Berkley Trilene Big Game, Clear, 50lb
Fluorescent coating raises concern; manufacturer silent on PFAS use.
This monofilament fishing line features a bright fluorescent coating. Fluorescent dyes may contain PFAS, and the manufacturer offers no PFAS transparency.
The better-graded swap
PowerPro
Shimano PowerPro Tenacity x8 300m Braid Fishing Line
85/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned Excellent.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Monofilament nylon fishing line with fluorescent 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.
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
Fluorescent coating composition (unconfirmed additives)
The fluorescent brightener applied to this product is not publicly specified by Berkley. Fluorescent whitening agents can contain optical brightener compounds; some formulations historically included PFAS-based molecules, though many modern versions do not. No test data on this specific product line is available in public records.
Microplastic shedding during use
Monofilament degrades slowly in aquatic environments, shedding microfibers over months to years. While line loss and breakage are common in fishing, this contributes to aquatic microplastic pollution. Not a direct user health hazard but an environmental concern.
What’s reassuring
Nylon thermal degradation and fume release
Monofilament nylon does not typically reach thermal degradation temperatures during fishing use. Risk only present if deliberately heated (e.g., melting for knots near flame); normal storage and use pose no fume hazard.
Heavy metals
No recalls or testing data document heavy metal contamination in Trilene monofilament. Nylon and standard fluorescent dyes do not typically accumulate lead or cadmium; risk level is not established as elevated for this product.
Source, FDA ↗Bacterial or mold growth in wet storage
Nylon is resistant to bacterial colonization and mold. If spool is stored wet without drying, odor or discoloration may occur, but no pathogenic hazard is documented for monofilament fishing line.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Berkley Trilene Big Game is monofilament nylon (polyamide 6 or 6.6), a single continuous fiber typically extruded and mechanically treated for strength and abrasion resistance. The 'Clear' variant is stated to be clear monofilament, but the fluorescent coating mentioned in your context is a surface treatment, likely a dye or brightening agent, applied post-extrusion. Nylon monofilament itself is chemically stable under normal fishing conditions; the risk profile shifts with that surface coating, which may contain fluorescent brighteners and their binders.
The brand's record and disclosure
Berkley (owned by Pure Fishing, part of Newell Brands) has not published specific PFAS or chemical content disclosures for their monofilament lines. No public certifications (e.g., bluesign, OEKO-TEX) are on record for this product line. The manufacturer's silence on fluorescent coating chemistry is the primary red flag; most major fishing line brands similarly do not disclose additive composition, making this a category-wide transparency gap rather than a Berkley-specific scandal. No recalls or regulatory actions specific to Trilene monofilament have been documented.
How it compares in its category
Monofilament fishing line as a category is among the lower-risk consumer products for chemical hazard during normal use, the line does not contact food, skin contact is minimal and brief, and it remains in freshwater or saltwater environments. Fluorescent-coated monofilament is standard across the industry (Shimano, Daiwa, Spiderwire also use brightening treatments); none disclose PFAS status. Braided alternatives (Spiderwire Stealth, PowerPro) may reduce surface-area exposure to coatings but introduce microfiber shedding concerns. For typical recreational fishing, monofilament hazard risk sits below cookware or food storage categories.
If you buy it
Use as intended for fishing; avoid ingesting line or allowing prolonged skin contact (especially in eyes or mouth). Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to prevent UV degradation of nylon, which can weaken the line and increase microfiber breakage. Replace spools every 1-2 seasons or if line shows brittleness, cloudiness, or reduced tensile strength. If you are concerned about PFAS in the fluorescent coating, consider uncoated monofilament or request manufacturer documentation before purchase; Berkley customer service may provide formulation details upon inquiry, though they have not published them publicly.
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
- Trilene has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Better-graded alternatives in Fishing Line
Berkley
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.