San Diego & SoCal Fishing Forums

What’s the best pound test line for braid and or mono for the bays. Also, suggested leader line for using braid?

Thanks !

Lots of brands will work fine. I use 8 lb Gliss for spinning and 6 lb Ande mono for baitcasting (but have one reel with 10 lb for heavier lures). For leader, I just use 6 or 10 lb Vanish fluorocarbon, typically only 1-2' long. J-braid is nice for spinning too. I rarely get broken off even though spotties have small teeth. Check your line often for abrasion and you won't have a problem.

I usually use a swivel to connect leader to line, that also works as a grass catcher.

I don't think spotties are very line shy but lighter line casts further and maybe gives better lure action. I most commonly use 1/4 ounce jig heads with soft plastic grubs or swimbaits.

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Float tube:
Medium action baitcast rods, 80 size reels, 6 lb. Izorline XXX mono. When I tie a separate leader (with a swivel), 8 lb. flouro. This is for throwing 1/4 ounce lures.
Medium spinning rods, 2000 size reels, 4 lb Izorline XXX Mono. For hardbaits.

Shore fishing:
Same setups, but...
might go up to 8 lb. line if I know I'm going to be dragging spotties out of / over the grass beds.

Wow, I’m really over killing it. I’ve been using 15lb braid with 15lb leader. I’m trying to go light as possible without worrying if I’ll be broken off during a fight.

It's unusual to be broken off during a fight unless the drag is set too tight. You will snag on weeds and bottom debris from time to time but with 6 pound line, it almost always comes free once you get your float tube over or past the snag. Sometimes a spotty will bury itself in the grass but again, get vertical over the grass and it will come free. Giving slack sometimes works too; the fish will swim out of the grass and you can resume the fight.

6lb to 10lb straight mono.

Im typically from shore 90% of the time unless im on a skiff.

From my float tube I’m running 10lb braid to a 6lb leader. Sometimes flouro, sometimes mono, I’m not 100% sold on which I prefer. You can get away with light line in a float tube by keeping your drag light. Let the fish run. If it gets into structure, just sit on top of the fish and it’ll swim out.

From shore if I’m out throwing for spotties in the grass I’ll bump my leader up to 8lb.

I use on my baitcasters 20 lb braid to 12 lb. Fluorocarbon.

10lb Braid to 12lb Fluoro is what we use 90% of the time. Really not a ton of benefit to fishing lighter then 12lb unless the water is clear or your targeting a more line shy species like Bonefish. Spotties eat 12lb just fine and you'll be glad you have it if you hook something bigger

Just my two cents... Maxima "Ultragreen." (my fav) No leader necessary unless targeting toothy critters.

I’ve been working my way up. I mostly fish 30 braid, with 15 pound Flourocarbon or Maxima Clear for Topwater. I was just sick of getting my ass kicked by the big fish I hook often enough to start fishing bigger. Now I land the big Halibut, the occasional Angel Shark, and White Seabass that range around 12-15 pounds. I used to think I had hooked BatRays. Turns out some are Gamefish. Now I get them…. The 30 pound is way more durable than lighter Braid by way of being a little thicker. It’s 6 pound equivalent. 10 Braid is the size of 2 pound, any nick and it’s over. I start the day with around 8 feet of leader and it whittles itself down as I change jigs and retie every few fish. I don’t horse in all my fish. I fish with a decent drag setting, but I can crank down if required. I also pinch my Barbs on the Hooks, more to make it easier to get the jigs backs than anything. San Diego Harbor is certainly a numbers area, most aren't huge. Some are. I like those.

I use 40 or 50lbs braid to 12-15lbs leaders. I’ll take a little loss distance for better line management, better abrasion resistance and less digging with the thicker line all day long.

8 lbs braid with 8 leader for spinning setup.