Which line/test for rock fishing?

Hey everyone, I got a new Okuma Cold Water reel with a short Trevala rod to take out on the kayak. My other set up (similar rod and reel) I am using 50lb braid with a 30lb mono leader. What are you all using? What’s best for rock fishing?

similar braid for me, then 20 or 40# mono, though I have some flouro now, so will likely use that

i use 50# main 40# leader. id use the heaviest leader you can reliably break

I spool with 30 lb braid and typically run 30-40 lb fluoro leaders purely based on what I have on hand.

I spool with 30 lb braid and typically run 30-40 lb fluoro leaders purely based on what I have on hand.

Same, 30 lb braid for all of my reels for saltwater.  But use 25, 30, 40 top shots and leaders depending on what or where i'm targeting.

I use 40# braid mainline, 50# mono topshot, 50# mono leaders, and a small "breaker" of 30# mono between the topshot and leader so it will break there if necessary. I like the abrasion resistance of 50# mono since I'm usually in very rock areas. I also use a small piece of 15# mono to connect my sinkers so they will break off first if they get hung up.

Whatever is on sale. Different brands of line run different diameters for the same listed line strength. There’s no standardization with it which is annoying.

Thinner braid cuts thru the water easier, so you have less angle in your line with lighter weights.

With that I run braid that is a diameter of around .010 or a little less and a mono top shot that’s maybe double that .020 or so to a barrel swivel and then a short leader (basically if the swivel is at the rod tip I can hook the hook keeper) of either the same or slightly lighter mono.

The last few feet take most of the abrasion and are easy to re tie.

TBH it's been a few years since I was out. With that said I was a safety first guy and every setup I had was 30#braid main line (based on what I comfortably break off), with leaders 20 to 60 depending on where and what I was fishing for. I actually only fished salt and bays so of course I'd go lighter if I ever got around to smaller prey.

I use 50 lbs braid/30 lbs leader combination, and my wife uses 30 lbs braid/20 lbs leader combination.

Paul

So I put on 50lb braid and 20lb mono. Wanted to do 30, but didn’t have it at the time. Might switch up now that I’m home and have it. It was a good combo for me last year.

Usually 50# braid 40 # mono but 40# can be hard to break. I did snag a mother of a bat ray the other day and had a hell of a time breaking off. Finally it made another run and I was able to jam the spool and yank back the rod and snapped it off. On the ocean, wrapping line around a gaff handle then lifting with a swell works well but a big bat is unpredictable so I didn't want to be tied to it in the yak.

For near shore rockfishing, I use 20lb mono. Not hard too hard to break off and enough to land anything I ever hook.

I spool with 30 lb braid and typically run 30-40 lb fluoro leaders purely based on what I have on hand.

Same, 30 lb braid for all of my reels for saltwater.  But use 25, 30, 40 top shots and leaders depending on what or where i'm targeting.

same as these guys^

Just me, but I've never used a leader heavier than 14# Maxima Chameleon and haven't lost one yet. Still, they aren't leader-shy so I guess whatever you feel comfortable with will work.

Oh, and if I were fishing in ore than 100' of water, I'd probably jump it up to 20# because of the extra weight.

Thanks everyone. For those using a mono top shot, how long?