Striped bass can vary greatly in size. So when choosing a fishing line, it helps to know the average size of striped bass you will be targeting.
Fortunately, striped bass are usually caught in open water, so you don’t need an extremely strong fishing line to catch them.
Quick Look
- 12 to 20 lb. Test
- Best: Monofilament
- Good: 15 to 45 lb. Test Braid
- Also Good: Fluorocarbon
- Leader: 12 to 15 lb. Test Fluoro or Mono
Monofilament Fishing Line For Striped Bass
Monofilament fishing line is the most popular choice for striped bass anglers. The stretch of monofilament allows the bass to take the bait without feeling the pull of the rod. This gives you more time to get a good hookset.
Another benefit of the stretch of monofilament line is that it helps to keep the hook tight in the fish’s mouth while you reel it in.
Some anglers will step up to fluorocarbon or copolymer lines. These are also good, but cost a lot more.
What lb. Test Fishing Line For Striped Bass?
Use 12 to 20 lb. test monofilament fishing line for striped bass. Although stripers can grow to be quite big, they are usually caught in open water so you don’t have to use heavy lines. If you do want something stronger, use 30 to 45 lb. test braid
Leader Material For Striped Bass
Make your striped bass leaders out of 12 lb. test monofilament. However, if you are fishing from shore or around rocks, you should go with 30 to 40 lb. test leaders to protect against abrasion.
Breaking off from abrasion is a bigger concern when fishing in salt water because the rocks are usually covered in mussels and barnacles which can easily cut through fishing line.
Is Fluorocarbon Good For Catching Striped Bass?
You can catch striped bass on fluorocarbon fishing line, but most anglers will prefer monofilament or braid. Monofilament has similar characteristics, but costs a lot less than fluoro.
One of the main benefits of fluorocarbon line is that is is less visible underwater than mono. However, this doesn’t make a huge difference to striped bass. They generally aren’t line shy to the extent that fluoro has an advantage over mono.
Another quality of fluorocarbon is that it has more abrasion resistance. So it wouldn’t be a bad idea to use it as a leader material as it could last longer than mono.
Is Braid Good For Catching Striped Bass?
Braid is becoming a popular choice of fishing line for striped bass. It is more sensitive than fluorocarbon or monofilament, and you can get away with much stronger lines.
The no stretch sensitivity of braid is both a pro and a con. The benefit is that you can easily detect when you are getting a bite, and you can get a good hookset.
The downside of that sensitivity though is that the fish can also detect the angler on the other side of the line. a smart fish will spit the bait and run as soon as they feel that line tighten up against the rod.
So if you are using braid, just pay close attention to your rod and be ready to let out some line if a fish starts eating your bait. Or be ready for a quick hookset.
