Thread: Surf Line Advice

I have a 6500 series spinning reel to be used in the surf. hoping to hookup with biggest thing that takes the bait, except shark.
In using a combination of mono, fluro and braid, suggestions on how to spool it and what # of each line to use and the knot of choice to connect one to another..

I might make it 100 views without anyone offering any suggestions or help.

All I've ever used is Ande or Trilene Big game (12-14# test on the smaller reels for spanish, specks, etc and 20-25# test for my bigger Penn 850ss for kings, sharks, etc). I have never bought into the flourocarbon and braided lines.

Originally Posted by witler

I might make it 100 views without anyone offering any suggestions or help.

That's kindof a 'wide' question IMHO probably shied folks off.

Look at that reel's line capacity for braid: 430/30 340/40 280/50
Your options are to use an entire 300 yard spool of 50# braid or go with a lower # test and use undershot or overshot.
What is your preference?

That reel is too big and heavy to hold while surf fishing, so it would be in a rod holder 98% of the time.
Set rig for bullreds?

See, I'd go with the braid, use a swivel and a mono leader so that if a big shark does take the bait, you don't get spooled and lose all your line. He'll just bite through the mono and that's-that! The next largest [non-shark] fish near the surf is a bull redfish and good mono or fluorocarbon leader will work great with reds. I like a chunk of fresh-dead mullet for surf fishing, but maybe other guys have a better suggestion for bait.

Whenever possible, I avoid tying braid to mono/fluoro. Neither sharks nor reds are swivel-wary and I just trust that connection more.

Originally Posted by hammerhead

All I've ever used is Ande or Trilene Big game (12-14# test on the smaller reels for spanish, specks, etc and 20-25# test for my bigger Penn 850ss for kings, sharks, etc). I have never bought into the flourocarbon and braided lines.

I never heard of flouro leaders and mixing braid on a reel, until I started following this forum. When surf fishing on the mid-east coast I used 15# mono straight from spool to the sinker. I never had a setup snap off from the shock, however we did not have to deal with sharks and other toothy species, kings etc...

Originally Posted by Pier#r

That's kindof a 'wide' question IMHO probably shied folks off.

Look at that reel's line capacity for braid: 430/30 340/40 280/50
Your options are to use an entire 300 yard spool of 50# braid or go with a lower # test and use undershot or overshot.
What is your preference?

That reel is too big and heavy to hold while surf fishing, so it would be in a rod holder 98% of the time.
Set rig for bullreds?

I was seeking advice from an expert such as yourself as to how to mix the different lines on the reel,backer, top shot, etc.. to increase my capacity. As for the weight of this reel I think it is about 22 oz. before this I was surf fishing with a Mitchell 406 at about 28 oz. of course I was a bit younger then and weight was not much of an issue.

Regardless of what # line I use, how much backer should I use before adding braid and how much top shot should I use, And the knot of choice for making these connections.

Originally Posted by witler

I was seeking advice from an expert such as yourself as to how to mix the different lines on the reel,backer, top shot, etc.. to increase my capacity. As for the weight of this reel I think it is about 22 oz. before this I was surf fishing with a Mitchell 406 at about 28 oz. of course I was a bit younger then and weight was not much of an issue.

Regardless of what # line I use, how much backer should I use before adding braid and how much top shot should I use, And the knot of choice for making these connections.

.

If you want the most capacity, then you'll fill up with braid and use a mono or fluoro leader. Either use a swivel between the braid or learn to tie an fg knot, Albright knot, or double uni knot. Pound test depends on what you're after but for cast ability and strength, a good compromise, 30 pound braid is a good starting place. If you get a small spool of braid, you'll have to start the spool off with some mono filler.

i take my steelhead gear down from michigan. its already spooled with 10lb pline cxx and have never ever lost a fish and have to throw 4-6oz of lead. i have never lost a fish including an eatimated 23-25 lb bull. it has also landed two sharks both Around 30 inches. i just bought a new penn 4500 reel and put 12 suffix hi vis yellow and am hoping for similar performance as the pline

Originally Posted by witler

I was seeking advice from an expert such as yourself as to how to mix the different lines on the reel,backer, top shot, etc.. to increase my capacity. As for the weight of this reel I think it is about 22 oz. before this I was surf fishing with a Mitchell 406 at about 28 oz. of course I was a bit younger then and weight was not much of an issue.

Regardless of what # line I use, how much backer should I use before adding braid and how much top shot should I use, And the knot of choice for making these connections.

Hmmm, you know how they define expert?
An Ex is a has-been and a spurt is a drip......under pressure ;-) lol

The amount (and diameter) of the backer you use is dependent on the pound test of the braid and the capacity of the reel to fill out the spool to a normal working fullness. That in itself is a SWAG as braid claim comparisons to "mono equivalent diameter" are often understated and reel line capacities claims are often overstated (though Penn is usually pretty close).

Fluorocarbon would be a waste of money, time, effort and just complicate your setup IMHO.
I try to keep it simple with as few knots and hardware (and weight) as possible to get the job done.
You could easily put a 300 yard spool of 15# to even 40# braid on the spool first and top it off with as much 15# - 20# mono as long as it is at least 100 yards.
You do NOT want to be casting that knot as it will wear faster and possibly be a danger should the weight break off.
Join the two with a uni to uni knot or FG knot or one of the other braid to mono knots.

Hope this helps!