All I know, if you'd been with me this weekend, you'd be changing your line....

Every red was in knee deep water, in scattered shell pods and grass. Every single fish was jacked up on red bull, they'd go 10 feet to bust a lure, then turn on the jets sideways, into every shell they could find. I had two very good fishermen with me, and after five break offs, enough was indeed enough.

They both respooled and that was that. Keep preaching all you want, just don't get mad if it doesn't work.

Lets beat this Dog some more.Jeez.

Alright, guess I overestimated your time on the water. I'll go down to 200 then... You obviously have very little clue about anything concerning this topic.

My apologies, Dog...

this thread is awesome...

anyways, for inshore i have my 2500 stradic rigged with 30 suffix braid, and for surf i have my 4000 stradic rigged with 30 suffix; all on a medium action castaway 7'6" rod. i can't turn the big ones like a heavier action rod, but it gets the job done. no break offs in oyster. the 2500 stradic is my go to rig bouncing arti's in carlos bay (talk about shell). like mentioned before, if the top water bite is on and my casting rig is in the boat, i'll uni/uni a floro leader and have at it.


when i use mono, which is only on casting rigs, its 12# or 15# p-line for all my inshore fishing. surf calls for my ambassadeur 6500 with 20# mono, have yet to spool with braid.

just get out there and fish.

Whatever, you're a weekend warrior from Dallas trying to be a saltwater guru and failing miserably. There is a great thread on braid on the 2cool site, I suggest you read it. You will learn something from people who are on the water almost every day, not somebody regurgitating stuff they read on websites. Your credibilty will go up if you get some personal experience with stuff you are giving advice and opinions on.

Daaannng! You girls really should stop arguing and just go fishing! LOL!

So I am more confused than before after reading this?!? I was hoping to gain some knowledge so I could try something new. I use 20lb mono with 40lb mono leader in the surf and do just fine. I was thinking of paying the money to put braid on but seems I should just stick with what I use.

If I do go to braid should I use mono or fluorocarbon leader?

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Just don't take advice from someone who has never used braid, but thinks he's an expert on it because he read a website.

It's all just tools in your box. Is there purpose for both lines? Absolutely yes. I only throw brain on my spinning rods, it lays better and works better with a jig head and plastic.

I use mono on my casting rods, I like the way it casts better, and the way it works on a top water or hard bait.

Would I *ever* use 6 lb anything? Not likely, I guess I'm just too greedy, I want to catch as many as I can.

Try it all, it's just line, you'll get your own system down that works best for you, wherever you go.

nicely said mr. goff

I just caught a 41 inch bull red at south jetty on 10lb test yesterday, and hooked up on a jack crevaille but it straighted out my steel swivel

I use the same setup except I use a leader. I usually use a 20 or 30 lb fluoro leader. I feel the fluor increases the strike ratio, it also stands up to gill plates and teeth a little better than the braid. I have caught literally hundreds, maybe more than a thousand reds in my days of fishing port A and it is best to use a heavier rig than needed. If fishing for the big boys at the jetty, a 10 lb rig will not work. It is possible you could land one but it would be very difficult a 45+ inch red will just sit on the bottom with that rig and you could not move him. 20 or 30lb braid would be perfect for any reds you come across. This fish was caught on 12lb test but I do not recommend it. It took forever to land and had I been using the right tackle, it might have taken me 5 minutes. Caught it while sheepshead fishing. Thought I had a world record sheepshead.


If you plan on releasing the fish, be prepared with the right tackle so as little stress as possible is put on the fish. A long fight will probably equal death to the fish. The fish in the picture is a smaller large red at around 44 inches or so. We catch them up to 50inches+. A ten lb setup would be useless. Listen to pat and add a leader if you like but braid is all that is needed for everything down at the coast. Leaders come in handy on toothy critters and fish with sharp gill plates. Braid cuts easily on sharp objects.

Your swivel must have really sucked, especially since you claim your line had a 10 lb test break point. Steel is usually stronger than mono????!!!!???? I have caught many jacks off the jetty and in my boat down there and 10lb test is not ideal and will not land a jack unless you have 5000 yards of line on your reel. It would be tough to catch a bonita on 10lb test, much less a jack. why are you using 10lb test at the jetty? U just not know any better????



