Fishing Q&A

what weight fishing line should I use?

I'm going pier fishing in southern California. I haven't fished since I was about 12. When looking in our garage i found all the fishing line we have is 30 lb. I think that is too much. what is a good line for catching mackerel or crappies and other fish of that sort?

Public Comments

1. 8lb test should be sufficient. My husband fishes a lot, and when he's going for mackerel, he uses 8.
2. crappies are fresh, water mackerel are salt. for stuff of the pier 20lb's good, and 40lb or 50lb pound leader, their are some some big fish off piers man, once caught a 30lb permit on one, and permit fight HARD!! Use a circle hook and live pilchards, live small jack, (for at the end of the pier), live shrimp, crabs live and pin fish. as for bead baits, shrimp, crab halves, cut fish, squid, and clams. you'll prob get stripers, bluefish, jack, and maybe macks.
3. my husband ,I and my children went fishing a lot when my kids were young.for smaller fish like crappies,sm mouth bass, perch, sm catfish he used 8 pound test if he was trying for a bigger fish like walleye, large mouth bass bigger catfish than he used 10 pound test. good luck ,hope this helps.
4. i fish for mackeral off my boat and i use10 pound test now since you are fishing off a pier he best line weight to use is 20 so that you can bring those big fish on to the pier
5. Your 30 lb line is probably just fine for fishing from a pier. You will be able to lift most fish from the water up to the pier. If you get lucky and catch a big one, maybe not. One thing you could do is get some 60 lb or larger braided line (Power-Pro would be a good choice) and attach enough of it to the front of your 30 lb line to be able to lift a big fish up to the pier from the water. You can then take it off when you go fresh water fishing. I'd also consider using a shank of braided steel leader at the hook to accommodate toothy critters. Use crimp locks. BTW - You could also use the crimp locks to attach the braid to the nylon line. Use 2 of them a few inches apart. Some of the other top contributors here are fishing purists and won't approve, but it is probably gonna be easier for you than tying them together. Good luck and good fishing - 73 from the Fisherman
6. i use 20 lbs for pier and surf fishing. but 20 is max. crappie i use 8. for info about pier fishing check out the source
7. There aren't any bluefish or stripers in southern Cal -- just like there are no crappies in the ocean. In general the biggest fish you're likely to get is a bonito of a couple of pounds, and most of your catch will be under a pound. Anywhere from 10 to 20 pound line will be sufficient, and if you're just fishing for mackerel and perch, the lighter line will do. (If you do get a bigger fish, regulars fishing on the pier will generally have a net or pier gaff to help you bring it up.) Any line which has been sitting in your garage for years has likely decayed enough that you should replace it anyway. Clean off the rod and reel and make sure it all works before heading down to the pier. Old grease in a reel can gum it up after a few years of sitting.
8. 10 - 15 pound
9. Peter has it 12lb test for me on small fish like macks and on another is 20lb for larger fish.Yeah I have some spooled for even bigger fish ie:shark,tarpon,cobia large rays....!But average fishing is done with my 12 and 20!! With leader of course!
10. 12lb to 15lb would be optimal.