Thread: Surfcasting : Braid vs Mono

I've been using a long fluoro shock leader to braid mainline to surfcast off the beach. By "long", I mean the shock leader is a couple of turns onto the reel itself at the moment of casting, otherwise I figure a shock leader is useless. I really don't like this setup as the entire shock leader and the knot clatters through the guides and robs me of distance. Also, after a few cut-offs and re-rigs, the shock leader shortens too much and you end up having to change the leader more often than you need. I'm considering using just braid now. Haven't tried it yet and not sure if the braid can handle the oomph I put into my casts. Maybe someone can share their experience on that.

agree with Strummer mono for me same reason I only use braid deepwater from a boat

Mono for surf and bait. Exception is clean water and spinning.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by Pepo1

I've been using a long fluoro shock leader to braid mainline to surfcast off the beach. By "long", I mean the shock leader is a couple of turns onto the reel itself at the moment of casting, otherwise I figure a shock leader is useless. I really don't like this setup as the entire shock leader and the knot clatters through the guides and robs me of distance. Also, after a few cut-offs and re-rigs, the shock leader shortens too much and you end up having to change the leader more often than you need. I'm considering using just braid now. Haven't tried it yet and not sure if the braid can handle the oomph I put into my casts. Maybe someone can share their experience on that.

This guy uses braid when surfcasting. Seems to work for him, but he fishes sandy beaches. Old rule of thumb was 10lb leader for every 1oz sinker. I'd up that if using braid straight through.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=294555732466638

Originally Posted by rugerman

Above about 8 knots of current you are gonna be struggling to hold ya line straight without it getting dragged along.

Where are you fishing with 8+ kt of current

Manawatu river mouth when the river is up. Fair hoons along.

Braid on my surf casting threadlines (with a mono shockleader), Mono on my surf casting overheads (with braid backing)

Originally Posted by ebf

Be interested to hear why as well ?

Suggest you contact Chad Prentice the local cop in Mahia. The locals think he is a land based Tangaroa. Knows a tremendous amount about surfcasting.

I havent surfcasted for a while, but used 30 pound braid with an 80 pound braid shock leader, was great for distance. Shock leader may have been heavier, didnt cut my fingers anyway.

My 2c worth and I guess each beach is slightly different so each answer is probably right for where that person fishes..?

If I was fishing a shallow beach area and I was almost certain to catch a fish like a 40cm snapper and the sea did not have a lot of "back surge" that you get on a steep beach I would run with braid all day everyday, with a shock leader for casting.
If I was on a steep beach and the waves raced up the shingle and raced back down the shingle and there was a chance of catching a bigger fish then I would run mono . The reason being is that "back surge". If you have a big fish on and the surge hits your fish at the wrong time you need a bit of stretch in your line and braid doesn't have that. Mono is a tad more forgiving in that respect.

Great question and some great answers.

Originally Posted by Seventy Six

I havent surfcasted for a while, but used 30 pound braid with an 80 pound braid shock leader, was great for distance. Shock leader may have been heavier, didnt cut my fingers anyway.

Do the same but with 30lb braid and 6-10m 25lb fluorocarbon with an fg knot super streamlined and strong and have 300m on the reel if i do loose any braid no biggie but only ever lost leaders if it got snagged up in the rocks

on the other is 6kg suffix surf orange with 15lb fluro lighter weight setup but with both sinkers, never run back to you once gripped as thin lines cut the wind and water better

My experience with braid for surf casting: expect wind knots and any slack in your line through surf and it'll tie itself into knots.
Cut index finger, and cut even deeper index fingers when the clutch slips when casting really hard (pendulum), tried those line release triggers, never got around to mastering it.
Back to mono now 30lb mainline. 50lb leader now.

Braid only for jigging, game and soft bait on boats now.