The Next-Level Weapons for Saltwater War

When you fish saltwater, you learn fast: it’s not just the fish that fight back—it’s the whole damn ocean. The sun, the salt, the swell, the wrecks, the reefs, the wind… it all wants to break your gear, your spirit, and your will. And most rods? They fold like cheap lawn chairs.

That’s where the new ROGUE V series from St. Croix enters the fight—gnashing teeth, fists clenched, and battle-hardened by the angriest waters on earth.

This isn’t a tweak or a refresh. It’s a full-on reinvention of what a saltwater rod can be. Crafted with an all-new Matrix Composite blank that blends woven E-glass, SCII carbon, and ART scrim, the ROGUE V series delivers a brutal combo of strength, balance, and sensitivity that hits harder, fishes longer, and keeps you in control when it matters most.

Whether you’re vertical jigging tuna off the edge, slow pitching deep wrecks for amberjack, or bombing live baits at beach-running tarpon, ROGUE V is built to absorb the abuse and dish out the damage.

Why ROGUE V? Because the Ocean Doesn’t Give a Damn About Your Feelings

St. Croix already has over 200 saltwater sticks in the stable. They didn’t need to build these. They chose to.

The oceans are wide and wild, and so are the ways we fish them. That’s why the ROGUE V series delivers 39 completely new rods across three disciplines—Boat, Jig, and Slow Pitch. Each one is specifically engineered for different beatdowns: from tight-quartered bottom battles to precision drop-jigging and finesse slow-pitch action in deep water.

What they all share? That same Matrix Composite DNA, packed with St. Croix’s Fortified Resin System (FRS), Taper Enhancement Tech (TET), and Advanced Reinforcing Technology (ART)—a mouthful of science that translates to this:

• 10X blank strength without adding weight
• Uniform tapers for smooth, predictable load
• Durability that shrugs off high-stick carnage and storage abuse
• Responsiveness that makes your bait dance and your hooksets hammer

This isn’t your grandfather’s fiberglass broomstick. These rods feel like graphite but act like a sledgehammer.

Built to Outlast You

Everything about ROGUE V screams utility, reliability, and raw performance.

• K-style stainless-steel guides with Alconite rings handle braid, salt, and abuse with minimal drag.
• Dual-locking reel seats (nylon and stainless) keep your reels bolted on through the roughest rides and nastiest fights.
• Modified split-grip EVA handles—contoured for comfort, tough enough to last.
• Rubber gimbals (Boat & Jig) that lock in rock-solid without chewing up your deck.
• Premium EVA/cork butt caps (Slow Pitch) give you comfort and leverage on finesse battles.
• Hand-built in North America and backed by a 5-year transferable warranty.

It’s all about making sure the only thing that fails out there is the fish.

ROGUE V BOAT: CONTROL THE CHAOS

Built to rule the coastal zones, ROGUE V Boat rods are power tools for nearshore bruisers. With 20 models—split evenly between spinning and conventional—you’re covered from snapper rigs to king mackerel stingers to full-send cobia bombs.

Lengths range from 6’9” to 7’3”, and they’re tuned from medium-light to extra-heavy, so you can match your loadout to the mission.

Need to toss pilchards on light line? Grab the SEIS69ML. Going full meat stick on a wreck for goliaths? SEIC73XH is your hammer.

They all fish light, hold tough, and grip down with extended EVA foregrips and non-marring rubber gimbals that lock into rocket launchers and fighting belts like they were made for war. (Because they were.)

Price Range: $220–$255

ROGUE V JIG: SLAM METAL. FEEL EVERYTHING.

Jigging isn’t finesse. It’s violence with rhythm. It’s snap-speed drop sets, mad tension, and fish hitting like underwater freight trains. You need a rod that can hang—fast tip, savage backbone, and no dead weight.

That’s exactly what ROGUE V Jig delivers.

This 12-rod lineup (7 spinning, 5 conventional) is compact, balanced, and loaded with high-speed energy. Shorter rods like the SEIS53XXH and SEIC53XXH bring big heat for 350g jigs, while 7-footers like SEIS70M give you the reach to work lighter stuff at distance.

They’re unreal in the hand, light and nimble with just enough spring to control the jig and crush the fight.

Price Range: $200–$235

ROGUE V SLOW PITCH: DEADLY DANCE PARTNERS

Slow pitch jigging isn’t for the sloppy. It’s a technical, hypnotic, vertical seduction. The rod does all the work—lifting, falling, pulsing—luring your quarry into making a terrible mistake.

The ROGUE V Slow Pitch rods are purpose-built for this artform. Seven rods—five conventional, two spinning—each clocking in at 6’6” of slim, responsive precision.

From the ML-rated SEICJ66ML-SLP for fluttering lighter metal at 150g, to the XH-rated SEICJ66XH-SLP capable of slinging 500g slabs into deep, gnarly structure, every model is balanced and tuned for that perfect slow pitch action.

Minimalist grips. Balanced tips. Reinforced power curves that fold smoothly and snap back with authority. They fish buttery, but land heavy.

Price Range: $195–$220

Hardcore Tested. Hardcore Approved.

According to St. Croix’s VP of Innovation, Ryan Teach, ROGUE V wasn’t created in a vacuum—it was shaped by the real-world feedback of pro anglers, sales reps, and regional dealers from coast to coast. Every length, power, and action was built with on-the-water input to serve the diverse range of North American saltwater fisheries.

And while the current lineup is deep, this is only the beginning. Expect more ROGUE V models and tech to expand into even more applications—trolling, popping, casting, and beyond.

TideBandits’ Verdict: These Things Slap

We’ve seen a lot of rods come through the shop. Some are all flash and no guts. Others are tanks but fish like broom handles. ROGUE V hits the sweet spot—a weaponized blend of finesse and fury, smart engineering with savage intent.

Here’s why we’re giving it the TideBandits Seal of Full-Send Approval:

• It’s tough as hell – we put it up against rocks, big drag, and angry fish. It held.
• It fishes light – even the XXH rods feel balanced and fast.
• The slow pitch rods are surgical – perfect rebound, tight control.
• The EVA grips and gimbals are legit – comfortable and grippy when wet.
• It looks clean – blacked-out with minimal flash. Serious rods for serious anglers.

This is the rod series that finally puts affordable, high-end saltwater sticks in reach without compromise. No cheap components. No big box gimmicks. Just pro-level rods made to go hard and last long.

Get Ready to Gear Up

The ROGUE V Boat models hit tackle shops and stcroixrods.com starting September 1. The Jig and Slow Pitch models follow on October 1.

Because fishing saltwater isn’t for the soft—and neither is ROGUE V.

Written by Jason Arnold – TideBandits.com
Photographer, filmmaker, gear abuser.