Trilene · Fishing Line & Fishing Tackle
Berkley Trilene Big Game, Clear, 50lb
Fluorescent coating raises concern. Manufacturer silent on PFAS use.
Berkley Trilene Big Game is monofilament fishing line with bright fluorescent coating. Fluorescent dyes in fishing line may contain PFAS; brand provides no PFAS transparency.
The safe swap
Shakespeare
Shakespeare Sportfisher Fishing Mono filament Line
85/100 safety
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
Why this grade
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
Category baseline
other is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
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.
Beyond PFAS: other things we checked
Established hazard classes for this product type, assessed from public information. These never change the PFAS grade; a Likely flag caps the Verdict at “Buy with care.”
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.
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.
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.
Heavy metals in pigments or coating binders
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.
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.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 45% confidence. It is not a lab result.
No independent PFAS lab test is on record for this exact product. A lab test could move the score in either direction.
The brand has not made a specific, verifiable PFAS-free statement, so part of this score reflects that missing disclosure rather than a confirmed material.
Formulations and coatings change between production runs. Always check the current label before buying.
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More fishing line & fishing tackle 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.