About Gulfstream Custom Rods
Two friends, one shop, about 500 premium custom rods a year.
What makes our rods better
Diamond Tek blanks
Our own brand of Toray carbon composite blanks — 20% thinner, 20% lighter and 30% more durable than traditional E-glass blanks.
Grips made in house
Premium rubberized X grips, carbon fiber or cork, built right here in the shop.
Premium guides
Top-shelf Fuji guides on most heavy-duty saltwater rods, and titanium single-foot Seaguides on smaller inshore rods.
Rounded gimbals
Our stand-up rods have rounded gimbals that are comfortable, won't dig into the angler and won't scratch your boat deck.
Winthrop on every Unibutt
All our Unibutt rods use Winthrop components, with an aluminum or titanium Winthrop roller top option.
Self-healing paint
Painted rods use our own technique: automotive paint mixed with our own epoxy for a tough, self-healing color.
Finish that lasts
Our finish epoxy doesn't yellow in the sun, doesn't chalk when wet, and cures without bubbles.
NFC registration & limited lifetime warranty
Register your rod with its NFC tag, and it's backed by our limited lifetime warranty covering manufacturing defects.
Good, better, best
Custom rods can be built with good, better or best parts. We tell everyone: we don't use the good parts. Better parts last 5–7 years under heavy use, and the best premium parts, which most of our rods are built with, last 10+ years.
Limited lifetime guarantee
Covers any manufacturing defects, plus half-price replacements for user errors.
Wholesale program
For tackle shops and distributors. Learn more
Factory tours
By appointment only. Book a call
How it started
I started building rods as a kid with my next-door neighbor, just for fun. When I entered the workforce I became an electrician, but it wasn't something I enjoyed or felt passionate about.
After working briefly for some competitors' rod shops, I founded Gulfstream Custom Rods in 2018, when I was 25. The rods quickly became known for their quality and craftsmanship.
A two-man shop
As demand grew, I brought on Aaron, a longtime friend from church and Boy Scouts. Today Gulfstream remains a dedicated two-person operation, with Tim and Aaron personally building every rod by hand.
Beyond the shop, I lead guided swordfish trips for clients. The photos here come from those trips, and the time on the water directly informs how every Gulfstream rod is designed to be used.
