Surf Fishing Gear Question

[cbstoner]

Hi All,

Will be surf fishing for stripers and blues in the near future. Just got a new 10' rod and reel. The reel can handle 15-30 lb test line.

Was wondering if anyone has suggestions on what type of line and brand to use.

Thanks,

Chris

[trowpa]

90% of people will probably suggest 17lb sufix tritanium. Can't go wrong.

Should also use a shock leader 40-60lb is most common there. I use Berkely big game 50lb myself. (if you're not familiar with shock leaders, do a quick search of this site. Plenty of info)

[ffemtreed]

What type of fishing are you planning on doing? Are you planning on throwing lures from a bridge/inlet/jetty? Or are you sitting your behind on the beach while your rod is spiked waiting for that striper?

Stick around here and you will learn tons and tons of stuff. I know I sure as heck did in the past year.

[cbstoner]

Originally Posted by ffemtreed

What type of fishing are you planning on doing? Are you planning on throwing lures from a bridge/inlet/jetty? Or are you sitting your behind on the beach while your rod is spiked waiting for that striper?

Stick around here and you will learn tons and tons of stuff. I know I sure as heck did in the past year.

I'll be surf fishing. Casting out from the beach. Thanx.

[ffemtreed]

In that case i'll go with the 90% and say Sufix Tri 17lb test. Use a 50lb shock leader unless your power casting then you want 10lb of leader per ounce of weight you are throwing. (example 8oz weight would use 80lb shock leader).

I personally throw pretty hard sometimes and I have yet to break 50lb big game.

[flame thrower]

What is the line capisaty of the reel?

What type of reel?

If the reel is a Baitcaster as said before 15 to 20 pound test is the way to go. I use 17 pound Sufix.

Spinning reels I would use 20 pound braid with some sort of filler backing. My bigger spinners hold 500 yard of 20 pound test so I put about 350 yards on the spool and fill the rest with the 20 pound braid. The braid is much thinner and helps when casting but is much more expensive.

I also use 65 pound braid as a shock leader on both my Spinning and Baitcasting gear.

[cbstoner]

It's a Penn - Spinfisher 8500SS Reel. Line Cap: 325 yds/20lb.

[captcl]

Maybe more than 90%! 17# suffix tritanium. Great stuff!

[flame thrower]

The Penn 8500 is not all that braid friendly as it does not have an Oscillation line lay system but has a level line system that places the line more up and down instead of overlaying it as some of the more braid friendly reels do. . By overlay it means that the retrieve is more of a crisscross pattern so the Braid can not dig into itself while under tension. I would go with 15 to 17 pound test Mono.

[Steve]

Deja Vu!
Just had this discussion last week on here.
I've been using Ande 17 lb green envy for years. So far, no breaks.
But of course, you have to hook something big enough to break the line....

[runinbroke]

Recently I have been using Cajun Red 20# and an Okuma 90 reel on a 15' and a 12' and a 10' and a 9' seems to work... just need to keep the birds from geting tangled on the 15' On the shock leader I use 50#... Seems to work... Hoping to find out more this weekend!! Keep your Finners crossed the reds are movin in!!!

[Jay Blair]

I second the Ande.
I have been using it for 25 years and it has a very good balance of stretch, castability, low memory, and knot strength. Very good bang for the buck and is widely available in lots of sizes. 20 years ago I landed a 185 pound tarpon on 12 pound Ande with a 40 lb shock leader. Not bad considering the fight took an hour and a half and took us over numerous flats and obstructions.
I have also had problems with shock leader knots failing when using lines with dissimilar properties. Just a thought, but I have found Ande running line with an Ande leader works extremely well. I use a 25' shock leader that is twice the strength of the running line. I have tried a number of co-polomer lines and they have all let me down in one or more key areas, such as knot strength, castability, memory, or too much stretch. Ande also behaves very well on spinning tackle.

Jay

[Jay Blair]

PS.

You need to know that Ande comes three grades. It is a soft line with a finish on it that has various grades of abrasions resistance. Pink has a hard finish, is less castable and tough as nails. It is good for bait casting reels on a boat. Many head boats us it. Ande tournament casts a mile and has less abrasion resistance and it tests at the stated weight. Ande premium has a good balance of both and it what a use for surf fishing. Either the tournament or premium would be good, it just depends on what your value most; excellent casting distance or combination of good casting distance with more durability.

[mdram]

before this year i always used berkley iron silk, i never had an issue with it. but i wanted a 1lb spool and couldnt find it. so i switched to suffix tritanium. all i can say is i love it. its a great line. 17lb matched with 80lb ande premium chock leader and its good to go in the surf. for other fishing i ditch the shocker

[TheSnowman]

What exactly is the purpose of the shock leader? I use 20lb braid fishing in the surf with no shock leader? Should I be using one?