how do i get the right line?

The choice of line depends on what fish you are attempting to catch and what conditions you will be fishing. The three main types of fishing line are monofilament, fluorocarbon and braided power lines. Each of them has unique strengths and weaknesses. Fluorocarbon line is very clear and hard to see in the water, making it a great choice when fishing for species that are known to be wary and difficult to hook. When fishing the shallow crystal clear flats of the southern Florida Keys it makes an excellent choice. Braided power lines are much stronger than the other lines. With less than half the diameter of the other lines you can fit much more line in the spool and cast much farther. When fishing for a species like Tarpon that grow as large as two hundred pounds and can pull over a hundred yards of line of your reel in seconds this advantage is important. This line is also good for use when fishing over deep reefs or wrecks. The absence of stretch prevents fish from bringing the line into the reef and breaking off. Monofilament lines offer a little bit of the best of each of the previous two types of line. It is as close as you are going to get to an all purpose line. Interestingly enough the best color to use is red in saltwater. Studies have shown in water greater than four foot deep red is more difficult for a fish to detect than the other available colors.