Choosing The PERFECT Line For Beach Fishing

Steve 'Starlo' Starling reckons that choosing between monofilament or 'mono' and braided or gel-spun lines can make a huge difference to your beach fishing success and enjoyment. If you fish in the surf, you really need to watch this one!
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Thanks... and cheers!
00:01 Intro
00:38 Why I love braid
03:30 Fighting fish on braid
05:05 Beaching the fish
07:28 Make up your own mind

[@-Scotty]

braid all the way unless I'm chasing mulloway

[@pigsandapples]

15lb braid with 20lb fluro leader on a 10 '6" light surf rod is my favourite beach setup for most bread and butter.

[@StarloGetsReel]

Good choice!

[@tightlines6641]

That’s exactly what I use on my 12 foot light surf shimano rod

[@mardysvids1]

Gday Starlo, When I was living in Bermagui years ago and beach fishing every day, I was lucky enough for a local old timer to teach me how to catch beach worms and to fish exactly, just like you described..light rods with braid, read the gutters and dont try and cast to NZ ! Fishing success went up 100%..the old-timers' motto was to keep it simple! and if you were a fish were would you be feeding now on this beach. P.s. Watched you and Roger fishing together in your latest video, and you both should create more content together !

[@StarloGetsReel]

Thanks for that great feedback! Yes, Roger and I will definitely be doing more together, too. 👍

[@MattsFishingEscapes]

This video should go amazingly well. It's such important advice. I used to have really heavy beach outfits. But love my Shimano T Curve Surf 3-6kg with Stradic 4000 and 12lb braid. Perfect for the beach fishing here in SA! BRILLIANT VIDEO MATE!

[@StarloGetsReel]

Cheers mate! 👍

[@redtobertshateshandles]

Do this experiment. Go to the tackle shop and feel the spools of line. Especially in where the line sits . You'll find that with most Japanese brands and Maxima that the plastic spool is super smooth. You'll find some brands that have sharp and rough molding edges. This can be the best quality line in the world, but it's no good. Why?? Because that line has been destroyed before it left the factory. Those sharp, rough edges have put tiny nicks all along that brand new line. You'll get unexplained bust offs as the line breaks in those weakened spots. 2 or 3 kilo mono is great for beach fishing imo. Just buy carefully. Braid is for more advanced and keen anglers as working out the correct knots to use, the expense, and how much backing you need to use takes dedication. I agree with what Steve said 100%.

[@StarloGetsReel]

Great observations!

[@billthekelpies8461]

Some persuasive points there Steve. Well done.

[@StarloGetsReel]

Cheers!

[@leonclose7823]

The deciding factor for me is that my reels are already spooled with braid for lure fishing. I sometimes think of setting up a dedicated reel for bait fishing with mono.

[@stuartlackas7221]

Thanks heaps Starlo. I have been using 6kg mono for years with a 20lb leader. This has landed many great fish. Have started to use 20 lb braid and agree the extra touch is awesome. Just finding once you get a tangle time to get the scissors out.

[@StarloGetsReel]

True enough.

[@jamierichards27]

Great video mate. I’ve swapped to braid on my surf spin gear and love it. They’re all light and sensitive graphite rods and you can feel every nibble. I do still use mono, however it’s as low stretch as I can get, and on my old Alvey reels. Those are still on old fibreglass rods, which I use to put a big bait out in deeper water while I fish the shallows with my lighter spin rod.

[@StarloGetsReel]

Thanks, and spot on. Must admit ,I still prefer low stretch mono on an Alvey, too. Braid can be a bit hard on the fingers with that style of reel.

[@archiegibbs]

I used 20lb mono when i first started beach fishing. for the first 5 trips, it broke within thirty minutes and i only caught one salmon. I changed to braid, and its only broken twice in two years, and i catch at least 5-6 salmon each trip.

[@StarloGetsReel]

Nice.

[@johnkeynes8873]

Thanks Starlo been using Brad for a long time like yourself I have no intention of going back to mono but do use it for leaders cheers johno.

[@StarloGetsReel]

Cheers!

[@nobodyhome8148]

I use braid with a 12'-15' mono leader for shock absorber with a 3' fluorocarbon trace. Seems to do everything I need ;-)

[@StarloGetsReel]

Good set up!

