What Size "_____" Should I Use?

The size spider weight you use depends on your fishing rod and your fishing line. If you choose a large spider weight and your casting with a light action fishing rod, it will be hard for you to cast. You may also opt for a smaller weight if you use a lighter fishing line to prevent your line from snapping on a hard cast. I use different sizes for different things. I use 4oz spider weights on my 10ft bait rod with 50lb test braid. I use 8oz spider weights on my 12ft casting rods with 80lb test braid. I use 8oz to 1lb spider weights on my shark deployment drops with 100lb+ test line.

The pound test fishing line you choose should be based on the fish species that your are targeting. Just as the fishing rod size should be chosen. For example, I have fishing rods that I use to throw lures (soft plastics, popping corks, small top waters). I use 20lb test on these. I have larger fishing rods that I use to throw larger lures (top water poppers, striper lures and swim baits). I use 30lb test on these. On my bait rod I use 50lb test. On my casting reels I use 65-80lb test. On my large shark rods I use 100-150lb test.

I use both. I like braid because I can fit more on a reel and I can cast it further. I like mono because it is much more resiliant. On some of my fishing rods I use full braid and I use full mono on others. Mostly I use both on a single reel. I prefer spooling my reels with braid and adding 20ft to 30ft of monofilament at the end. I tie the braid to the mono using an FG Knot (there are videos that you should watch to learn how to tie this knot). The FG knot is very stong and thin. The 20ft-30ft of mono in this instance is called a "Top Shot". You will here this term used often. So, I use 80lb braid with a 20ft top shot on my casting rods.

The size fishing rod you choose it completely up to you. I started fishing the surf with 10ft rods and quickly moved up to 15ft rods to try and cast further. I watch videos with guys casting these giant rods 300 yards. I tried and I failed. I lost a lot of fishing weights and leaders in the process. I ended up dropping down to 12ft rods because I was more comfortable with this size. Longer fishing rods give the fish more leverage and shorter rods make it easier to reel them in. If you are new to surf fishing, you may want to start with 10ft rods and get used to casting them.