This jack was caught from shore with 20lb test and it was not a fun fight. I took a member of the forum on a PINS trip to catch lots of large trout and I ended up hooking into this. You can see the lure in its mouth and a fluoro leader. 10lb test would make this a tough job. 10lb test is good for nothing but croaker, trout, piggy perch and minnows.

Sounds good to me for bay fishing. Uni to uni is the way to go, no swivels, period. Swivels are not needed unless using live bait on a carolina rig. The fluoro leader is good for many things including gill plates, teeth, oyster reef, barnacles, and anything else sharp you might come across. Sorry for so many replies but the more I read, the more I realize how much help some of you guys need. 10lb test is great for trout but go heavier for larger fish or you will have quite a bit of work on your hands when you hook into a larger fish.

I wish this thread would go away. Its been entertaining but I don't think anybody can squeeze anymore juice out of it.

Thing is, Pat hit the nail on the head and then someone has to question his information. Peter, you seem to have an idea but if you read, you will realize that most people have no clue. I do not know Pat but his information could save some people quite a bit of trial and error. This thread is actually a good one for the rooks. What are people thinking when they talk about using 6-10lb test for reds??? Sure it can work but its not ideal. I apologize if I offended U but I did not make you read this thread again, you did it on your own free will.

No need to apologize PiePuncher. No offense taken. I just don't like to see people getting all bent out of shape over fishing. Next to catching fish my favorite part of fishing is the stress relief. I just hope old Pat isn't letting the argument ruffle his feathers too much.

Me? I've got thick skin..

I take a lot of newbies out, some have freshwater experience, some don't have that. I get quite a few that went to academy before the trip with the "perfect" setup recommended by the crack head behind the counter, really whippy rods, 10 lb mono, and a bag full of [censored] to throw. You *can* catch something on that, but they'll usually be begging a setup within an hour.

how about 10 pound mono line for trout/whiting???

People are thinking that perhaps fishing should require a bit of skill in landing fish and not just meat hauling fish to shore. Funny enough, there seems to still be alot of emphasis by some people for "sport fishing" and not fishing for food. Perhaps a few of us are fishing for the experience of being outdoors and the time spent with friends, not for the express purpose of putting food on the table. To each his own, but there seems to be more than a bit of chest thumping going on in this thread. Great to hear about all of your experience, so feel free to share your information. But to trumpet your method above all others is not always the wisest choice.

Your swivel must have really sucked, especially since you claim your line had a 10 lb test break point. Steel is usually stronger than mono????!!!!???? I have caught many jacks off the jetty and in my boat down there and 10lb test is not ideal and will not land a jack unless you have 5000 yards of line on your reel. It would be tough to catch a bonita on 10lb test, much less a jack. why are you using 10lb test at the jetty? U just not know any better????

well i had braided thirty lb on other rods and 20lb test on another but i do like using the lightest tackled possible when fishing i had no problems catching that red on 10lb, as long as i keep it out of rocks i am not worried... i have caught plenty of big fish on light lines,also i am sorry but i didnt mean to say i hooked up on the jack with the 10lb but i lost that fish on the same day and it hooked up on my rod with braided line... but my friend did pull in a 38 inch jack on 20lb line with the same rig we were using mine got straightened out, but yea i am going to buy stronger swivels from now on and although i know these fish are known for spooling reels wasnt even close on that catch

i dont see why u have to be so abrasive when u are talking to me either...

I fish deeper inshore and 10 lb test mono is great to use. I caught my biggest redfish a 12 lb fish off the 10 lb mono. If your not fishing deeper water or surf then higher test is not needed.

It more personel preference than anything. I too fish old school with my ABU 4601 on a 7' Castaway MH, 8-17lb, loaded with #14 stren. I generally cast with the wind to my back but at times need to cast into the wind and find that the heavier line backlashes less. I tie directly to the jighead and rarely have I had to retie, mostly hook the reds in the corner of the mouth. You cant go wrong with your favorite bass rig, spinning or casting!