Do I need a shock leader for surf fishing?

Yes. You will need a shock leader if you plan on casting heavy weights and heavy lures with a spool full of light monofilament line because the stress of that weight will often snap your main line if it is not protected with a shock leader.

If you are fishing in strong currents, big waves and heavy winds you may also find a shock leader necessary.

If you are using a heavy braided line like 50 pound test, then you do not need to use a shock leader. It is typically for surfcasters that are using 25 pound monofilament or less.

The last thing that you want is a 5 ounce lead hitting you or someone on the beach because you did not use a shock leader.

My formula for how strong the shock leader needs to be is 10 pounds per ounce of lead or lure. In other words, if you are using a 3 ounce sinker, then you will need a 30 pound shock leader.

If you are using a 4 ounce lead or lure, then you will need a 40 pound shock leader. You get the idea.

You might also want to use a shock leader is you are fishing in a spot with a very abrasive bottom. If the area that you are surf fishing in has a rocky bottom or one with lots of shells and shell fragments, then you may want to use a shock leader.

Those little nicks and abrasions on your line might lead to you losing the fish of a lifetime. Then you will wish that you had used a shock leader.

How long of a shock leader do you need?

You will need a shock leader that is about 10 yards of mono filament line that is in between your braided line or main line and your terminal line that is connected to your hook or lure. Some surf casters like to use up to 20 or 30 feet of shock leader when they fish off of the beach. Try different lengths and see which one works the best for you.

Just remember that the shock leader’s job is to absorb the shock of casting heavy baits and lures or from a big fish hitting your bait or lure. I rarely use one but many surf fishermen swear by them.

I am a FISHING CHARTER CAPTAIN on the Treasure Coast of Florida and I have been fishing for more than 40 years. I have fished the beaches, grass flats, mangroves, docks……. all over Florida for just about every fish that swims. In the article below, I will talk about shock leaders and the pros and cons of using them.

Let’s say that you are fishing for whiting in the surf at high tide. You don’t need a shock leader because you can fish with 10 pound mono filament line and not get broken off once. You can even bring your 7 foot medium action trout rod for this kind of fishing off of the beach. You won’t need to worry about a shock leader at all.

Now let’s say that you are trying to catch bluefish and mackerel in the surf. Well you had better have a wire leader or you will be retying the entire time that you are fishing. Mackerel and bluefish can bite through 50 pound mono filament leader like it is nothing. So in this circumstance you will need a leader of some sort.

So you see that a shock leader is a good idea most of the time but you don’t need one for fishing for small non toothy fish species in good surf conditions.

If you are fishing with lures, then I would definitely use a shock leader of at least 20 or 30 pounds. Lures are for getting reactionary bites from the fish. They instinctively bite the thing in front of them. It might be a territorial instinct or a hunger instinct but it is a reactionary bite either way. Even if you are jig fishing for pompano it might be a good idea to use a shock leader for you.

Watch the video below to learn the best lures for pompano fishing.