Back in the Saddle: Tackle Advice

[tbay22]

Went fishing for the first time in a long time the other night at the Skyway. Had a great time, two nice runs free linning Pin's....however lost them both due to what I think is sub-par tackle.

I need to replace the line on my two rods, a penn 3/0 209 & penn 4/0 113H. The guy I was talking to (cool guy) was using braided line and suggested I do the same.

Can someone on the board recommend a good brand of braided line and what color type if any. Aslo, would I use braided line with monofilament leader? I mainly am looking to catch grouper, tarpon, cobia.

Thanks in advance for the replies. Great forum!

Take Care,

Tbay22

[havetofish]

This Grouper thread will give you some info skywaypiers.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=527
I would go with 65-80lb Hi-vis Power Pro on the 4/0

[filletnrelease]

I use 100lb, but that's just me. Always worried I might finally hook that biggin.

[tylerdurden]

Definately switch to braid. With the florida heat its make mono real brittle. And for us pier fishermen mono frays way to easy on a piling.

Switched last year and caught more fish and bigger fish than I wouldve been able to before and still using the same line from last year. Mono I would need to replace after every summer.

still need the mono leader tho, I think fish just see braid easier or something. But a little advice try to use a slightly lighter mono leader than your main line, that way when you get snagged it more often breaks on the leader and you save your weight.

[gerard1031]

So it's interesting to see this recommended in both directions; heavier line- lighter leader...and then the opposite...lighter line- heavier leader.

I wonder if the Mythbusters would do a segment on this?

It would seem from common sense...that the lighter line would break somewhere so, you'd rather have that break occur on the short , easy to replace leader rather than the long more expensive main line.

OR.....does the knot give away mostly and it's just preference?

Thoughts guys?

I'm personally a....50# mono or pp to 30# leader.

My wife just skips the leader and ties her circle hook direct to her 50# mono line...and to date...has brought home more keeper grouper than me!!!

[havetofish]

2 schools of thought on the line leader issue.
If you want a better chance of actually pulling a rocked gag out then a heavy leader gives you a better chance, because it is being scraped and shredded by the rocks.
If you don't want to have main line breaks, then the lighter leader will give out first.
But its all relative to what lb line your talking about. If I'm using minimum 65lb main and 50 lb leader, I believe I have a decent shot at him. Or even 80/60 or 100/80.
If your using palomar knots then they will not break.
Personally, the hook knot is my weak point, since I use a loop knot for freelining, but very seldom does your hang up come directly from the the hook, unless you snag some other heavier line, which does happen. There is plenty of line/leader and other junk down there that you can pull up, which is another reason for the heavy gear.

[filletnrelease]

John is right on target with this one. Those rocks not mention the Grouper will shred a leader in a heart beat. But then on the occasion that I am using a lead, if I get rocked I want that leader to break first. My choice, 100lb main line, 80lb mono leader. On the other side (East), I use 80lb mono, no leader. The line can come up under that span when you get one way out and Braid won't take it.