[@stevejones9636]

I'm like your mate roger mono for me I still feel the bites and bonus no re doing knots that get caught up in the guides inc fg knot

[@StarloGetsReel]

Fair enough. Each to their own. 👍

[@stevejones9636]

@StarloGetsReel I run mono mono line on the spool on very warm water that stops 95% of the coils so that works well. But also before this braid came out we were all using mono and still catching fish sometimes I think some products catch fisherman than fish. I'm also a sucker for new products too lol

[@Naradataranto]

Nice topic.

[@StarloGetsReel]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@feartheduck6664]

Sound advice. I use tortue mono on a 20000 size spinning and side cast reels and braid on all others including overheads. I run a fluro. trace on the braid lines. Fly reel backing is also braid. It’s excellent technology. Opinions vary on 4 strand or 8 strand or…….but I’ve not had any issues with any of it.

[@StarloGetsReel]

Cheers.

[@keithprinn720]

interesting how your good mate roger prefers mono. the feeling of using braid for bite detection and castability of the fine braid helps a lot. I firmly believe having longer mono leaders to provide some stretch can be a plus providing the connection is well tied knot and doesnt hamper casting. as a forty year game fisherman using the right quality mono is a big thing.

[@StarloGetsReel]

Spot on.

[@MarkThornton1]

Good Vid Starlo. I use braid for the beach for the reasons you outlined. One thing is that when you have wet fingers it can cut you badly when casting (Maybe its because im a soft office waller). I have to use a kevlar finger stall on my finger.

[@StarloGetsReel]

I hear you!

[@ianbertenshaw4350]

I use braid on my spin gear but mono on my sidecast ( bait ) gear . Braid on my luderick gear as well .

[@StarloGetsReel]

Good choices. I'm similar, but do tend to run mono on my centrepin blackfish reels.

[@ianbertenshaw4350]

@@StarloGetsReel I only use it on the centre pin because it floats , the mono would be better for shock absorption though . I was going to use mono but couldn’t find the little container of mucellin I used to have and couldn’t find any in Australia at the time . I could have used Vaseline like the old days but never felt it was ideal . Some use all three lines for Luderick, Fluoro for the trace , a length of mono for a leader maybe 6-10ft long then braid to the reel . Just gives a bit of a shock absorber. Funnily enough I used mono on a bait rod ( threadline) for the first time in years and was muttering to myself “god this stuff is awful “ we are spoiled now ! Would have had a smile on my face back in the 70s or 80s having brand new line to use ! Forget to add / great series Steve - keep em coming!

[@aceganter4478]

Braid only for me have to use a shock leader and fluoro carbon traces but worth it

[@StarloGetsReel]

Agreed!

[@trippa702]

Great advice mate! 🎣

[@StarloGetsReel]

Thanks 👍

[@02bigkev]

Braid for me always when beach fishing/

[@mitchmcbride6053]

Hi Starlo excellent video it’s perfect answered lots of questions thanks for the content I also use braid on tje beach but have been told to change but I disagree so thanks for the video

[@StarloGetsReel]

No worries. 👍

[@TheJeepman1983]

I use multiplier reels for the surf loaded with mono. Baitcast reels for the surf braid. Surf Spin gear braid. I find mono still got it's place.

[@StarloGetsReel]

For sure.

[@gino55yo]

Hello Mr Starlo, I loved this video beach fishing more we see you fishing. I wanted to know if the red lure I could replace with what others? Being a beginner with this rig I would have more chance to catch a fish than with a dropper loop rig or a sabiki rig from the beach? Because I am in family and on the assembly I would like to make the right choice because I stay little time on my holiday place. Anyway thank you for your videos we spend a good time watching you from our television. Simplicity, kindness and efficiency. Sincerely

[@StarloGetsReel]

That red Worm Burner isn’t so much a lure as an attractor and bait extender. Not a lot of anglers use sabiki rigs in the surf in Australia, but I’m sure it would work!

[@gino55yo]

Hello and thank you for the feedback, explanations. So why not make a video surf fishing sabiki I would love to. Friendly greetings

[@darrellward7121]

Braid on probably nearly all my reels except for my blackfish reels still use flurocarbon on them great story mate I just finished reading the article that you wrote for the last fishing Tasmania publication great story to mate its surprising how many saltwater fly fishermen bag shit out of Trout but they forget that if it wasn't for flyfishing for trout there would be no fly fishing at all that article in the mag had so many valid points I think that it's about time that we spend more time eradicating the dirty carp first and get to the other fish when they are eradicated thanks mate for both stories I've had my 2 bob's worth now I will go chasing blackfish

[@StarloGetsReel]

I'm with you! Thanks for that great feedback, too.

