Conger Trace

What strength wire would you recommend for conger traces (shore)?

Hi George

Don't use wire - use 150 lb mono. Won't kink or slice into your hand!
Use a blob knot made with a lighter and a vice and pliers to close the knots.

Better still buy them made up!

FWIW

Been trying to pull big conger out kelp at donneen pier for last six months
hook it regularly but manages to wrap me around kelp or gets back in its lair too quickly. Any tips. Tried floats and allsorts of different rigs.

We use 50lb class boat rods 50/80lb mono and a decent multiplier for fishing for congers around bangor pier ,not because the fish are massive just the nature of the ground we're fishing in ,you need to be able to haul the fish out of the rock armour around the pier and even a twenty pound fish can cause all sorts of problems !!!
Dont make your trace to long if your fishing in boulders or the fish can back into boulders to far before you detect a bite .bout 14 " long and make sure you use a weak link to your weight .

I had considered heavy mono but find it hard to get in small spools and I dont need a big spool , too expensive anyways , any ideas? Shouldn't the trace be more about 3 feet long than 14 feet or is the trace meant to be longer when using mono?

Hi George , think you misread Jolly Jack : 14 " (inches).
Good luck
nick