Primary purpose is to cast 3oz (85g) breakaway sinker into the channel under the harbour bridge as far as I can.

I've read with a bit of practice I should be casting around 100m?

Secondary purpose is to go exploring around beaches/rocks and cast some bait out.

I know nothing about rods, but currently have my eye on this:

Kilwell BlackShadow 12ft

https://www.kilwell.co.nz/products/category/QKRJILFH-surf/BLS1203SU

Is this the good kind of cheap? Cheap and cheerful? Or cheap trash

I've had this one recommended to me: Shimano Vortex 12ft

https://www.marine-deals.co.nz/shimano-vortex-surf-rod-12ft-10-15kg-3pc

I looked everywhere and couldn't find the recommended casting weight for this rod though, so not sure where 3oz sits in it's casting weight range.

What do you guys think? Is the Kilwell good enough? Should I be avoiding the cheapest rods and looking for something better?

Should I be avoiding 14ft rods as a beginner, and sticking to 12?

Rod technology have come a long way in the last 10 years or so, a cheap and cheerful rod (in the low end of the range) are really good these days.  If you are targeting pannie snapper and kawhai etc then any of the rod you've mentioned will do the job well.   

Also bear in mind that when you're fishing around the rocks, you can try straylining instead of casting the bait out really far.  There's a saying in fishing, fish your feet first.  I'm not saying one is better than the other, but it is good to keep your mind open to other fishing techniques and tailor different techniques to the condition on the day.  

Didn't realise 3oz was too light for distance casting, so done some reconsidering.

Ended up getting a discount on the Tica Ezi Surf with 100-200g casting weight which is a bit heavier than the other rods I was looking at 

https://www.kilwell.co.nz/products/category/QKRJILFH-surf/TICEZI4203SU" rel="nofollow - https://www.kilwell.co.nz/products/category/QKRJILFH-surf/TICEZI4203SU

Pretty happy with the stated casting weight range. I'll be using 4oz for most of my needs but it can switch to 6oz if the conditions/location calls for it.

A little nervous how I'll go with a 14 footer but hopefully I can adjust and develop some casting technique.

Not worried if I can't hit 100m, I was asking that more out of curiosity.

Most honest words ever said on the internet Paul . Use a shock leader

Most honest words ever said on the internet Paul . Use a shock leader. I'm pretty sure I have cast at least a dozen sinkers off Whatipu 'back in the old days' that have landed somewhere in the Australian desert.

12 foot is good rod , 13 ft - 14 foot is better for distance. But 12 foot with right sort of cast with refined set up can get pretty close to where longer rods can get to.

When I used to fish there, long time ago, some  not so much atheletes were using 15 to 16 footers and could cast long way. The days of early hollow glass rods. I was fishing a 15 ft butterworth one piece then.

Have a graphite 10 foot graphite cheapish rod which would give even those long rods, run for their money with an eggbeater. Happy to come down and show  you if you are keen.

OK 80lb is too heavy and having it outside of the guides isn't achieving the purpose of a shock leader. My advice is to go down to no more than 24kg and make sure there are a few wraps on the spool when you are set up to cast.

Ok interesting... I put my sinker directly on the braid to do some practice casting and still getting issues.

I think the braid is looping/knotting immediately as it comes off the spool and gets stuck in the eyes.

Mostly when I wind it in, it's fine. But occasionally there is still one or two tangle points I have to untangle.

Will have to respool with new line I guess.

Think my new braid got lost in the mail, but if it ever arrives I'll go with 22lb braid and 10m of 50lb shock leader

You are a nice guy. I could offer some but I'm to lazy. 

Have he contacted you and taken the offer ?

Cos reading what he is  doing is very painful  

Hope you change your mind and take the offer and quick, offers like that don't come offten from experiance fishos like that 

The knock you hear when casting is because there are not enough wraps? winds on the reel, minimum of 6, is needed, this will eliminate that, when that crack, knock comes back is prolly cause leader has gotten shorter over time. Is how I found that out..so Tie on another leader... Fg is a great knot but not the bee's knee's. Made you look like a pro, Fuuu fg bro da man!! Don't ask my mate what he uses but it's good... Also that knock you hear, would be more noticeable on low rider guides.

Don't bumble your way thru, when you don't have to. Offer was a great one... I started taking young people & older with me, who want to learn or at least catch & get a feed to take home for the fams... great buzzz. The look on their faces is priceless...

good luck...

https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/surf-casting-rigs_topic136180_post1823781.html#1823781" rel="nofollow - https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/surf-casting-rigs_topic136180_post1823781.html#1823781

I have fished with John and he is a very capable fisherman and one of the nicest guys, take his advice

I used to surfcast a lot but my advice is probably way out of date. Still happy to have a casting comp with whoever but really should just shut my trap. Thanks Rocks Chrshing for nice words, I probably don’t deserve em, although lighter casting leader would probably be good start, as smudge already identified last night. You need a good knot though… there I go again thinking I know something!

Knot my problem but knot is your problem. Easiest way to fix , tie short double in braid 6cm  to to 10cm with a surgeons dropper loop, then tie 15 kg mono in with a “no name knot” or similar knots with other names (like San Diego jam.. and others) .

If ledger rig with sinker at bottom of rig is irrelevant.