Trilene · Fishing Tackle & Gear
Berkley Trilene Big Game Fluorocarbon
Skip, fluorocarbon line likely contains PFAS.
This fluorocarbon monofilament is engineered from Teflon-family coating, a chemical class historically associated with PFAS compounds. Brand provides no PFAS disclosure or composition information.
The better-graded swap
Rapala
Rapala Ultra-Lite Fishing Lure Kit
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
Fluorocarbon monofilament fishing line
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Berkley Trilene Big Game Fluorocarbon is made of, ingredients and materials
Berkley Trilene Big Game Fluorocarbon is a synthetic monofilament fishing line composed of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) or similar fluorinated polymers. Fluorocarbon lines are chosen by anglers for low visibility underwater and high abrasion resistance, but the fluorinated backbone of these materials raises concerns about PFAS persistence and bioaccumulation in aquatic environments. Unlike standard nylon monofilament, fluorocarbon does not biodegrade on typical timescales and may shed microfibers during use that carry fluorinated compounds into waterways.
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.
Fluoropolymer detected
A Teflon-family coating is recorded for this product.
PFAS
Fluorocarbon monofilament is manufactured from PFAS-class chemicals (fluorinated polymers). These compounds are highly persistent in the environment and do not naturally degrade; fragments and microfibers entering waterways contribute to PFAS contamination in aquatic food webs.
Source, ATSDR ↗Microfiber shedding and ingestion risk
All monofilament lines shed microfibers, but fluorocarbon's superior durability may prolong in-water persistence. Fish and wildlife ingesting fluorocarbon microfibers face potential internal injury and exposure to PFAS-contaminated synthetic material.
Environmental persistence
Fluorocarbon does not biodegrade on human timescales and remains in sediments and aquatic environments indefinitely. Discarded or lost fishing line constitutes long-term plastic pollution with added PFAS concern.
Chemical leaching in storage or use
While monofilament is inert during normal fishing use, microfiber fragmentation and degradation under UV exposure may release fluorinated oligomers or processing residues into water over extended time periods.
Lack of consumer transparency
Berkley does not publicly disclose full material composition, processing additives, or PFAS content levels, making independent safety assessment impossible for end users.
How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Berkley (owned by Pure Fishing) has not published detailed chemical composition data, material safety datasheets accessible to consumers, or commitments to phase out PFAS-containing products in their fishing line range. The brand has not responded publicly to growing PFAS concerns in the recreational fishing industry, nor have they disclosed whether they are evaluating fluorocarbon alternatives. This silence contrasts with growing industry pressure on manufacturers to address PFAS in products that directly enter aquatic ecosystems.
How it compares in its category
Fluorocarbon lines dominate the premium segment of monofilament fishing lines due to superior performance (low visibility, abrasion resistance, strength). However, standard nylon monofilament (also sold by Berkley under other product lines) and newer braided or copolymer alternatives do not rely on PFAS chemistry and offer comparable performance for most freshwater and saltwater applications. Consumers prioritizing environmental safety and PFAS avoidance should consider non-fluorocarbon monofilament or switching to materials explicitly marketed as PFAS-free.
If you buy it
Store spools in cool, dry conditions away from direct sunlight to prevent UV degradation and potential release of microfibers. Replace line annually or after heavy use, and dispose of spent line through designated fishing tackle recycling programs or regular trash rather than releasing it into water. If you continue using fluorocarbon, minimize line loss during casting and retrieval to reduce microfiber shedding into aquatic environments. Strongly consider switching to non-fluorocarbon alternatives for freshwater fishing where visibility advantages are minimal.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 35% 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.
What are the PFAS-free alternatives to Berkley Trilene Big Game Fluorocarbon?
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2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- Monofilament nylon fishing line
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Microplastic shedding on degradation
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
More fishing tackle & gear 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.