Interesting post containing some debatable points. I use five kilo main line with a twenty kilo braid leader. In fairness I don't fish over rocks only sand or shingle. Can't say I have ever experienced the mainline shredding, and I am still using the original leader I put on at the start of the season, mid spring and it hasn't been retied.

Like most anglers I often have a gull fly into the main line, this is reasonably common but you do get an amazing take on the rod that gets the heart pumping. I seem to recall a story on here quite recently of that happening.

On occasions I also fish a long line from the beach, the Napier seagulls must be a fearless, motley crew. Turn your back for a second and they are into the baited hooks that are waiting to be loaded for the next set. They seem totally unconcerned they have heavy traces, orange beads, plastic tubing and sea harvester clips attached.

Possibly the biggest problem with braid affects the newcomer to its use: forget to do the drag tension up tight when casting and you will have an index finger that can point in two directions at once.

One advantage often overlooked, braid is so thin the colour is of little concern but there is a variety of colours available if this is a genuine worry. Speaking only for myself, I find that braid being thinner does make the terminal tackle a little more aerodynamic when casting. This may (or may not) give a little extra distance when dragging out larger baits.