braided vs mono for surf

[bassdge]

anyone out there use braided line for surf fishing?
Seems to me there would be some advantages like extra casting distance and no stretch for better hookset

[fishtales]

My $.02 worth is mono cast better, I only use braided for trolling and bottom fishing. But my stuff is old spider wire and the new stuff might be better.

[basswolf]

I've used braid for the surf since Power Pro came on the scene years ago and I recommend it. The older versions were pretty bad and would tend to fray a lot, but the newer ones on the market the last several years are vastly improved. I recommend either Power Pro or Stren Super Braid (my personal choice). The benefits of Stren over Power Pro is that Stren coats the individual 7 strands, braids them, then coats them again, in effect double coating them which helps them to retain their appearance longer, although Power Pro is a great line as well. Just stay away from Fireline or Spider Wire - unless they've drastically changed their process, these lines fray really bad.

My recommendation would be to use 40 or 50 lb test braid on your reels, these are a great all around line for the surf. Just don't make the mistake of doing what I've seen so many make when they would come into the shop for their line and request 20 lb or smaller for surf and bay reels. The idea to braid is to increase your line strength without increasing line diameter, and this is lost if you stick to the smaller lb strength lines. Also, 20 pound braid tends to snap quickly when using larger weights if you're not careful - 20 lb test is 20 lb test.

Going with a larger size braid gives you the increased tensile strength while keeping your line diameter close to what you would have used with mono - the braid to mono ratio is as follows: 20 lb braid is about the diameter of 6 lb mono, 30 lb braid is about the diameter of 8 lb mono, 40 lb braid is about the diameter of 10 lb mono, 50 lb braid is about the diameter of 12 lb mono, 65 lb braid is about the diameter of 15-17 lb mono. These ratios are based on average size mono. Different brands may be larger or smaller, so your best bet is to look at the braid package which will give you the actual diameter in 100ths of an inch , just as mono would.

Also remember to loosen your drag a liitle bit less than you would with mono so that you don't rip the bait or lure away from a fish on the hookset. Since braid has no stretch, you want the "give" to be in your reel, not the hookset.

Bottom line is that you can't go wrong with braid, the extra cost of braid is far outweighed by the benefits of greater line strength, smoother casts, incredible sensitivity, and tough as nails abrasion resistance.

[bassdge]

I have not used the Stren, but really like the Power Pro.

Fishtales, some of the newer braided lines are more "round" and coated to allow better castability. you also get less "bunching" on the spool.

I use 80lb Powerpro in Brazil for peacock bass due to all the underwater structure in the jungle.

[aglubajr]

I use and love Power Pro. The suggestion about drag adjustment is right on the money. Lessone learned last week when I was in a hurry togo to a new pond to bass fish and grabbed my inshore salt water set. Fishing a lastic worm the feel of the underwater structure was great, but I didn't adjust drag and I am pretty sure their is now a hairlip bass in my new fishing spot.

[Dave Jr.]

I have Daiwa Saltiga braid on my 12' Lami/Cabo and it's great. That being said, I prefer mono on my 7 footers which seem to outfish the braid last week in Hatteras. I do like braid for the boat and have Sufix on all but one of my boat rods.