Line recomendation

I just bought a new Penn 330 GTi and a 7 foot ugli stick. My intention is to use it for rock fishing off the Southern Oregon coast. Does anybody have any recomendations as to what line I should use on it. I have read or been told that using line much heavier then 20 lb, makes it difficult to break off if needed. Should I use mono or fleuro carbon?

20# Spectra with mono leader.  I don't think the bottomfish are particularly line shy so flouro is probably not needed, but to each his own.  I've been meaning to try this for a while and had the opportunity to last weekend after Josh did his part if nudging me that way.  Thanks Josh.  I'll never go back to straight mono for bottomfishing.

-Allen

Spectra is the shiznit for rockfish.

I use the super-cheap 50lb walmart line for leaders.  Something like $3 a spool...  It's stiff and thick, but it never breaks.  It's especially important with diamond jigs because the barbs on the hook hit the line alot.  Droppers tied in this stuff for teaser hooks are stiff enough to keep the teaser away from the leader too.

The last nice thing about this stuff is it's thick enough that you can handline most fish aboard instead messing with a net/boca.  I handlined a barely legal ling into my lap last year because I didn't want to injure it in the net if it was less than 30".

I agree.  Spectra is great stuff for rock fishing and trolling from a kayak.  I highly recommend it too.

$26 for a 300 yard spool of PowerPro spectra may seem a bit expensive, but it goes a long way.  It usually enough for several reels since you need less than a hundred yards for each reel.   I usually fill the reel with 20# mono then top it off with about a hundred yards of spectra.  That's way more than enough even if you get broken off several times.

If you just want to try it out, go to your local tackle shop and have them add just 40 yards/120 ft to your existing reel.  It will only cost you about $4.  My local tackle shop charges 10 cents/yd for 20# PowerPro.

Like Allen, once you try spectra, it'll be hard to go back to mono.

A couple words of caution to anyone new to using spectra...

- Never wrap spectra around your fingers or hand to break it off.  It'll cut you to the bone.  To break a snag, I usually wrap it a few times around the handle of my gaff or pliers before pulling up.

- Many popular knots used for mono will slip with spectra.  Use a palomar knot for tying spectra to terminal tackle.  For joining spectra to mono, I use a uni knot to uni knot.

My favorite knot is this one: http://www.sheltonproducts.com/tipsonknots.html, but I've been using it since before the sheltons claimed it in their name.   I've always called it an improved uni-knot, but really it's just a hangman's noose.  Very strong and works with all lines, can even snell wire.

To break a snag, I usually wrap it a few times around the handle of my gaff or pliers before pulling up.

I wrap my line to the butt of the rod.