I need to spool my new Penn 114H Special Senator 6/0 and would like opinions on affordable yet reliable line. I will be fishing off the southwest coast of Jamaica for King fish, Wahoo, Tuna, Barracuda, and shark. Always a chance for a sailfish too. I'll be fishing out of local boats(26'to32' "canoes"). I don't need to hear how my rig is inferior or cheap, I bought what I could afford. I'm not really interested in learning all new knots(i.e.braided line), but will certainly read and consider your opinions. I'm most likely leaving my rig there with my Jamaican friend as it is a bit of a pain to haul rods back and forth, and I don't have a use for a 50#test rig here in Michigan. I get down to Jamaica twice a year or so and want a line that will last for a few years if possible. Any storage/care advice is greatly appreciated as well. Thank You for your comments!
Braid will for sure last the longest. I recommend Jerry Brown or Tuf-Line XP. 50 # will do you well. Look up your speck on Penns website and see how much line your reel holds and order accordingly.
If you rig with jerry brown hollowcore and a top shot, you will gain more capacity which I would recommend for the fish you may see. with hollowcore you only replace the topshot as needed, if your only there 2 times a seaosn ti won't need it that often, and really is very easy to do yourself if you put a day into learning and reading up on it, this is the perfered method, but as you state you would rather not learn anything new. This method also costs the most at fuirst, but since you will not replace the hollowcore which is 3/4 of the spool, over the years it becomes cheaper, your only replacing about 100 yards or so of mono, from a bulk spool, that is maybe $10 worth of line. If the hollowcore nicks, cut the nick out and splice the two ends of hollowcore together, no wasted line ever.
Another other option is straight braid (non hollow), it is thin and will allow more capacity, but still needs a top shot, and will require a special knot to connect the ends, probably a uni to uni is the easiest, but there are many out there that work well connecting braid ti mono. The down side is a bulk knot that will catch in guides and will nick and break down over use, it needs to be watched and redone every few trips to keep it from weakening. Also, solid braid tends to wear over time a lot easier then hollow braid and seems to break easier once nicked from my experience. Also, to resplice solid braid if you cut out a nick you need to add another knot, and another spot in your line to worry about and watch, basically you should replace the line at this point costing more money.
Your last choice is solid mono, but on the reel you are using, your capacity is pushing your limits out there, so you will have the worst capactity with straight mono. Mono has a shelf life of about 2 years on a reel, or when it nicks, which ever comes first, so every 2 seasons you will need to replace the line, your gonna run $50+ a reel every 2 seasons to keep these reels full of good line. The down side, if mono nicks, you have to cut it down to that point and throw it away, a knot connecting mono to mono of anything pver 30lbs is going to be bulky and too big to even attempt. I use momoi hi catch mono, it is all I recommend....berkley big game is junk...I've had 60lb big game break at 42lbs, and it wears quickly from what I've seen. Ande line is tough and overtests its rating, but has one of the thickest diameters per line rating out of all brands, meaning the smallest line capacity, but it lasts long and is cheaper to buy then most. I've used suffix superior, it was ok, but momoi is the same price and I have had 0 problems with the line, it performs as expected for its line rating.
Not sure what test line you are planning to use, but the heavier you go the less capacity again, and more reason to use hollowcore. My 30W reels hold 540-560yards of 80...I use 400yards of JB hollowcore and top it off with a mono topshot.
Regardless of what you choose...ALL of your rigs should match line style, you do not want mono on some and braid on others, for starters they troll diffrently, as well as fish differently when drifted, this will make some lures more effective then others when trolled side by side. Also, if your lines cross, if you have all reels with mono or all with braid, you have a smaller chance of cutting a line off, if you mix them you will cut off fish and lines for sure.
With a braid backing and mono topshot, by the time the mono is all out your 2 lines should be far enough apart that you can avoid tangles...if not those are might smart fish or their was angler error for not keeping them apart.
My vote would be do it right and go hollowcore to mono, but if you want to keep it simple and learn no new techniques, then you need straight mono. Due to the species you wish to catch, you will want 50lb line or better, I'd recommend 80, but unless you use braid you will never have enough line on those reels to go that heavier. 60 might work and give you a little more security to add the necessary drag to stop some of those fish you are after. Remember, drag settings, never over 1/3 the lines rated capacity....so with 50 you shouldn't put more then 16lbs, which is about where you want to be, but bumping it up to slow a bigger fish or a speedy wahoo will be pushing that lines capacity if somethign fails within your gear. A heavier line gives you a little more security to fight with bigger drag settings if needed, although it is hard to adjust a star drag while fighting a fish...and I highly advise against it....thumbing the spool is a better method once a fish slows and you need to turn its head.
Much thanks Gradyfish265! You've sold me on the hollow core with a top shot but I guess I will probably start out with straight mono as the other rods I have access to are spooled with mono. Crossing lines are a bit of a concern as the boats are quite narrow and the homemade outriggers are not very long. Thanks again. I'll be ordering some Momoi. The literature says my reel should hold 475 yds. of 50#.
The 114h is a work horse... Lots of fond memories... Me? I'd use 50lb sufix mono. Half pound spool will do you about 20 bucks... It has long shelf life, abrasion resistance and brexs over test by quite a bit... Momoi will cost you twice, braids are damn expensive...
Don't let anybody put you dpown about the 114 h. I'm almost all shimano... Have a set of internationals in moth balls... but keep my 113h and 114h set operational and spooled as I said with 50 sufix...
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