i would`nt go past my century kompressor grand prix, i fish all grounds, sometime in a big sea and strong tidal areas. i find this rod to be very very strong, light, and sensitive to bites, the sea doesnt bother this rod much, i hold my rod as second nature, never use a stand or tripod, its very comfortable to use and hold for a session, ive pulled in cod in a big sea to 15lb and no probs for the rod,
i use various reels with this rod, slosh, abu 7000 and the elite all match the rod perfectly, 5-6oz weights are ideal for this rod for all conditions.
another excelent rod is my other the century tip tornado, very light, really sensitive to bites, though a bit soft for rocks and dragging fish through kelp beds. but for beach, pier or general rock its perfect. this rod for being so light and having a thin top section it is unbelievably strong, you could never snap it by pulling at a snag. it bends forever, hence-not being ideal for dragging fish through a heavy kelp bed.
good luck
personally i wouldnt buy a zziplex, over exagerated and they are not built with the same composite as century.
remember zziplex are built as what i class as a southern rod, for southern beach work.
century rods are built locally and they know the local terrain the rods will be used on. we have a rugged coastline with some of the finest fishing areas in the uk, these are designed to take punishment, and will never let you down.
rods are not designed to lift fish over around 3lb, no rod is - drop nets and handballing the fish is the only way, to lift a big fish say of around 8lb the rod would have to have a solid butt and the tip section around 3inches thick to withstand the pressures of lifting a fish of this callibre