Line selection for inshore Kayak Fishing

[Toddzio]

I have never fished inshore from my kayak before, so I need some help on line selection, please.

I bought a Penn Battle 3 LE in 3000 size for throwing soft plastics.
Here are the specs:
Model: BTLIII3000LE
Type: Spinning
Reel Size: 3000
Mono Capacity yd/lb: 200/8, 165/10, 120/12
Braid Capacity yd/lb: 250/15, 180/20, 130/30
Bearings: 6
Gear Ratio: 6.2:1
Line Retrieve: 35

Should I go braid to fluorocarbon leader? What lb test for the braid/leader would be a best all-around bet?

I also bought a Penn Fierce 3 in 4000 for using plastics/live bait under a popping cork.

Model: Fierce III 4000
Bearings: 5
Gear Ratio: 6.2:1
Max Drag: 15lb
Mono Capacity (yd/lb): 270/8, 220/10, 165/12
Braid Capacity (yd/lb): 360/15, 260/20, 185/30

Same question - should I go braid to fluorocarbon leader? What lb test for the braid/leader would be a best all-around bet?

Thanks in advance.

[WC53]

I use 10lb invisibraid or suffix 832 or Superslick V2. Leader from 15-30 depending on water clarity and oysters. If stained water, mono leader is fine. For around structure you can step up to 20 lb braid if you want. Most 10lb braids break around 30lbs.

[ben_beyer]

I use 15 or 20 pound braid. I will use the 15 when I anticipate fishing lighter lures like 1/8 or 1/4 ounce spoons, DOA Shrimp, and 1/16 ounce jigs or weighted swimbait hooks.

For leader I carry a variety but typically just use some 15 pound P-Line Floroclear (Co-Polymer). I also use 20 pound mono for topwater and I carry some 15 pound fluorobarbon. The reason why I carry those is if I want to change sink rate and around Port Aransas where I fish, the water is very clear.

[Ron Mc]

200yds is the number I typically try to spool up for inshore, whether 6-lb braid UL or 20-lb braid on a 4000 size reel.
On my baitcasters, I fish 12-lb fluoro from a bulk spool, but will back them up halfway with inexpensive YoZuri braid and hit that 200 yds.

The 4-strand YoZuri I use for backing is also coated.
The 8-strand coated braids, Sufix 832 and Florida Fishing Products are choice for spinning.
With braids, I also fish fluoro or copolymer shock tippet.

My favorite inshore 4000 spinning reel, I changed the spool to a 1520 just to get that 200 yds 15-lb braid. (of course keep the other loaded spool as a spare). The shallow spool also lays the braid extremely flat for long casts.


I set all my drags to a spring scale, to 1/4 of the weakest link - rod max line rating, braid test, tippet test.

With braid on spinning tackle, always use your bail manually - this also keeps your free hand close to the bail for feathering casts. A good habit is close the bail and turn with the rod to take up the slack before retrieving - this is how to prevent wind knots.

[kickingback]

^^This^^

[Ron Mc]

KB, love my reel tinkering, and always have, going back to repairing mine and OP's valuable antique reels.
My latest project is a non-level wind Ambassadeur 6500 CT tournament reel - Blue Yonder. Going to rebuild it in a low-profile barstock frame, shallow spool from Japan, ceramic abec-7 bearings, 4-pin light centrifugal brake and mag add-on. It will be a 12-lb inshore reel made to cast into tomorrow. I hunted down 2 of these, and will make the second into a surf reel, where most people want them. I'm sure I could go out and buy a better reel, but none as fun.

[TroutSupport.com]

total line amount is not really a big deal with inshore fishing... even the smallest baitcaster rated at 85 yards of mono will be plenty.. those usually hold 125 -150 yards of braid. you're 3000 level reel is fine..

20lb braid on a spin caster and leader can vary from 15lb - 30lb and many times 20lb mono is fine when fishing open water or grass flats.. ie.. no rocks, barnacles, or oysters. Shallow oysters, rocks, or barnacles calls for 25 -30 lb 100% Fluoro leader material.

[Ron Mc]

hey Tobin, good to see you post.
Line has become so expensive, and reel-packs of fluorocarbon virtually nonexistent.
If you plan to use a bit of fluoro, will probably need to a buy bulk spool.
If you're just using fluoro for tippet, tippet spools are the normal way to find it now.
Fishing braid, it's too easy to buy reels that hold 300-400 yards, and a spool that's not full doesn't behave well.

Another reason to back with inexpensive braid if you prefer to fish fluoro for your working line is the cost refilling the whole spool every year. The braid backing will last you longer and you only need to fill half as much fluoro from your bulk spool - or 100-yd tippet spool.

[bigred90gt]

I use Finns Wind Tamer 20 lb braid on all of my bait casters and spinners. I tie a 6-8 foot section of 15 lb mono on for a leader on all of them.