Best Line For Surf Fishing & How to Choose One?

With decades of experience now, I can say that selecting the best line for surf fishing is one of the basic steps that you should master beforehand.

Keep in mind the fishing line is the only connection between you and the fish you are going to catch. 

At first glance, it seems like just any line can do the job of effective fishing, but it’s not as simple as that. There are many essential things that I keep in mind when selecting the best line for surf fishing, mainly to get the most benefit and to increase productivity, and you should, too.

For your information, there are three different types of fishing lines available, all with distinct properties. Because of the presence of unique properties, each kind of line delivers another function. Let’s look at the details of all three types of fishing lines, their advantages and disadvantages, so you can understand which line you should opt for for a better fishing experience.

Best Line For Surf Fishing

The guide tells about the three best lines for surf fishing and the details about them so you can get the appropriate line according to your choice. We will first focus on the general fishing line qualities on which the line selection is based and then will look at the in-depth study of monofilament fishing lines, fluorocarbon fishing lines, and braided fishing lines. Let’s start with the description below.

General Qualities of The Fishing Line

Knot Strength

Make sure the fishing line you are purchasing is capable of holding the knots. A good fishing line has a knot with tensile solid strength so that it does not open over time.

Abrasion Resistance

A good fishing line has the ability to stay resistant and maintain its integrity when it comes in contact with small stones, rocks, and leaves. It should be resistant to abrasion and should make sure there are no effects on its structure or functioning from environmental factors.

Effortless Knot Tying

Different types of fishing lines have different requirements when it comes to knot tying. Some are complex, and some are easy to tie. Keep in mind a good fishing line is one that has effortless and quick knot-tying.

Strength

Fishing lines should be strong enough to tolerate heavy pulling. This is one of the essential features that should be present in the fishing line if you want to get more productive results because the times when heavy fish strikes aggressively, the fishing line should be rigid enough to resist the heavy pulling.

Stretching

Different types of fishing lines stretch differently. Keep in mind fishing lines stretch. So, when selecting the fishing line, make sure to focus on how much it hurts because stretching the fishing line can be beneficial at times and can be disadvantageous, depending upon the user’s preference.

Visibility

There are different types of fishing lines, and all come with different visibility. Some are colorful, and some are clear. Some of the fishing lines are fully visible, and some are translucent.

Those anglers who want to see their fishing line during fishing should opt for colorful fishing lines. But keep in mind that the fishing line color may distract the fish.

Fishing Line Suppleness

The flexibility and softness of the fishing line are called suppleness. It not only affects the knot strength but also affects line handling, line memory, and knot tying of the fishing line. 

Features Of Different Fishing Lines

Basically, there are three different types of fishing lines available. All three of these are different from each other and have different properties. Let us look closely at the performance qualities of all three types of surf fishing lines in the details below.

• Monofilament fishing line
• Fluorocarbon fishing line
• Braided fishing line

1. Monofilament Fishing Line

Most surf anglers prefer going with monofilament fishing lines because of the outstanding balance and stability that it offers. It has all the key specifications and features that ultimately make it one of the top choices for surf anglers.

Whether you are a beginner or a professional fisherman, you will definitely love using the monofilament fishing line because of its effortless usage, strength, power, and excellent stability. Following are some of the critical features of monofilament fishing line.

• Monofilament fishing lines are made up of nylon.
• They are designed in one single continuous filament.
• They are untwisted and an all-rounder fishing line that offers a smooth fishing experience.
• Monofilament fishing lines are ideal for baitcasting reels and spinning reels.
• They are versatile; you can use them in freshwater, near the shore, and even off a pier.
• They are helpful in catching small and large fish species, including Salmon and Trout.
• Monofilament fishing lines are more affordable, readily available, and reliable by most anglers.
• They can absorb shocks that might damage other lines due to the aggressive hitting of the fish.
• Monofilament fishing lines are easy to tie knots with.
• They are available in variable colors such as blue, red, green, white, fluorescent, and clear.
• Monofilament fishing lines are highly abrasion-resistant.
• They have good shock absorption.

Examples 

Following are two of the best monofilament fishing lines that are ideal for surf fishing. Stren and Sufix Siege Clear.

• Stren

This monofilament fishing line has outstanding abrasion resistance, low memory, and excellent casting that ultimately makes it the top choice for surf anglers. This is one of the most popular monofilament fishing lines highly recommended for anglers.

• Sufix Siege Clear

Sufix Siege Clear is a 17-pound monofilament fishing line that is abrasion-resistant and strong. I personally liked its strength-to-diameter ratio and can reliably say it is one of the best fishing lines available.

2. Fluorocarbon Fishing Line

Fluorocarbon fishing line is another single-stranded fishing line like monofilament, but its molecules are more tightly packed together. This line is comparatively heavier and dense in its structure. It is made up of polyvinylidene difluoride PVDF.

Moreover, fluorocarbon fishing lines sink quickly and are ideal for trolling because of the stretch they have. Let’s look at some of the characteristics of fluorocarbon fishing lines below.

