To put it very simply there is two very distinct types of fishing lines available to fishermen, braid and monofilament. Which one is the best? Well that just depends what you plan on doing with it!
Monofilament
Monofilament or mono as it’s more commonly called, has been around forever. A lot of the older members of our fishing community would recall mono being the only choice available for anglers wanting to spool up a reel in years gone by. Today, mono is still readily available and widely used by fishos, but for a lot more specific fishing situations. These are by no means limited to beach fishing with Alvey reels, breakwall and rock fishing, trolling for gamefish and floatlining baits. In these circumstances, anglers need to rely on the superior abrasion resistance which is a well-known characteristic of mono lines. The shock absorbing stretch allows it to ensure a rampaging gamefish doesn’t break the line and of course the way in which mono can make a bait float ever so naturally down the burley trail so even the weariest of big snapper can be fooled into taking a bite. In these situations, and ones like it, mono reigns supreme and would be the ideal choice for anglers looking to partake.
Braid
On the other end of the scale, braided fishing lines are relatively new in comparison and offer anglers a thinner, stronger and more sensitive addition to their fish-catching arsenal. Braid fights primarily from the lure focused fisherman’s corner. The zero-stretch, sensitivity and fine gauge of the line allows anglers to use lighter lures and cast them further without missing even the slightest of nibbles, even when the lure is sinking on slack line. But, don’t think that braid is only restricted to the lure fisho’s though. Anyone requiring superior bite detection and a thin diameter line with less drag through the water, like those reef fishing with paternoster rigs in the deep, would also find braid to be a massive advantage. Just keep in mind however, when fishing with braid you will need to add a mono or fluorocarbon leader at the end of the braid to offer some abrasion resistance, shock absorption and stealth to your rig. Braid unfortunately isn’t as invisible as its mono counterpart.
So there you have it, just by simply choosing the correct type of line for the job you are already a step closer to coming up tight to that trip making fish. You can always come on down to your local store and let our knowledgeable team help you find the line that best suits your individual needs!