In surf fishing discussions, you’ll often hear about something called a “shock leader,” which many claim is a must-have for surf anglers.
But what exactly is a shock leader, and why is it considered important for beach fishing?
Today, we’ll explore the ins and outs of this topic and guide you on choosing the right shock leader for the best results.
A shock leader is a heavy line extension (typically 80 lb monofilament) that we add to the main line in order to absorb the massive stress we create when casting the rod. The shock leader should measure around 27-30 feet and be tied to the main line using a small solid knot.
What is a shock leader?
As a general rule, your line when surf fishing should range between 15 and 20 lb test when using monofilament and between 30 and 40 lb test when using braid.*
The thing to know here is that although these sizes are all you need for fishing and catching fish, they might fall short during casts.
Let me elaborate.
When you cast your line, the terminal gear, particularly the sinker, exerts significant pressure on the line.
It’s commonly believed that the weight your line bears during casts is around 7 to 8 times the weight you cast.
This means that if you use a 4-oz sinker along with a 2-oz bait or lure, making a total of 6-oz, the line will receive approximately 42 to 48 pounds of pressure during the cast.
Therefore, if your line is only 20 pounds, it’s very likely that it will snap right after the cast because of the considerable pressure it undergoes.
Now, what does this imply? Well, firstly you’ll lose your entire rig in the water with a lot of line out of the reel.
Second, the rupture can cause the sinker to fly through the air and as a result put your safety and that of others in danger.
You can’t allow this, especially when fishing in a crowded place.
That’s why a shock leader is mandatory when surf fishing.
A shock leader is a strong line extension that you attach to the end of your fishing line to absorb the intense pressure generated during casts.
How strong should the shock leader be?
The strength ofyour shock leader is determined by the weight you cast.
As we said, you should use at least 10 pounds of line weight for every ounce you cast. And that includes the sinker and the bait.
For instance, if you cast a 4-ounce lead with a 1-ounce chunk of bait, the recommended minimum breaking strength of your shock leader should be 50 lb.
This is the minimum pound test for your shock leader to resist the pressure of a 5 oz casting weight.
Now, with this in mind, it’s important to remember that 4 ounces may not be sufficient to hold in rough surf conditions and strong currents. That’s why it’s preferable to have a stronger shock leader to stay covered in case you need to upgrade your sinker later on.
In general, you will rarely need more than 8 oz of casting weight when surf fishing. This weight is heavy enough to handle the choppiest surf conditions and the strongest currents. Consequently, the recommended breaking strength for shock leaders is 60-80 lb.
This weight allows the absorption of standard 3-4 oz sinkers while remaining effective to cope with a heavier sinker if the surf conditions ask for it.
Why not simply use a higher pound test?
In other words, why do I need a heavy extension when I can simply use a strong main line of high pound test?
Good question.
Well, you are correct. The use of a strong line is sufficient to prevent break-offs without attaching a shock leader. However, thick lines come with some disadvantages that can affect your overall productivity and reduce your catch count.
First, a thick line receives more pressure from strong currents and is, therefore, more susceptible to drifting your bait out of the strike zone.
Second, a high-diameter line receives more friction from the air and wind during casts, which slows down your bait and limits your reach.
Also, you can’t fit much line in your reel when the diameter is thick. This can become problematic in situations where you need a fair amount of line to cast far and manage hard fights.
So as you can see, using a too thick line is not the ideal solution to prevent snaps when casting heavy weights. Yes, this can do the job, but your overall productivity and casting distance might suffer.
The ideal solution is to keep your line thin (15-20 lb test) and attach a strong shock leader at the end to cushion your casts.
How long should a shock leader be?
A shock leader should measure about twice the length of your surf rod, plus 5 to 6 wraps around the spool. Personally, I use shock leaders of about 27 to 30 feet and they always do great.
Note here that the knot connecting your main line to the shock leader will be a weak spot in your setup. So make sure to use a solid and durable knot.
Personally, I prefer the uni knot when tying my shock leaders. It’s a robust knot system that does not weaken by sudden shocks but rather by constant and steady pressure over an extended period of time. This fits the job of a shock leader knot perfectly.
Other fishermen use and recommend the blood knot.
Whichever knot you pick, make sure it’s solid and small. When you cast the line, large knots hit the guides of your rod more often, resulting in more resistance and therefore a shorter casting distance.
Which material is best for shock leaders?
Monofilament is known to be the most used material for shock leaders. The high stretch quality of monofilament helps to absorb the stress when casting heavy weights, which prevents the line from snapping even if the used pound test is less than the recommended.
Mono is also highly resistant to abrasion, which helps to deal with mixed seabeds and rocky shores, as well as sharp-toothed fish like bluefish and sharks.
In addition, compared to braid, monofilament is less visible in the water. As a result, your offer will look more natural and more appealing to fish.
Do I need a shock leader when I use a braid line?
Well, an 80 lb test braided line is on average 0.43 mm in diameter. That’s as thin as an 18 lb test monofilament line.
What does this mean? It means that by using braid as your main line, you can have both:
- A strong line that doesn’t break easily when casting heavy weights
- And a small diameter that allows fitting enough line into the reel.
So the answer is clear: No, you don’t need a shock leader when using a strong braided line.
Just make sure your pound test is 10 times the ounces you cast and you should be safe to go.
In fact, a straight braid line can give you a better fishing experience compared to a configuration where you use monofilament + a shock leader. That’s because when you don’t use a shock leader, you remove one additional knot (weak spot) in your setup making it stronger and less likely to snap.
Also, by reducing the number of knots in your line, you hit the rod guides less often during casts, which helps to achieve a greater casting distance.
And of course, no need to mention the sensitivity, stability, and steadiness that braid offers thanks to its low stretch and thin diameter that cuts well in strong winds and currents.
Having said that, using braid without a shock leader comes with some drawbacks too.
As mentioned earlier, braid is a poor abrasion-resistant and breaks off easily when rubbed against sharp objects.
It’s, therefore, a bad choice when fishing rough grounds or when targeting sharp-toothed fish.
Braid is also not stretchy at all, which can be inconvenient when fighting large fish and dealing with difficult snags.
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