Line and Connections

Line, leaders, and connections can get very complcated.   I will try to make it easy.  The serious spinning surf plugger will use "super" braid.  There are many brands and they all tout superiority.  In reality, they are all made of the same stuff and and are now all of quality weaves.  The variable among brands are the surface coatings but these wear off quite quickly.  When this happens (and it will) they all fish the same.  I recommend #50 braid.  Prolonged power casting will weaken knots and 50# gives sufficient reserve strength.   You should load about 300 yards of braid onto your reel.  Use cheaper mono as a backing under the braid to achieve a full reel spool.

Use a 24" - 42" 50 - 60# nylon monofiliment leader.   It is for cut resistance against sharp parts of the fish.   It will not get reeled inside the guides.  There is little advantage to using fluorocarbon leaders in the situations discribed here.  Use a 240# Spro Power Swivel to connect the braid to the leader.  Use a doubled line five turn Uni-knot to attach the braid (see tips and techniques).   While the Palomar knot is popular it is due to ease of tying it's not particularily strong when used with braid.   Many people claim they have great success tying braid directly to mono (without a swivel) but they usually look very sheepish when a really long and hard fight puts their theory to the ultimate test.  Use your favorite mono knot to attach the leader to the swivel.  I favor a four turn San Diego Jam Knot.  Use an 80# Breakaway Link at the other end of the leader.  I have seen many big fish lost to Duolock type snaps.