Types of fishing line

Monofilament

STRENGTHS	WEAKNESSES
Excellent abrasion resistance – suited to harsh environments such as rocks, coastal edges, oyster estuaries and freshwater granite gorges. Ability to stretch – or “give” can be important to keep the hook in the fish High knot strength and easy to use Budget friendly	Memory problems Ability to stretch – in deep water it can be hard to feel bites Damage or deterioration from UV rays The best way to combat these problems is to change your mono line regularly or at any sign of wear.

Recommended Usage:

Backing – bulk or filler of a reel. Mono line is frequently used for backing purposes to fill out the spool length of a reel, saving money on more expensive braided line.
Beach, game and bait fishing scenarios
Harsh environments such as rock, coastal and oyster fishing
Jumping fish such as marlin, mahi mahi and sailfish

Braid (GSP / PE Line)

This newer more advanced type of line was developed by the Dutch, and quickly perfected by the Japanese and US in the 1980s and 1990s. A braided line consists of braiding or weaving fibres into the strand of a line. These “wonder lines” have spurred recent innovation, resulting in the specific and high quality fishing gear that is used today.

STRENGTHS

WEAKNESSES

High knot strength
Lack of stretch – useful in situations where precise, immediate and sensitive movements are required. Very beneficial for fish with a sensitive bite and in deep water applications.
Much smaller diameter compared to mono lines – often around ⅓ diameter of mono line. This can allow for a larger length of line to fit on a spool, and can provide less resistance to sea currents.
Floats – suitable for surface fishing
Not susceptible to UV rays
Does not absorb water

Lack of stretch – hard hitting fish can cause the line to break or the hook to come out of the mouth.
Poor abrasions resistance
Highly visible in water – highly visible to fish. This can be overcome by using a monofilament or fluorocarbon leader to reduce line visibility at the tip.
Can be expensive

Recommended Usage:

Deep water fishing and jigging (yellowtail, kingfish)
Targeting fish with a gentle bite
Ultra light tackle lure fishing (bream, whiting, bass or flathead)
Soft plastic fishing (snapper, mulloway etc.)
Bait casting reels used in trolling
Heavy tackle surface luring (giant trevally, big blue water sport and game fish)

Dacron

STRENGTHS	WEAKNESSES
Durability High abrasion resistance Low stretch	High maintenance Difficult to spot abrasions Absorbs water - needs to be cleaned and dried after use to avoid damages

Recommended Usage:

Used primarily for game fishing and fly fishing as a backing line

Fluorocarbon

STRENGTHS	WEAKNESSES
Refractive index – similar to water. Material is close to invisible when immersed in water. Density – less slack in the line Abrasion resistant Naturally sinks Sensitivity Does not absorb water	Knot slippage Less line memory can cause problems when casting on spinning reels As it sinks it doesn't make it a good choice for surface lures

Recommended Usage:

Ultra light casting in clear water situations
Sub-surface lures or baits due to its sinking properties