Why would you want something so long when fishing from a boat? It would be much more maneagable to put on a longer leader or use a softer/more parabolic rods as you'll still 'deal with the headshakes' but there will be a lot less pressure on you (long rods put more pressure on you for the same pressure on the fish). LB its a bit different as you probably would need casting distance (though, for snapper at least, you may not anyways). Theres quite a few different styles of rods you could use (i use a barra baitcaster rod for my driftbaiting, a jigstick for my heavier overhead, but then theres short strokers, standard bottom bouncing rods, etc, etc)

What is your budget and are you running braid or mono on the avet?

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Budget is around $400....



Not sure whether i should get a 7 footer or 8.... My usual land based spot can take jews 5m out so casting distance is not an issue... but there is quite a few rocks infront of me.. (not rock fishing) just in a river. Probly 7" sounds ideal for everything....

Ive got 2 avet SX's and fish both of them off Daiwa Monster Mesh MM 632MHB-SIC

just use them for bottom bouncing and think they are the perfect match, Ultra light to hold onto all day but with heaps of grunt.

Jarrad

Even 7' wont be the most comfortable using from a boat, which is why most boat rods are 6' or less. Rod length is really only useful for casting distance and maneuvering around obstacles. Having a 'shorter' length rod will also open up a lot of good options for rods. If you're not casting, i'm not sure where the length is helping? (its the action and the line, not the length that'll deal with headshakes)

Best bet is to head into a tackle shop and check a few rods out. As mentioned, have a look at the monster meshes, catalinas or the jigwrex's. Monstermeshes come in 7' but only spin. If you want something very light and thin, then there are a few jigging rods out there that would fit that (again, not with the length). I'm not sure what range you have over there though. You wont find many light boat rods 7' and above though. 

If you really need the length, then there are casting rods that should be available in the configuration. E.g. you want a 20lb rod, there should be quite a few options out there for barra rods. Perhaps even some LBG rods might be suitable? Some manufacturers do bay jigger rods (e.g. daiwa bluebacker or saltiga bluebacker, but may be a bit over the price range), or the shimano lucanus rods. The US tescata lucanus rods are 8' though.

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Longer rods tend to work you over too much but a 6 or 7 foot should be fine , i cant vouch for an 8 foot rod out of a boat because i have never tried to use one.

Good luck though, im sure you'll find something decent for 400$  

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You couln't wipe that grin fom my face even with a hammer.

Iv got my SX on a 6'6 live fiber 8-15kg rod it has a nice light tip for soaking up the head shakes but has plenty of power in the butt so you can put the heat on the fish when you need to.

I've got the same monster mesh as Big J. 6'3 and wouldn't want anything any longer for bottom bouncing. The live fibres are a lovely rod or the shimano deep jig 200 at 5'10 is another option. If you do want something longer the lucanus seems a nice rod but unless you want to cast as stated above length is not needed. You should be able to get any of the rods mentioned above well within your budget.

GO BLUES.

I have a SX 2 speed with magic cast on a  PE3 xyoga and it accounted for some good sized fish in exmouth, biggest was probably a 90cm to fork goldspot trevally.

On my smaller reels like Avett size i use my Lemax 6ft Slimax (thin) jig rod which is very versitile. Great for jigging, bottom fish & light stuff (rated to PE3 or 30lb) and is under the budget too! 

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