How long does it take for braid fishing line to decompose?

Question

For example, in saltwater.

Answer 1

The jury is still out on this one....

Answer 2

That is an environmentally sound question?  But, the answer isn't known yet as the test they started when it was invented is still in the lab....

Answer 3

This is a very good question and while the real answer is still not known, it is a good idea to pick up any fishing line you encounter and dispose of it properly. A lot of states have line collection bins at the ramps and fishing piers just for this purpose or you can collect it for when you do encounter a recycling facility or bin. I keep spent line in the side mesh pocket of my tackle bag and dispose of it responsibly. A little effort goes a long way towards helping to keep our waterways clean.

Answer 4

That probably depends on whether or not it's exposed to direct sunlight. I'm not sure about braided line, but I've used very strong 60 pound monofilament fishing line on my roof to hold a radio antenna steady, and it degraded in less than a year to where it broke in the wind and I could easily break it apart with my bare hands. After all the weathering, the once transparent line was faded and milky looking and had definitely decomposed somehow. If it's exposed out in the open, you can rest assured it isn't going to last anywhere near 500 years. If it's in deep water or buried in dirt  where it's dark it would likely remain intact much longer, but UV light seems to have a deteriorating effect on plastic compounds. Salt has no effect on plastic polymers, although it wreaks havoc on most metals. As far as exposure to chemicals is concerned, plastics are only susceptible to petroleum-based solvents (such as gasoline and acetone, though there are special plastics found in car engine fuel systems which can resist even those).

Good question, though. I despise litterbugs who leave their used line lying around, and clean it up myself when I get to a fishing hole and I come across it.