Braid vs Mono: When Should You Use Which Line?

In this article, we’ll compare the features of braided fishing line vs monofilament fishing line. In doing so, we’ll talk about the pros and cons of braid vs mono and give you insight to help you determine when to use braid and when to use mono for surf fishing.

Comparing Braid vs Mono

First, let’s provide an overview of what braid and mono are with regard to surf fishing. Take a look at the charts in the following sections to understand the pros and cons of using each (braid and mono) for fishing.

Braid

Braid Pros:	Braid Cons
Thinner diameter Little-to-no stretch* Better casting distance Longer life span	Poor abrasion resistance Expensive Little-to-no-stretch* More prone to wind knots and tangles

Pros for Using Braid

The thinner diameter helps to fit more line on the spool while minimal stretch allows for maximal sensitivity. The thinner diameter is also partly why you can cast further with braid. Not only do you get a thinner profile with braid, but you get a longer lifespan too.

Additionally, since it has so little stretch, when you’re throwing and retrieving lures, braid allows immediate feedback. By this I mean that if you want to twitch your lure up off the bottom or just twitch it so it goes faster before slowing down, braid is a must. It’s also true if you’re fishing a weedless swimbait where loose kelp might accumulate here and there. Braid will allow you to twitch kelp right off your lure while mono would be too dull and stretchy.

Oh, one more thing. This goes back to surf fishing with swimbaits. Really, I would say there’s no other way to fish swimbaits in the surf than with braid. The immediate feedback and connection is 100% necesarry just when setting the hook.

Cons for Using Braid

The excellent sensitivity does, however, lead to an increased need for finesse. Given that it has such little stretch, you need to fight fish very smoothly and maybe scale back your hook sets. It’s a little pricier than mono and most of all, tangles and knots absolutely suck with braid. Where mono’s memory helps to decrease knots and tangles, braid’s lack of memory makes knots (especially wind knots) and tangles a headache.

See my setups at the bottom of the page to see the type of braid I recommend for each style of surf fishing.

Monofilament

Mono Pros	Mono Cons
Gives some stretch* Better abrasion resistance Inexpensive	Thicker Line Diameter Gives some stretch* More prone to bird’s nest (if over-spooled)

Pros for Using Mono

The added stretch with mono allows for mistakes to occur mid-fight that might otherwise result in a lost fish if using braid. Since the line will stretch, a mistake of too little or too much tension won’t affect the fight as much as it would if you were using braid. It’s obviously the cheaper option which is enough said there. But, additionally, it has better abrasion resistance (partially due to its thicker diameter) which is why it’s frequently used for leader line and top shot.

Cons of Using Mono

The thicker diameter, while great for abrasion, has one downfall. It doesn’t allow for as much line capacity on your spool as braid might. The stretch can also be seen as a negative factor for those who desire maximal sensitivity and hook set power. The other thing would be that if you over spool it (especially with thicker line), mono is more prone to bird’s nests. This is when the line starts springing off your spool, usually resulting in a tangle of sorts or at least a very big mess.

See my setups at the bottom of the page to see the type of braid I recommend for each style of surf fishing.

When To Use Braid

Over the years, I’ve learned a lot, unlearned some things, and relearned other things. One thing I’ve come to realize though, is that no matter how well you do something one way, someone else does that same thing just as well… another way. So, with that said, here are the following set ups that I would use braid with.

Surf Fishing with Swimbaits | Target = Halibut, Bass, Seabass

• Rod: Okuma SST-S-902HA – 1/2-2oz | 10-30lb | 9ft | H | MF
• Reel: Penn Spinfisher VI (3500 or 4500)
• Main Line: 30-pound braid
• Leader Line: 30-pound mono
• Lure Options:
  • Lucky Craft FM 110 (jerkbait)
  • Keitech Fat Swing Impact (4.8″) | Warbaits 0.5-ounce Weedless Jighead
  • BioSpawn ExoSwim (4.75″) | Mustad KVD Grip Pin Swimbait Hook (5/0 | 1/8oz)

Surf Fishing with Jerkbaits (I go either way) | Target: Halibut and Surfperch

• Rod: Okuma SST (8’6″ MHA)
• Reel: Penn Battle II or III 4000 series
• Main Line:
  • 15-pound monofilament
  • or 30-pound braid
• Leader Line: 15-pound fluorocarbon
• Lures: Lucky Craft FM 110 and Shimano WM 115 SP

Shark Fishing from Shore | Target: Leopard Shark, Soupfin, Sevengill

• Rod: Fiblink Moonsniper (12 or 13 feet)
• Reel: Penn Battle 8000 (II or III)
• Main Line: 50-pound braid
• Topshot: 100-pound nylon coated mono
• Leaders: Shark Leaders
• Weights: 8-ounce pyramid or 6-ounce sputnik

Bait Fishing Reefs | Target: Sheephead, Bass, Rockfish

• Rod: Fiblink Moonsniper (12 or 13 feet)
• Reel: Penn Slammer 4500 or 6500
• Main Line: 50-pound braid
• Topshot: 100-pound nylon coated mono
• Rig: dropper loop rig for surf fishing
• Weights: 6-oz bank weight
• Hook: Size 1 to 3/0 live bait hook

When To Use Mono

In all the examples below, I used braid as the main line. In all of those, I used fluorocarbon for my leader line (with the exception of sharks). Below are the scenarios that I still use mono as my main line.

Carolina Rig | Target: Corbina, Surfperch, Croaker etc.

• Rod: Okuma Celilo (8’6″ MA)
• Reel: Penn Battle II or III 4000 series
• Mainline: 15-pound monofilament
• Carolina Rig (descriptive article/video):
  • Leader Line: 15-pound fluorocarbon
  • Swivels: 15-19mm barrel swivels
  • Hooks: size #2 or #4 owner mosquito hooks
  • Weights: 1-oz egg weight
  • Beads: 8mm fishing beads

Surf Fishing with Jerkbaits (I go either way) | Target: Halibut and Surfperch

• Rod: Okuma SST (8’6″ MHA)
• Reel: Penn Battle II or III 4000 series
• Main Line:
  • 15-pound monofilament
  • or 30-pound braid
• Leader Line: 15-pound fluorocarbon
• Lures: Lucky Craft FM 110 and Shimano WM 115 SP

Questions You Might Have: Braid vs. Mono

At the end of the day, every angler has their own preferences. Just understand what the benefits and drawbacks are to using each and try each option for yourself. I think the setups I outlined above are fairly self explanatory and well laid out, but I’ll answer the two questions I think I might get below (and feel free to ask other questions in the comments below).

1. I go back and forth between braid and mono when I’m surf fishing with jerkbaits because I don’t put much “texture” or twitches on my jerkbait retrieve and I also don’t set the hook with jerkbaits. Additionally, trying to get seaweed off of a jerkbait mid-retrieve via rod twitches hardly ever works. So, I often see more benefit to having the stretch of mono mid fight for the sporadic head shakes and turns. I also think jerkbaits often create leverage (from one hook to the next along a hard body) for hooks to pop off if there’s too much pressure applied too quickly, so again, I like the stretch of mono here.
2. I still use mono for my Carolina rig for similar reasons. It’s also what I’ve always done. But, I really like the added stretch for when you’re trying to set the hook on and fight big corbina and spotfin in the shallow water. As far as sensitivity goes, I understand that braid would provide me more sensitivity. But, I don’t need it. It’s that simple. Between my experience and a quality rod like the SST or Celilo, I can feel everything I need to.