What To Look For
Several types of fishing line are suitable for fishing in saltwater. Look for the type best suited to your needs. Braided line offers high strength, thin diameter and very little stretch. Monofilament is versatile, ties easily and is available in clear, tinted and highly visible colors. Fluorocarbon line is often used as a leader material attached to other line types because it's nearly invisible to fish.
Common Pitfalls
All fishing lines are not manufactured to the same standards. The top line makers have a rigid quality control, ensuring their line is uniform from one end to the other and from spool to spool. Don't assume a store-brand or the least expensive line available will perform as well as premium, name-brand lines.
Don't assume stronger strengths of line are better. Fish often bite lures or bait fished on lighter line better than they would on offerings fished on heavy lines. Skilled anglers are capable of landing sizable fish on fairly light line.
Where To Buy
If you are unfamiliar with the type of rod and reel you are using and the type of fishing you plan to do, purchase your line at a well-stocked fishing tackle shop staffed by experienced fishermen. Rely on their expertise. Many big-box stores and fishing specialty mail-order houses sell the identical types and brands of lines available at tackle shops. If you know the kind of line you need and the brand you trust, purchasing from one of these venues could make sense for price or convenience.
Cost
Most of the cost of making and marketing a fishing line is in cost of the manufacturing process, shipping and packaging rather than the cost of the raw ingredients. Lines with a breaking strength of 40 pounds will be only slightly higher in price than lines testing 20 pounds. Monofilament line is usually the least expensive but will degrade with exposure to sunlight and will need to be replaced more frequently. Don't scrimp on quality. Compared with the price of rods, reels, lures and bait, fishing line is a bargain.
Comparison Shopping
Comparison shopping by price makes sense only if you are comparing lines of equal strength, quality and length. There may be bargains available, but similar lines made by reputable companies will usually be competitively priced. Comparing features makes more sense. Competing brands may vary in color, knot strength, abrasion resistance, stretch, tensile strength or other factors. If one of these factors is more important to you and your type of fishing, choosing one brand over another makes sense.
Accessories
Special brackets that hold spools of line while you are winding it on a fishing reel are useful. Special containers that hold and dispense leader line help keep things organized, saves time and eliminates frustration while on the water.
Insider Tips
Many tackle shops have bulk spools of line and will install line on your reels more inexpensively than you can purchase reel-filler spools of the same line off the shelf. The larger the spool of line, the less cost per yard. If you plan to use a considerable amount of line over time, purchase bulk spools and save money in the long run.
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