Built Your Way, From the Ground Up
Looking for something truly one-of-a-kind? Our full custom rods are designed exactly to your vision — no templates, no limits. From grip material and color to thread wraps, blank choice, and hardware, every detail is up to you. Whether you want to match your boat, make a statement on the water, or build something with personal meaning, we’ll work with you step by step to bring it to life.
Each rod is handcrafted with the same elite build quality as our Select Series: high-end composite blanks, Fuji guides, tangle-free tops that won't spin, and our signature rounded gimbals for all-day comfort and durability. But with full customs, the creative control is all yours.
If you’re not sure where to start, our Select Series offers our most popular custom designs, ready to be built without the full design process — perfect for anglers who want elite customs without the back-and-forth.
Give us a call to discuss your build or fill out our interest form and we'll get back to you ASAP!
Custom Rod Styles
If you can think it up, Gulfstream Customs can probably build it. Most of the rods we build, though, fall into the categories below.
Swordfish Rods
Swordfish rods are our specialty. Most of our builds fall into three categories, all of which can be paired with the #4 butt of your choice:
“WMD” 12-15# Heavy Swordfish Rod
Nicknamed the “Weapon of Mass Destruction” by hard-fishing South Florida sword experts and available in 63” and 69” lengths (tip to ferrule), our heavy swordfish tip rod doesn’t give the fish a chance. Designed for South Florida’s strong currents and rough conditions, this rod can handle up to 15 lbs. of lead while still remaining sensitive enough to see bites and to absorb shock during long fights, preventing hooks from wearing holes in fish. Our WMD is most commonly paired with a Winthrop T-10X adjustable butt or a Stuart standard-bend or deep-bend butt and with a Lindgren-Pitman electric reel.
10# Medium Swordfish Rod
Also available in 63” and 69” lengths, our medium swordfish rods can handle up to 10# of lead and is popular with Gulf anglers. A Winthrop T-10X adjustable butt or a Stuart standard-bend or deep-bend butt is recommended.
Swordfish Buoy Rod
Our Buoy Rod is a brute, built on the same blank that was used to catch the current Florida record swordfish. The 69” length ensures that the line clears your outboards motor when deploying the buoy. A Winthrop T-10X adjustable butt or a Stuart standard-bend or deep-bend butt is recommended.
Handcrank Swordfish Rod
If handcranking swordfish is your game, our Handcrank Sword rod gives you a fighting chance. It measures 63" from tip to ferrule and can handle 3 -6 lbs. of lead. We recommend pairing with#2 Winthrop Terminator Adjusta-Butt Short Handle and Okuma's Makaira 30II two-speed reel.
Deep Drop Rods
Gulfstream Customs deep drop rods measure 63” from tip to ferrule and are available with #2 or #4 ferrules.
The #4 DDR rod is designed for use with Lindgren-Pitman, Hooker 80, or Daiwa MP3000 electric reels or with 80-class hand-crank reels.
The #2 version is designed for use with Hooker 50, Hooker 30 and Daiwa Tanacom electric reels or with 50-class and smaller hand-crank reels.
High Speed Trolling Rods
Our purpose-built high speed trolling rods measure 60” from tip to ferrule. With a #4 ferrule, they are designed for Lindgren-Pitman, Hooker 80, or Daiwa MP3000 electric reels or with 80-class hand-crank reels.
Venice 30 and 50 Standup Rods
Built on American-made blanks with soft, shock-absorbing tips and plenty of backbone, our uni-butt standup rods measure 56” from tip to ferrule. Paired with a Winthrop Terminator Adjusta-Butt, these are the lightest and most versatile rods in their class.
The 30-class rods are designed around the Okuma Makaira 30II reel and are ideal for light trolling duty for mahi, small tuna, and smaller wahoo.
The 50-class rods are designed around the Okuma Makaira 50WII and are best suited for wahoo trolling and for big tuna in the Caribbean.
"Mutton Manager" Jigging/Bottom Rods
Also known as the Mutton Manager, these versatile offshore bottom rods were developed in partnership with renowned South Florida captain Mutton Mike
We build them in 6’6” or 7’0” lengths on 30-60# or 40-80# blanks.
Designed for use with braided line and compact reels like the Okuma Alijos 12SII, the conventional Mutton Manager features a shortened grip per Capt. Mike’s orders and combines a soft, shock-absorbing tip section with lots of backbone to turn powerful snapper, grouper, or kingfish.
We also build the Mutton Manager in spinning configuration for use with 8000-size reels such as the Okuma Tesoro.
"Grouper Scooper" Reef/Wreck Rods
The Grouper Scooper is the rod you need to winch big black grouper and gags up out of the reefs and wrecks. It's also a good choice for targeting bigger snapper in deep water and heavy current — or just for targeting snapper in areas where they share the reef with big black grouper.
Like the Mutton Manager, the Grouper Scooper is built on a 7'0", 40-70# blank, but it adds a roller top and a slick butt, making it easier to get in and out of the rod holder. This rod is great for turning the handle in the rod holder if necessary.
The Grouper Scooper is a perfect match for powerful, two-speed reels like the Okuma Alijos 16II.
Slow Pitch Jigging Rods
Our 6’8” spiral-wrapped (aka “acid-wrapped”) 200 - 300g Slow Pitch Jigging Rod is designed to match with today's compact conventional reels. With more backbone than most slow pitch rods, it delivers similar feel and action while delaying your wrist surgery for a few years.
20# and 30# Offshore Spinners and Kite/Flatline Rods
Among the most versatile of all rods for South Florida fishing, 7-foot, 20-lb. and 30-lb. boat spinning rods are ideal for live bait applications, especially during our winter sailfish and spring tuna fisheries.
A fast action blank prevents the rod from bowing up excessively, which can make it difficult for the captain see which way the fish is going during the fight — especially when the angler is in the bow with other crew crowded around.
We recommend matching these rods with a 10000-size or larger reel such as the Okuma Tesoro or Cedros to provide the extra line capacity needed for long runs under tournament conditions.
Also popular are these 20-lb. and 30-lb. kite/flatline rods in conventional configuration.
"Snook Slayer" Inlet/Spillway Rods
Purpose-built for casting big jigs and baits to inlet and spillway snook, our 7’10” Snook Slayer is built on a 15-30# blank rated for 1 - 7 oz. lures. This rod can be built in either spinning or casting configuration.