Destron Complete 8X Braided Fishing Line

I’ve been using Kastking’s Destron 4x braid for quite some time now; however, when the new 8x version was released, I knew I had to try it and see if there was a substantial improvement. As luck would have it, my spring redfish excursion to Houma, Louisiana, was on the horizon, so it was perfect timing. For inshore fishing, I use 15-pound test braid exclusively. Some might say that’s a smidge too light; however, I’ve never lost a large fish. My personal best redfish was caught on a 15-pound test braided Kastking line, and it measured 31.5 inches and weighed in at 29.5 pounds. So on April 15, 2024, I entered the marshes of Dulac, Louisiana, using a Kastking 7’ Med Heavy/Fast Action Estuary-Inshore Series Rod, sporting a Kastking Kapstan Elite 3000 series spinning reel spooled with 300 yards of Destron 8x 15-lb braid in the Teal Camo scheme. Let’s talk about the Destron 8x braid for a minute. The first thing you notice is that it’s smooth—real smooth—and the color does not come off on your hands when you’re spooling up. Kastking says the line is thinner than most 8x braids, and I found that to be accurate as my Kapstan Elite 3000 is supposed to hold 250 yards of 15-pound braid; however, I was able to spool the full 300 yards of Destron 8x onto my reel. Casting was extra smooth, and noise passing through the eyelets when reeling in and casting was hardly noticeable and very quiet compared to 4x Destron braid. The teal camo pattern really blended in well with the inshore water conditions, and tying knots was very easy with the braid. Using the set-up mentioned above, I landed 12 Gafttop Sail cats weighing between 8 and 12 pounds; in addition, I landed 3 Bull Redfish ranging from 17 pounds to my best at 25 pounds, with no issues whatsoever. The fight with the 25-pounder lasted about 15 minutes, with the big red taking about 75 yards of line when it made its best run. My partner was using Power Pro 4x in a 15-pound test and had three break-offs when he had fish on, and the fish weren’t particularly big. We suspect the line may have been nicked by oyster shells; however, I was fishing in the same exact areas with no issues. Coincidence, perhaps? At the end of the day, I did not notice any line fading, nicks, or other appreciable wear and tear on the line. In summary, Kastking has improved on the original 4x Destron by adding an 8x option and keeping the price very affordable. The 8x Destron is smoother, quieter, and smaller in diameter, so you can spool more line compared to the 4x Destron. The 12 lb. Kovert leader is a nice option, although I did not use it during this trip; however, I have used Kovert fluorocarbon in the past as leader material, and it’s excellent. Kastking 8x Destron is, in my opinion, the best 8x braid for the budget-minded angler.

I have been searching for a new braid for quite a while after using spiderwire and pro power this is definitely my new go to and love the leader line that comes with it as well.. Very durable and I like how the chartuse is black light receptive