teramar series rods also have lure keepers on the blanks above the rod handles. A secure place to hook a lure is always a welcome convenience that adds longevity to rod guides, which are where anglers are most likely to hook lures on rods without lure keepers. Lures jerking against rod guides during the race between fishing spots can take a toll on guide inserts.

At the opposite end of the Tramar inshore series in rod size are the Tallus IGFA rods in 50-, 80- and 130-pound classes. Super heavy-duty roller guides and Diamond Grip reinforcement wrap ahead of the grips on the rod ensure durability while fighting big-game fish. These rods are available in chair rod styles with bent butts or in straight butt styles.

Penn has a number of new saltwater rods, including the Penn Guide Kingfish Rods. The 7-foot conventional style trolling rods have the strong backbones combined with the fast, light tip tapers that are ideal for live-bait fishing for king mackerel and other medium-sized game fish. They are constructed with Fuji guides and reel seats and also have aluminum gimbles for added durability. King mackerel tournament pros were consulted during the design process for this new rod series, so it should be a real winner.

New Penn International Shallow Water Rods are built for fishing the backwaters. These lightweight rods have some of the characteristics of freshwater rods, with cork grips and IM7 graphite blanks that give them light weight. But the sturdiness of Fuji guides and other durable components adapt this lightweight rod to the rigors of saltwater fishing in bays, coastal rivers and sounds.

For 2006, Quantum offers a new Boca PT (Performance Tuned) series rod. The rod is made in both inshore and offshore models. The inshore models feature high-modulus graphite blanks, Fuji exposed blank type reel seats in casting models for extra sensitivity, Fuji Hardloy Concept guides, premium specie-grade cork handles and FlexCoat epoxy finishes for added protection to the rod surface.

Quantum Boca offshore models are built with heavy-duty graphite blanks, Fuji DPS reel seats, Fuji Hardloy guides and EVA foam grip handles.

It's a certainty as these and other materials and other innovations become available, saltwater rods will continue to become better tools for catching fish. That gives every angler what he needs -- an excuse to buy another fishing rod.

For more information, contact: Shakespeare, www.shakespeare-fishing.com, (800) 347-3759; Shimano, www.shimano.com, (877) 577-0699; Penn, www.pennreels.com, (215) 229-9415; Quantum, www.quantumfishing.com, (800) 588-9030.