The Best Non-Toxic Fishing Line of 2026
31 of the 89 fishing line products PFAS Authority has graded score below its 70 point pass mark for PFAS and other toxins, 34.8% of the category, as of October 2026, leaving 58 that pass. The highest graded is Ande Monofilament at 85 out of 100.
Every grade below is built from published materials, ingredient lists, certifications and brand disclosures, scored on one public rubric and ranked best-graded first. Each score links to the full breakdown of what earned it, and the numbers across the whole dataset are published too.
Is fishing line non-toxic?
58 of the 89 fishing line products we graded clear our screen and 31 do not. Non-toxic is not a defined or regulated term, so what we can tell you is what our graders recorded. Beyond PFAS, the hazards found or left unruled-out on fishing line products in this category are microplastics, artificial dyes, VOCs and off-gassing, heavy metals, undisclosed fragrance. The highest graded here is Ande Monofilament at 85 out of 100.
Quick picks
A second brand to consider
Bass Pro Shops CatMaxx Monofilament Fishing LineThe best grade here from a brand other than the winner
85 Excellent
Why Ande Monofilament wins, and what it beats
Every grade on this page is one sum. A category starts from a baseline, each disclosed material or coating adds risk points, and each thing the brand or a third party has published takes them away. Below is that sum for the winner, then for 3 products it beats, so you can see exactly where the 55 points between the top and the bottom of this fishing line ranking come from.
The winner
Made of Monofilament nylon fishing line.
- +15No PFAS disclosure. No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
- +10Category baseline. The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
- -10Base material not linked to PFAS. The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
15risk points in total, which is a grade of 85
What the grade does not fix. It still carries one risk factor, No PFAS disclosure. See the full breakdown.
What it beats, and why
What puts it behind. Unknown / proprietary coating, +25 points. A coating is recorded with no disclosed chemistry. The winner carries no such factor.
Made of Braided polyethylene core with proprietary coating.
- +25Unknown / proprietary coating
- +15No PFAS disclosure
- +10Category baseline
50risk points, a grade of 50
What puts it behind. Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment, +35 points. Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS. The winner carries no such factor.
Made of monofilament nylon with undisclosed water-resistant coating.
- +35Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
- +15No PFAS disclosure
- +10Category baseline
60risk points, a grade of 40
What puts it behind. Fluoropolymer detected, +45 points. A Teflon-family coating is recorded for this product. The winner carries no such factor.
Made of Fluorocarbon fishing line (PVDF or similar polyvinylidene fluoride).
- +45Fluoropolymer detected
- +15No PFAS disclosure
- +10Category baseline
70risk points, a grade of 30
No product on this page was physically tested by us. Every number above comes from published materials, ingredient and coating disclosures, certifications and brand statements, scored on one public rubric. Formulations change without notice, so check the current product listing before buying.
What to watch for in fishing line
Beyond the PFAS grade, these are the things our graders recorded on the 89 fishing line products in this category. We assess from materials, brand statements and published research. We do not lab-test.
- Microplastics
Plastic fragments small enough to shed from a product into food, water or air without anyone seeing it.
Found on 17 of these fishing line products. Plausible but unconfirmed on 64 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. EPA
- Artificial dyes
Synthetic colours added to food, cosmetics and textiles, most of them petroleum derived.
Found on 1 of these fishing line products. Plausible but unconfirmed on 8 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. FDA
- VOCs and off-gassing
Volatile compounds that evaporate out of a material at room temperature, which is what a new product smell is.
Plausible but unconfirmed on 4 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. EPA
- Heavy metals
Metals such as antimony, nickel and chromium migrating from a material into what touches it.
Plausible but unconfirmed on 2 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. ATSDR
- Undisclosed fragrance
A single word on a label that can stand for dozens of undeclared ingredients, protected as trade secret.
Plausible but unconfirmed on 1 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. FDA
The safest fishing line we graded, lowest PFAS risk first
- 1
Highest grade here
- Monofilament nylon fishing line
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Microplastic shedding during use
- 2
- Monofilament nylon fishing line
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Microplastic fragmentation
- 3
- Monofilament nylon fishing line
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- UV degradation and polymer brittleness
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 4
- Monofilament nylon fishing line
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Nylon degradation and microfiber shedding
4 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 5
- Nylon monofilament fishing line
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- PFAS
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 6
- Braided polyethylene fishing line
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Microplastic shedding on degradation
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 7
- Monofilament nylon fishing line
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Monofilament entanglement and wildlife harm
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 8
- Nylon monofilament fishing line
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- UV degradation and microfiber shedding
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Questions people ask about fishing line
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- polypropylene filter housing, carbon/sediment cartridge
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial growth in spent cartridges
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Aquasure
Premier Series 75 GPD Under Sink Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System
- RO membrane, carbon filters, stainless steel housing
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial and microbial growth in housing and filters
4 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Avocado
Vegan Mattress
- organic cotton, natural latex, coconut coir, recycled steel coils
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Heavy metals
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Every fishing line that passes, side by side
Sorted by score. A higher score means lower PFAS risk. Scored against 3 hazards that apply to this category.