• The knot strength of fluorocarbon fishing lines is excellent. It ensures knots are correctly tied and appropriate, and they do not break during casting.
• You need to pay extra care when tying knots using a fluorocarbon fishing line.
• It is one of the most highly aberration-resistant fishing lines available.
• Fluorocarbon fishing line comes with excellent shock absorption and strength.
• The fishing lines sink faster than other fishing lines.
• Fluorocarbon fishing line is one of the most sensitive types of fishing line, so you can feel even the slightest bite.

Examples 

Following are two of the best fluorocarbon fishing lines available in the market that you can go with if you want to get the best fishing line for surf fishing. Sunlight Super FC Sniper Fluorocarbon and Seaguar Invizx 100% Fluorocarbon.

• Sunline Super FC Sniper Fluorocarbon

This Sunline Fluorocarbon Fishing line is one of my favorite fishing lines. It has excellent aberration resistance and is very sensitive, which ensures the user can feel even the slightest of the fish bite, making it one of the most productive choices.

• Seaguar Invizx 100% Fluorocarbon

Seaguar Invizx 100% Fluorocarbon fishing line is one of the nicest and most fantastic fluorocarbon fishing lines that is ideal for surf fishing. It is easy to tie knots with and is particularly more sensitive than other fishing lines. It casts smoothly and beautifully, and there are no complaints of it getting bent up like other fishing lines.

3. Braided Fishing Lines

Braided fishing lines, just like monofilament fishing lines, are another famous fishing line that is ideal for surf fishermen. They are made up of synthetic plastic fibers like nylon, which makes them one of the stronger and more rigid fishing lines available.

These braided fishing lines ensure that the anglers can feel even the slightest movement of the fish at the other end of the line. It is best for the saltwater fishing experience and is ideal for catching giant Tuna, giant kingfishers, and Sharks. The fishing line is solid and sinks faster than others.

• Fishing lines cast distance is one of the best parts of this fishing line.
• Tying knots is relatively easy with these fishing lines.
• These fishing lines are less sensitive than other types of fishing lines.
• Ideal for large fish.
• The braided fishing line is available in a variety of colors.
• They sink comparatively faster than others.
• They are very strong.

Examples

There are two of the most demanding braided fishing lines that are available for catching big fish. Yes, Power Pro Spectra Fiber Braided Fishing Line and Sufix 832 Advanced Superline.

• Power Pro Spectra Fiber Braided Fishing Line

This Power Pro Spectra Fiber Braided Fishing Line is one of the best fishing lines that I often prefer. It is affordable and ensures you can cast smoothly and uninterruptedly. The fishing line is available in a wide range of weight tests and also has three refill sizes.

• Sufix 832 Advanced Superline

Sufix 832 is another reliable braided fishing line for surf anglers that is known for its solid and easy-to-tie knots, abrasion resistance, and the presence of smooth casting experience. It is highly durable and high quality in construction, but remember, it is slightly expensive.

FAQs

What is the best fishing line for surf fishing?

There are three types of fishing lines that have their own advantages and disadvantages. But the one that is highly preferred for surf fishing is the braided fishing line. You need to make sure that you have enough of this fishing line to fill your reel so that you can fish more efficiently and productively.

Is braid or mono better for surf fishing?

Both of the surf fishing lines have their own benefits and disadvantages. But I will recommend you to go with a monofilament fishing line if you are a newcomer, as it is easy to tie because of its stretching and thickness. Alternatively, if you are a professional surf fisherman, you can opt for a braided fishing line, the knots of which are difficult to tie.

What color of fishing line is best?

There are different colors of fishing lines available: high visibility colors and low visibility colors. It depends on you what color of line you want. Bright yellow, pink, white, and green are considered highly visible colors, whereas grays and hues of greens, because they blend with water very well, are known as low visibility colors.

What are the disadvantages of braided fishing lines?

Braided fishing lines have many benefits, but there are some disadvantages, too. These lines are comparatively more expensive and are hard to cut because they are very strong and dense. Moreover, they take lots of time when it comes to tying knots, and they demand lots of practice to tie the knots correctly.

Is a 12 lb line suitable for surf fishing?

The 12 lb fishing line is somehow suitable for surf fishing, but you have to make sure that the fishing line is heavy and double the length of the fishing rod you have. Although it would be difficult for you to fish with the use of a 12-pound line, you can by fulfilling all the necessary requirements.

Final Thoughts

This article mentioned above tells you about the best fishing line for surf fishing. The article has covered 3 of the primary fishing lines, including monofilament, fluorocarbon, and braided fishing lines. All three of these are different from one another and have their own advantages and disadvantages.

I have elaborated on everything about these three fishing lines, including their benefits and disadvantages. I have also covered two reliable fishing lines as an example and recommendation for you. What you have to do is pay attention to the details mentioned above so you can opt for the right fishing line to get the most benefit.