Berkley FireLine · Fishing Line
Berkley FireLine Fishing Line
Unknown coating composition. No public PFAS disclosure from brand.
Berkley FireLine uses a proprietary braided polyethylene core with an undisclosed coating. No PFAS claims, third-party testing, or brand coating details are available.
The better-graded swap
Shakespeare
825 Yards of Shakespeare Sigma Premium Monofilament 20 LB Test Clear Blue Fluorescent Fishing Line / 20 Pound Shakespear
85/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned Excellent.
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Material
Braided polyethylene core with proprietary coating
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What’s concerning
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Unknown / proprietary coating
A coating is recorded with no disclosed chemistry.
Proprietary coating composition (unknown chemical exposure)
The proprietary coating is not disclosed; it may contain fluorinated chemicals (PFAS), UV absorbers, or other additives. No public test data or safety sheet exists for the finished product, so potential leaching into water during use or storage cannot be ruled out.
Microfiber/microplastic shedding from coating degradation
As the coating ages or degrades under UV, heat, or mechanical stress, small particles may shed into water. The long-term accumulation of these particles in freshwater and marine ecosystems is not quantified for this product, but is a known concern for synthetic fishing lines.
Entanglement and wildlife ingestion risk
Braided polyethylene fishing line, including FireLine, is documented as a hazard to waterfowl, fish, and marine mammals if lost or discarded in waterways. This is an environmental hazard rather than direct consumer toxicity, but reflects responsible product stewardship.
UV stabilizer or antioxidant leaching (thermal/light-induced)
The coating likely contains UV stabilizers or antioxidants to extend shelf and in-water life. These additives can migrate into water when the coating is stressed by heat, light, or abrasion. No testing has been published for FireLine specifically.
What’s reassuring
None known, direct chemical toxicity from polyethylene core
Polyethylene itself is biologically inert and does not leach in normal use. Hazard is isolated to the undisclosed coating, not the base fiber.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
FireLine is a braided polyethylene (PE) core with a proprietary coating designed to reduce visibility and improve casting. The exact composition of this coating is not publicly disclosed by Berkley, which is relevant because coatings on synthetic fibers are common sites for fluorinated or performance chemicals. Polyethylene itself is chemically stable and does not leach monomers or plasticizers in normal use; the hazard profile depends entirely on what the proprietary coating contains and whether it degrades into water over time.
The brand's record and disclosure
Berkley (part of Pure Fishing/Emsco Group) does not publicly disclose the chemical composition or PFAS status of FireLine's coating. The brand has not published third-party testing, material safety data sheets specific to the finished product, or statements about intentional or incidental fluorinated additives. This silence is typical of the fishing-tackle industry but stands in contrast to transparent manufacturers in adjacent sectors who voluntarily report PFAS or confirm absence.
How it compares in its category
Monofilament and braided fishing lines from other brands (Spiderwire, Suffix, PowerPro) similarly lack public disclosure of coating chemistry. Braided PE lines like FireLine occupy a middle ground, less prone to UV degradation than monofilament, but the coating's durability and leaching behavior in freshwater and saltwater environments are not independently verified. Most fishing-line manufacturers treat coating formulations as trade secrets, making category-wide comparison difficult.
If you buy it
Store FireLine away from direct sunlight and extreme heat to minimize coating degradation. Inspect the line before each use for visible damage, discoloration, or brittleness; replace if the coating appears compromised. Dispose of spent line responsibly in trash (not waterways) to avoid entanglement of wildlife; do not assume it biodegrades quickly. Rinse and dry thoroughly after saltwater use to extend coating life and reduce potential leaching into storage areas.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 45% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Berkley FireLine has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Better-graded alternatives in Fishing Line
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TRILENE BIG GAME
monofilament nylon fishing line
UV degradation and embrittlement
High concern
Microplastic release during use
Limited concern
Low concern for standard monofilament with no coating triggers.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Berkley
Trilene Big Game Braid
Braided polyethylene fishing line
Polyethylene microfiber shedding
Limited concern
Low concern; braided polyethylene is not a typical PFAS application.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Berkley
Trilene XT Monofilament Fishing Line
Nylon monofilament (extruded polymer)
Nylon polymer degradation and microplastic release
Limited concern
UV stabilizer additives in polymer matrix
Limited concern
Skin irritation or eye contact from monofilament filament
Moderate concern
Low concern for basic nylon line without water-repellent coating or special coatings.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
More fishing line grades
How we score, every product runs through the same public 0-100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.