Monofilament line=Dinosaur tackle?

[LeCounts1099]

I've been the "mono only" guy here & elsewhere before... so what the heck-- I'll be that guy again! (Hi, B.B. )


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! )


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! )



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. )

[Sweetwater]

I typically use a 10' conventional off the beach when fishing bait (such as sand eels). I've tried both mono and braid and much prefer mono for that application. The stretch in the line is actually an advantage as the fish basically hooks itself dragging the lead after it has taken the bait. Also, I find it easier to cast, fewer backlashes, I don't need the extra line (yardage) for fighting a fish, and I've noticed no difference in casting distance. Plus, it's easier to break-off when a seal decides he needs the fish more than you do.

[MAKAI]

what sweetwater said . . . mono on the big conventional bait rods in the surf , braid on everything else.

[Raider Ronnie]

On the boat.
I fish braid.
Charters fish mono. Too many problems with clients and braid.

[Sweetwater]

Originally Posted by Raider Ronnie

On the boat.
I fish braid.
Charters fish mono. Too many problems with clients and braid.

RR, you mentioned you don't like to use braid with clients due to the problems (I agree). But, do you jig wire line with clients on board? If so, do you find they screw that up a lot to?

[Raider Ronnie]

Originally Posted by Sweetwater

RR, you mentioned you don't like to use braid with clients due to the problems (I agree). But, do you jig wire line with clients on board? If so, do you find they screw that up a lot to?

Wire can be problem also but we don't have 4-6 rods going at a time.

[BigFish]

Lecounts....I dream of fishing "M"!