Your views

[mdracer]

Just read an article where they talked of 20-30 lb test being light tackle.

My own personal definitions are as follows:

Ultra Light- 2-4 lb test

Light- 6-10 lb

Med- 12-17lb

Heavy- All over 17lb.

I am only talking casting, jigging, etc. not trolling or deep water baitfishing.

What are your thoughts?

[Shawn Kimbro]

I'd say that's about right. I saw a movie tonight where some guys were jackpoling 100 pound tuna up on the deck with one jerk of a cane pole. But around here we think it takes a broomstick, 80 pound test, and a 30 minute fight to land a silly rockfish.

[Spot77]

I've never fished with anything above 10 lb except on a charter boat.


Of course I've never caught a fish weighing more than about 15 pounds either....except on the charter boat.

I personally would not consider anything over 14 lb to be "light"

Oh....my ultralight rods are strung up with 6 lb.

[jumbo1]

I only use 10# test so I think anything over that is heavy.......

[btmfshr]

My ultralight poles are strung with 4# test. My light tackle poles with 6# and 8# test. My medium weights poles are strung with 10#, 12# or 14#. I do have some broomsticks with 30# test, and my livelining rig has got 20# braid.

[B-Faithful]

My "ultra light" tackle sports 15# or 20# braid on freshwater baitcasters
My light tackle sports 20lb braid on saltwater baitcasters.
My medium chumming/summer trolling gear sports 20lb mono on 310gtis with light action downrigger rods.
My spring and fall trolling gear sports 30lb mono on 330gtis with 20-30lb med action rods.

[crabby and son]

It mostly depends on what you are fishing for. 20-30 # line for shark or tuna would be light tackle.Need more info with that statement..............Gary

Originally Posted by crabby and son

It mostly depends on what you are fishing for. 20-30 # line for shark or tuna would be light tackle.Need more info with that statement..............Gary

Thought the exact same thing...4 lb could be light tackle for summer stripers depending where you fish...15 lb could be light tackle at other times...I don't know much, but I'd consider light tackle lighter line than the average size of the fish I'm targeting. Anyone can horse a 5 lb rockfish in on 15 lb line, but a 40 lber on 15 lb line is a different story. Completely situationally dependent.

When I liveline, I use an ultralight rod with 4 lb test, but I don't consider it light tackle because the next 4 lb spot I catch will be my last!

Good thread though, I like it cause it's fishing related!

[Skip]

I think it will vary based on the size of the fish you expect to catch and where.

A big fish in calm water might require the same tackle as a small fish in a fast current.

If the boat is anchored , trolling or drifting also plays a role in tackle selection.

What you posted is a good general selection.
As others pointed out - 30 is light for some offshore fish.

[reeltor]

10lb braid is my light set up.
20lb everything else. I change leader strength to suit the fish and surroundings.

Check out the line diameter from Suffix's braid chart. Makes me think that the 10lb line is underrated.

6 LB
.006" DIA . (.14mm)
10 LB
.008" DIA . (.20mm)
20 LB
.009" DIA . (.23mm)
30 LB
.011" DIA . (.29mm)