Custom Rod Shop – Tuna Rods with Adrian Martinez
Custom rod building is equal parts craft and tradition. Step inside Handler Fishing Supply in Merritt Island, Florida, for a behind-the-scenes look as Adrian Martinez builds a stand-up tuna rod set.
These rods are 100% American Made—built on Seeker composite blanks and fitted with special edition matte black AFTCO Unibutts® and Roller Guides. From cork grips turned by hand on a lathe to custom epoxy swirls laid down with patience, every detail comes from time at the bench.
Rod building as it should be—functional, artistic, and built to fish.
Videography: Jason Arnold
Edit: Osborne Media
"Every custom rod starts with an idea. An idea of what we want to use it for, of what we want it to look like, and what we want it to feel like. But most importantly, how do we want the rod to perform?"
"As far as a functional classic grip, the handmade cork grip—glued on the blank, turned on a lathe, and made with high-quality cork—is somewhat of a dying art."
Classic handmade cork grip on a Seeker 6’ Composite Stand-Up Tuna Rod (50–80 lb).
Unique swirled epoxy. Limited-run matte black AFTCO Big Foot® Super Heavy Duty rollers.
Matte black AFTCO Unibutts®—straight and curved.
"Building a rod with AFTCO components gives us a high-performance, durable rod that we know our customers can count on."
— Adrian Martinez, Handler Fishing Supply
Built in the USA. Limited-Run Matte Black Hardware.
