Vintage Shakespeare Sportfisher Monofilament Fishing Line 300 Yds 10
Minimal PFAS concern; standard monofilament lacks typical PFAS markers.
Standard nylon monofilament with no known PFAS coatings or treatments. Material composition suggests lower risk than coated or treated products.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
Monofilament nylon fishing line
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.
Nylon polymer degradation under UV exposure
Monofilament nylon yellows and becomes brittle with prolonged sun exposure, reducing tensile strength. This is a mechanical failure mode, not a chemical hazard, but degraded line may shed microplastics if abraded against rocks or structures.
Microplastic release from line fragmentation
When monofilament line breaks or is cut, it may fragment into small particles that persist in aquatic environments. This is an environmental hazard rather than a direct consumer safety issue, but anglers should retrieve and dispose of broken line properly.
Entanglement and wildlife injury (non-chemical)
Discarded monofilament fishing line is a documented hazard to aquatic birds, turtles, and fish. This is not a consumer safety issue but a significant environmental concern; proper disposal is essential.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Residual monomers or oligomers in nylon resin
Nylon 6 and 6.6 production can leave trace quantities of caprolactam or other monomers; however, cured monofilament line does not have established reports of leaching these compounds into water under normal fishing conditions.
Additive migration (colorants, UV stabilizers)
Monofilament lines may contain dyes or UV absorbers to enhance visibility or durability. No published data documents migration of these additives into freshwater or saltwater, and the contact surface area with water is minimal compared to food-contact plastics.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
This product is monofilament nylon, a single-strand polymer extruded from polyamide 6 or 6.6 resin. Monofilament nylon fishing line does not use Teflon-type coating (Teflon) coatings, Teflon-family coating treatments, or volatile solvents in its manufacturing, making it chemically simpler than many modern fishing lines. The material is inert once cured and does not leach or off-gas in normal freshwater or saltwater conditions. Nylon monofilament's primary function is tensile strength and abrasion resistance, not chemical release.
The brand's record and disclosure
Shakespeare is a legacy fishing tackle brand (owned by Jarden/Newell Brands) with no published certifications, third-party safety testing, or chemical disclosure statements specific to monofilament lines. The brand has not been party to major product recalls or chemical hazard controversies in the fishing line category. No public statements on PFAS avoidance or mitigation are on record; this appears consistent with industry silence rather than active concern.
How it compares in its category
Standard monofilament nylon lines (Shakespeare, Berkley, Stren, Trilene) are chemically similar and represent the baseline for fishing tackle. Premium alternatives such as fluorocarbon or braided polyethylene lines introduce different polymer chemistries but not necessarily lower hazard profiles. Monofilament has lower concern for microplastic shedding or coating degradation, as it has no surface treatments or composite structure prone to fragmentation under UV or mechanical stress.
If you buy it
Store in a cool, dry location away from direct sunlight to prevent UV embrittlement, which degrades nylon over time and can cause line breakage rather than chemical release. Replace the line annually or after visible damage, discoloration, or loss of knot strength. Do not expose to extreme heat (above 60 degrees Celsius) or open flame. Dispose of spent line responsibly by placing in trash; monofilament does not biodegrade and should never be left in water or natural areas where it poses wildlife entanglement risk.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 72% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Shakespeare has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
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.