I've been the "mono only" guy here & elsewhere before... so what the heck-- I'll be that guy again!
(Hi, B.B.
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I use NOTHING for my surf- fishing ever, but mono.-- 20 or 25 lb. test absolute max., even for Eeling & chunking... (yes, I lose my share of corkers doing so!
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Lots of reasons for my choice: but I guess I want to hook up my "40- 50" on line 1/2 her weight... not on 50 or 80 lb. braid where I should never lose really! It CAN be done! ('cause it was done so many many times in Striper Surf history, even from craggy areas like South side of Block or M. Light or Nobska or Squibby... etc.
A HUGE factor w/ mono. over braid for me, IS whatever line I'm using I want to constantly cut back without fear, & fish only with "mint cond." line! The high price of braid & pain in the butt of respooling or even the difficulty of cutting back braid & re- knotting the leader (esp. in the dark while on a rock) keeps many a braid- guy fishing charred/ haggard line longer than they should... 'till "ping!" --
(at the very worst moment usually!)
So I guess I'm mainly here agreeing with Larry: the low- cost of mono. encourages always keeping your top- shot fresh, & that is a huge plus (esp. when throwing "custom" Wood that can cost $25- 80. or more! Yes I still throw BM large Dannys & Habs 3.5s rather than collect or sell them!
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BUT-- Larry: you must not fish M. too often? (Several times a Season only you need to replace the mono. top- shot?)
At the height of my Fall run there... I'm respooling a new 250- yard top- shot on my VS250 w/ 20 lb. mono. at least twice a week! -- sometimes even after only one session! (IF Blues are more pesky than normal... or good- size fish digging line into the bottom occurs, etc.
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