What line to use around shell fish, high wind, and gnarly old docks?

[Rucksack]

I posted about this a while ago, but I moved out to the Northern Outer Banks. I'm fishing brackish sound locations and dealing with a lot of new conditions.

 

My horror story: I was fishing around old dock pilings with my 15 lbs braid spinning combo. I cast out, wind grabs my line, and throws it against the pilings. These pilings are absolutely encrusted with all manner of old shell fish. You probably know what happened next, I didn't correctly check my line, and had my braid break on my next retrieve after hitting a slight snag.

 

So my question is, what kind of line should I be rigging? Thicker braid? Maybe switch to mono? 

[softwateronly]

I deal with zebra mussels which are similar in their destructive tendencies toward braid.  My solution is a longer floro leader, 15'+, specifically sunline shooter in 10 and 14lb.  The mussels still win at times, but usually I can get my lure back and trim the shredded leader.  I also fight fish differently on when I let them dig and when I turn them.  I haven't found any braid that takes shell edges well and there is no meaningful or discernible difference in braid diameter that I've experienced.

 

scott

[gim]

I agree with @softwateronly, a fluoro leader will work better against sharp rocks and zebra mussels.  You still need to freqently check it for damage though.  Weak spots in fluoro are where it breaks.

 

The OP sounds like he is fishing in some really gnarly habitat so the only solution may be to use rope instead lol

[MN Fisher]

X3 for the flouro leader - Gim and I both know what kind of damage Zebra Mussels can incur. Check the leader frequently, and the braid itself if you run short leaders (less than 6')

[webertime]

Loooooooong Quality Fluorocarbon leader here (Lake Champlain...  WIND!, Zebras, granite, wood).  I use some as long as 40ft because I hate braid in wind.

[Rucksack]

Thanks folks!

 

In frustration I had unspooled my braid and switched to mono, which I instantly regretted the next day on the water when it jumped off and snarled up my reel. Literally had to disassemble the reel to clear it. 

 

I'll be respooling my braid and using a super long fluro leader. I'll save the mono for backing!

[FishTank]

Try a heavier sinking braid like Sunline Almight or YGK Ohdragon 4X (PE 1.2 or 1.5) with about a 12lb leader. These lines have a higher specific gravity and are also denser than most other lines which helps in the wind. Also, a quality, leader specific line also a must. 

[Bankbeater]

15 lb Berkley Big Game.