Verdict: go with 65 lb braid for an all-around setup here. It gives you more capacity to reach where the fish live, smoother spool performance for drag, and plenty of abrasion resistance when paired with a solid leader. If you routinely fight big, toothy pelagics or fish tight to reef/structure, then 80 lb becomes appealing — but for a single “do-it-all” setup on a Penn Spinfisher 10500, 65 lb is the smarter balance.
Why 65 lb is the better all-around choice
- Capacity and distance: ~750 m of 65 lb braid beats ~500 m of 80 lb braid on most reels, which matters when you’re deploying from a drone and you want the option to run farther or to tow heavier gear without swapping spools mid-session.
- Drag performance: On most reels, a thinner braid (65 lb) delivers smoother, steadier line lay and less initial resistance as you load the spool under drag. That can translate to cleaner hooksets and steadier fighting drags, especially when you’re trying to keep line off reefs or through trolling currents.
- Durability with the right leader: With an appropriate 60–100 lb fluorocarbon or braided leader, 65 lb line still has robust abrasion resistance, making it capable for mulloway and kingfish bites and even tuna, while keeping the mainline supple enough to manage on drone drops.
- Practicality on a drone rig: You typically want enough line in the water to avoid short drops and to handle long runs, but not so heavy that the line becomes stiff or memory-prone on your spool. 65 lb gives you that middle-ground balance for most environments along Australia’s coast in mid fall weather when kingfish and tuna runs can be a thing.
When you’d opt for 80 lb instead
- Known heavy bite-offs: If you’re consistently fishing tight reefs or targeting exceptionally toothy or big-bodied tuna/kingfish, 80 lb adds bite-off resistance and a thicker profile that stands up to more abrasion and teeth.
- Reduced capacity, higher diameter: The trade-off is less line in the water, and a slightly stiffer spool fill. If your drone rig requires maximum depth or distance, 80 lb can limit options.
Practical setup tips
- Leader strategy: Use a strong shock/leader setup (60–100 lb fluorocarbon or braid leader) to bridge 65 lb mainline to your lures or bait. A 1.5–3 ft leader is a common starting point for this combo.
- Knots and joins: Favor reliable joins (e.g., FG knot or double-uni to leader) to minimize slipping under drag.
- Spool filling: Fill the spool to about 70–85% with the main braid, then add backing to reach full capacity without overfilling. This helps maintain smooth line release during drone drops.
- Backing and lock-in: Use a strong backing, and consider a gentle drag ramp during initial drops so you don’t shock the system with a sudden line tug.
- Tackle compatibility: The Penn Spinfisher 10500 is a capable platform for this job; pairing it with a 65 lb mainline lets you leverage the reel’s drag well without sacrificing your ability to chase offshore pelagics.
Extra notes and reference ideas
- If you want to see real-world drone fishing setups for these species, check out tutorial videos on drone fishing for mulloway/kingfish/tuna in Australia: Drone fishing mulloway/kingfish tutorials
- For gear ideas, you can peek at relevant reels like the PENN Spinfisher VII 10500 product page: PENN Spinfisher VII 10500
Bottom line: 65 lb braid hits the sweet spot between capacity, drag behavior, and abrasion resistance for Mulloway, Kingfish, and Tuna on a drone rig off Australia in mid fall. If you start consistently catching bigger, toothier fish than your current setup can bear, switch to 80 lb, but keep a 65 lb option handy for versatility.
Keep the lines tight and the spirits high — you’ve got this! 🐟🚁
