Line developments?

[FrankStar]

As some of you may already have noticed, I'm trying to get back into saltwater fishing after a rather long absence. 

What's all this fuss I hear about braided line?

I used only Stren back in the day.  Golden or Florescent.  I think it was 17 lb with what my uncles called a 30 lb shock for the first 50 yards or so?

Does this make sense to anyone?  What should I be considering now for multi-species on a spinning reel? (Which may be shared amongst surf, pier and boat rods in the very near future?)

[Reefsquatter]

Depending on what you are fishing for braid can be a huge advantage, if you deep drop it is almost necessary. It has barely any stretch so you really feel everything. You can actually feel you sinkers slightest moves. You can get so much feeling you can tell if your bait is gone!

For a shock leader I typically but on a few feet (unless a party boat then I add more to reduce tangles as braid knots are a pain in the a$$ to get out)

[Hotrod]

 
http://www.njsaltwatertackle.com/saltwater-fishing-tackle/line-and-leader?page=shop.browse&category_id=20

[Bucktail]