| # | Fishing Line | Score | Rating | Made of | Key concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ande Monofilament | 85 | Excellent | Monofilament nylon fishing line | Microplastic shedding during use |
| 2 | Ande Premium Monofilament (Bulk) 100LB BY THE YARD | 85 | Excellent | Monofilament nylon fishing line | Microplastic fragmentation |
| 3 | Ande Premium Green 1/4 Spool | 85 | Excellent | Monofilament nylon fishing line | UV degradation and polymer brittleness |
| 4 | Bass Pro Shops CatMaxx Monofilament Fishing Line | 85 | Excellent | Monofilament nylon fishing line | Nylon degradation and microfiber shedding |
| 5 | Bass Pro Shops Excel Monofilament Line 330-Yard Spool | 85 | Excellent | Nylon monofilament fishing line | PFAS |
| 6 | Bass Pro Shops XPS Braid Fishing Line | 85 | Excellent | Braided polyethylene fishing line | Microplastic shedding on degradation |
| 7 | Bass Pro Shops XPS KVD Signature Series Fishing Line | 85 | Excellent | Monofilament nylon fishing line | Monofilament entanglement and wildlife harm |
| 8 | Berkley ProSpec Chrome Monofilament | 85 | Excellent | Nylon monofilament fishing line | UV degradation and microfiber shedding |
The verdict on fishing line
Ande Monofilament grades 85 out of 100, the highest here. It is monofilament nylon fishing line. We found no PFAS statement from the brand, so the grade rests on materials alone.
Choose Ande Premium Monofilament (Bulk) 100LB BY THE YARD instead if you want a second option at 85 out of 100, monofilament nylon fishing line.
We hold no price data, so nothing here is a budget recommendation. Grades are model-based assessments from published materials and disclosures, not laboratory tests.
The fishing line we would skip
Lowest scoring in this category, worst first, with the reason.
- 30Poor
- 30Berkley FireLinePoor
Teflon-family coating environmental persistence
- 30Poor
What we check on fishing line
- Mercury. A neurotoxic metal that concentrates in some fish and seafood. FDA/EPA
- Heavy metals. Lead, cadmium, arsenic and others that accumulate in the body. FDA
- Microplastics. Tiny plastic particles that shed from products into food and water. EPA
Full point-by-point rubric on the methodology page.
The fishing line brands we found no PFAS statement from
We found no PFAS statement from 14 of the brands here. That is our research, not proof a brand has never said anything, and it is not evidence of harm. It is why none of them score well on disclosure.
Ande, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Berkley FireLine, Cortland, Maxima, PowerPro, Shakespeare, Shimano, Spiderwire, Stren, Sufix.
The brands that have published something, and what each of them actually said, are in our record of what every brand has said about PFAS.
Common questions about PFAS in fishing line
Is fishing line PFAS free?
31 of the 89 fishing line products PFAS Authority has graded score below its 70 point pass mark for PFAS and other toxins, 34.8% of the category, as of October 2026, leaving 58 that pass. The highest graded is Ande Monofilament at 85 out of 100. The lowest graded is Shimano Mastiff FC Fluorocarbon Line at 30 out of 100.
Is fishing line non-toxic?
58 of the 89 fishing line products we graded clear our screen and 31 do not. Non-toxic is not a defined or regulated term, so what we can tell you is what our graders recorded. Beyond PFAS, the hazards found or left unruled-out on fishing line products in this category are microplastics, artificial dyes, VOCs and off-gassing, heavy metals, undisclosed fragrance. The highest graded here is Ande Monofilament at 85 out of 100.
What is the safest fishing line to buy?
On our grades, Ande Monofilament at 85 out of 100, which we band as Excellent. Then Ande Premium Monofilament (Bulk) 100LB BY THE YARD at 85. These are model-based assessments from published materials, ingredient lists, certifications and disclosures, not laboratory tests, so treat them as the lowest risk we can evidence rather than a safety guarantee.
Which fishing line grades best for PFAS?
Ande Monofilament, at 85 out of 100, which we band as Excellent. It is monofilament nylon fishing line. The runner up is Ande Premium Monofilament (Bulk) 100LB BY THE YARD at 85.
Which fishing line should I avoid?
The three lowest scoring we hold are Shimano Mastiff FC Fluorocarbon Line at 30, Berkley FireLine at 30, Berkley FireLine Original Fishing Line at 30. The problem with the first is that skip unless fluorocarbon is essential; PFAS is built into this material.
How can you tell if fishing line contains PFAS?
In this category we check for mercury, heavy metals, microplastics. A neurotoxic metal that concentrates in some fish and seafood. Language like stain resistant, water repellent or easy release usually means fluorinated chemistry even when PFAS is never printed on the box.
Which fishing line brands have not published a PFAS statement?
We found no PFAS statement from 14 of the brands we scored in this category, including Ande, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Berkley FireLine, Cortland, Maxima. That is what our research turned up, not proof a brand has never said anything, and a missing statement is not evidence of harm. It is the reason those brands cannot score well on disclosure.
Do you lab test fishing line?
No. We score from published ingredient lists, materials, certifications, disclosures and third party lab results where they exist. Where a product has been independently tested we use that result and say so.
More clothing and outdoor categories we have graded
Same rubric, same scale. These are the categories closest to fishing line.
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Does a particular brand of fishing line have PFAS?
We also wrote this up at length. PFAS in Fishing Line, Where Fluorocarbon Means Exactly What It Says
Want to filter the whole category yourself? Browse all 89 fishing line.