Need some input with line choice advantages

[SeaWolf]

i hear ya, dennis. well, a real true test would have to involve a lot of these newer rods built as COF or large NGC for mono. then, how are the blank failures? and, how many "wind knots" would be lessened if anglers used a rod properly designed for braid vs just a COF ceramic guide layout?
i'm willing to bet that 95%+ of anglers fishing the surf today, and the vast majority on these sites, are using braid. braid today is like mono in the early-mid 90s. i don't think you can write a small article on this subject, including the braid vs mono blank failures, and have all the information. in my opinion, if you take away manufacturers blank design flaws, manufacturer rod design flaws, blems, the majority of the breaks left would be due to angler negligence. i've build tuna popping rods for BFT where the powers and pressures were much larger than in surf fishing. the only failures i received were due to the angler.
it just has always bothered me when i hear/read a rod/blank being blamed when it eventually comes out that is was in fact due to the angler. there were countless ones on another site that started as a manufacturer bashing thread when it was due to the angler, but the damage to the manufacturer's reputation was already done since most didn't read all 13 pages. again, i'm removing rods/blanks w/ design flaws.
like i said, i don't see enough advantages to fish mono over braid in the surf.

[tlapinski]

I added a few notes to your post below. As an aside, I use braid 99% of the time.

Super Braids (Disadvantages)
1. High cost – initially yes, long-term no
2. Wind knots impossible to untangle – practically non-existent when braid is used/spooled correctly
3. Hook-up to land ratio: Dropped fish when allowed to go slack – is this any different than what is experienced with mono?
4. Abrasion resistance is poor – only on some brands
5. No stretch destroys rod blanks - any proof of this?
6. Very hard to break when you’re hung up. - not nearly as difficult as 30-plus-pound mono IMO
7. Braid buries on spool when under extreme pressure sometimes causing line to cut itself. – again, only when used/spooled incorrectly

Monofilament (Advantages)
1. Affordability – initially but not on long term
2. Shock absorbency – the ability for mono to stretch on high impact strikes offers insurance.
3. Abrasion resistance in boulder fields is a huge advantage for monofilament. - adding a long leader greatly lessens this advantage
4. Ability to tie direct without leader when a subtle presentation is necessary. – only really an issue in very limited situations
5. More forgiving in overcoming mistakes. For example monofilament will stretch quite a bit if a drag is set too tight. This will allow a caster to back off the tension before the line breaks.
6. Improved hook-up to land ratio. I found that monofilament allows for a better hook-up/land ratio because the stretch in mono always seems to help keep a tight line when a bass is thrashing on the surface. – but what about poor hook-set of mono due to stretch? That kind of off-sets any in fight advantage IMO.

[numbskull]

Another mono disadvantage is its diameter in cross wind. The line bows more and coupled with its stretch it becomes impossible to feel or control your plug.

And also there is the leader to line issue when using a shock/abrasion leader.
With mono any knot you tie is bulky and breaking at about 60-75% of line test. This is a weak spot since even if you use #20 mono you will break off at 12-15 lbs. That's not an issue with most fish but sure is when you snag bottom with a pricey plug.

With braid you can use this FG knot which is essentially the same diameter as the leader and tests at 100%. This makes it easy to tear plugs free from almost any hang and also lets you put full force to a fish if the situation requires. Unfortunately the stiffness difference between braid and the mono/fluoro leader still causes some issues on spinning rods (at least with the small guides I use).