Fishing Leaders
Fishing leaders in fluorocarbon and monofilament, from fine soft bait leader to heavy kingfish trace and tapered surf leaders. Our range is led by Daiwa and Black Magic, alongside Shimano and Varivas.
A leader adds abrasion resistance, stealth and shock absorption between your main line and the hook or lure. Join it to your braid with a strong knot, and finish with quality hooks or a swivel.
Restock at our Grey Lynn concept store, or order online for fast, tracked delivery across New Zealand.
Frequently asked questions about fishing leaders
Fluorocarbon or mono leader - which is better?
Fluorocarbon is less visible underwater, more abrasion resistant and sinks slightly, which makes it the top choice for soft baiting, jigging and clear water. Mono leader is cheaper, more supple and stretches more, which suits bait fishing, trolling and surf casting. Both work well; choose fluorocarbon when fish are shy or structure is sharp, and mono for general bait fishing.
What leader strength should I use?
Match leader strength to your target fish and the structure. For soft baiting snapper, 15 to 30 lb fluorocarbon is common. For general bait fishing, 30 to 50 lb mono suits most situations. For kingfish around reefs, 60 to 100 lb or more is needed. Go lighter in clear, calm water with shy fish, and heavier around rough reef, rocks and wharf pilings.
How long should my leader be?
For soft baiting and lure fishing, 1 to 3 metres of leader is common, giving abrasion resistance without affecting casting too much. Jigging leaders are often 3 to 5 metres, and topwater leaders 1 to 2 metres of heavy fluorocarbon. Longer leaders protect better around structure, while shorter leaders are easier to cast. Keep the knot outside the rod tip when casting.
What knot should I use to join braid to a leader?
The FG knot is widely regarded as the strongest and slimmest braid-to-leader connection, casting smoothly through the guides, which makes it ideal for soft baiting, jigging and topwater. The double uni knot is easier to learn and still strong, making it a good place to start. Whatever knot you use, wet it before tightening and test it with a firm pull.
Does fluorocarbon leader sink?
Yes, fluorocarbon is denser than water, so it sinks slowly, which helps soft baits and jigs get down and keeps the leader below the surface. Mono is close to neutral buoyancy and sinks very slowly. For topwater lures the sink rate makes little difference, but for bottom fishing and slow jigging, a sinking fluorocarbon leader helps keep your presentation natural.
What is a tapered leader for surf casting?
A tapered or shock leader starts thick at one end and thins down to match your main line, so it takes the huge force of casting a heavy sinker without snapping, while joining smoothly to lighter main line. It also protects against abrasion in the surf. Tapered leaders save tying a knot between two lines of very different diameters, which can catch on the guides when casting.