[@davidmenzies9270]

bit like me, braid has trouble with memory 😁

[@StarloGetsReel]

I'd argue the opposite. Braid, if anything, can be TOO limp at times, while mono has lots of memory. To test this, take a short length of both mono and braid and wrap each tightly around a pencil. Leave for an hour or so, unwrap, pull to straighten, relax the lines and see which one looks like a bed spring...

[@davidmenzies9270]

@@StarloGetsReel I think we are talking the same thing? - I was trying to imply doesnt have a memory! and I agree about being too limp - makes tying knots a little harder at times

[@rezasafarinezhad4758]

Love it as always simple and practical, keep up the great work, sorry Starlo which size of braid line and Flourocarbon you used in this video to catch that salmon? I just want to get an idea. Thanks

[@StarloGetsReel]

Cheers! I was on 10 pound braid with a 16 pound leader.

[@rezasafarinezhad4758]

Thanks for the prompt response.

[@chrisdoran7596]

30lb braid and 40lb flurocarbon leader for fishing the mangroves around Townsville. The importance of zero stretch. Trolling a lure will increase that to 55lb schneider leader or 70lb if big barra. Most of my reels have braid on them.🤠🎣👍

[@StarloGetsReel]

Good stuff!

[@thewholls7176]

Companies like penn reels I’ve seen advertise the fact that braid has zero stretch. So You can now have potential to bend the main shaft in the reel so you have to buy our gear which is now all stainless steel internals because it’s stronger to handle the force put on it by braided line. And I think to myself hmmmmmmm…..

[@StarloGetsReel]

Ahhh, good old advertising 'spin'... Gotta love it!

[@huwmcconachy3272]

I have been waiting for a video like this, thank you. I only beach fish with braid on super light 1-3 & 1-4 7’4” rods only lost a couple of big fish, but caught so many more. Keeping things light keeps me busy and engaged. What do you use for your “finesse” beach setups? 10’ + etc I hope Rodger does a video about mono too. Tight lines & thank you

[@StarloGetsReel]

Glad you enjoyed it! I love the various Shimano Coastline Light and Light Surf rods, in several of their ranges.

[@teeanahera8949]

The title should be ‘which’ line to use?

[@StarloGetsReel]

You're probably right! According to Google: "As a determiner, what and which are often used almost the same way with slight differences. What is used as a question word used for a non-defined set of items while which often refers to predefined or implied sets of items. They can also be used as relative determiners in much the same way." As I'm talking about a choicebetween two line types, Which probabli IS better, so I'll change it now... Thanks for that!

[@pebbleschan6085]

Still using my 40+ year old one pisec 13ft Len Butterworth rod with Alvey sidecast reels with great success. Can it be loaded with braid?

[@StarloGetsReel]

Yes you can, but it's hard on the fingers, I find! I still run mono on my Alveys.

[@davidgc4396]

Great video Starlo. I have never used braid. I catch plenty of fish with mono. How’s it go for tangles?

[@StarloGetsReel]

Not too bad... but when you get 'em, they're hard to unpick!

[@michaelpaul5498]

Hi Steve. Enjoyed the video and the discussion. My question is on a different topic, in the conditions that you made that video, approximately how far out into the surf were you casting to get bites? Kind regards MP

[@StarloGetsReel]

Cheers! Around 30 to 40 metres would be my guess, but sometimes as close in as 20-odd metres.

[@kenoconnor2335]

Another good explanation vlog starlo. What braid do you prefer?, a 4 strand like power pro or 8 strand like kairiki? Cheers mate.

[@StarloGetsReel]

Cheers. Horses for courses. PowerPro for tough, demanding situations and Kairiki for finesse stuff.

[@kenoconnor2335]

@@StarloGetsReel thanks starlo. Good call!

[@martinflett4900]

Is this the same for lighter fishing?

[@StarloGetsReel]

What do you mean by “lighter”? This is reasonably light for surf fishing. I typically run 8 or 10 pound braid. You can certainly go lighter though.

[@martinflett4900]

Sorry mate, I meant to say for bream. The old mono vs braid gets me a bit confused as to what works best. Appreciate your information starlo