Rod and Reel Selection Help

I'm getting ready to purchase a new rod and reel, and would appreciate any input from people familiar with what I'm looking at. They will be used exclusively for saltwater fishing, mostly pier fishing - some surf in NC. I've already got a couple of lightweight setups for spot, small blues, etc., so I'm wanting something heavy duty more in line with drum, false albacore, etc. Hopefully, they won't be too big to get some spot/blues as well. My choices are:

Reels: Penn 9500SS, Daiwa Black Gold BG90, or Shimano Baitrunner BTR6500A. All seem to have similar features, line capacities, etc and are roughly the same price.

Rods: Shakespeare Ugly Stick Bigwater Spinning (either 7' or 8', Cabela's Gold Label TR97 Spinning (7', or Cabela's Fish Eagle II Spinning (7'. While all 3 have similar line/lure capacities, there is about a $40 difference between the Shakespeare and the Fish Eagle II.

Anybody have any recommendations? Please respond via email. Thanks in advance.

they are all good! i have the hvy ugly,stiff back but good flex tip. shimono bt. runr reel i have 2, luv them. also diawa sealines casttin rods make for great pier rod #1-is 81/2 hy reel: abu 10000,#2-8ft.med/hvy reel:abu 10000 rion good fishing!!!!

I saw a rod the other day at Wal-Mart that you might like. It is made by Zebco and called the 'White Rhino' (I that is the name of it). It is a heavy duty saltwater rod and I believe it cost $40. Don't know if it is any good or not, just another suggestion.