Can you use fly line in the sea that has been used in fresh water? Or do you need a special line designed for fly fishing in the sea.
AS you can see I am a newbie.

I am almost sure there are fly lines specially made for salt water but grommit or pitsford pirate would be able to advise you better.
Welcome to the forum
Alan

Yes there are salt water fly lines, I use a normal fresh water WF #8 for mackerel fishing, it's a pretty old one so when it's had it I'll just bin it and use another one of my used fresh water lines.

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If its for fishing in the uk then any trout line is fine used in the salt. I use Airflo's sixth sense inter for most of my ukswff'ing

As BadLiar said - just make sure you give your gear a thorough rinsing off when you get back.

I have done all my salt water fly fishing in South Africa, Mozambique and Australia but I would say that you can get away with most freshwater lines as such.

The problem is that many of the fish you catch in the sea fight much harder and run much further than virtually all freshwater fish. You would be surprised what a moderately sized queenfish can do to you!

My advice is the get a reel with a decent disc drag that will hold at least 150 yards of backing in addition to the 30 yard forward taper. The other point is that you will often be casting big wind resistant flies such as Lefty's Deceivers or Clouser Minnows which demand a heavy line to get them out.

All my lines see double duty, but with an appropriate amount of backing. Salt water fish can spool you in a hurry. My main concern is with the rod hardware and reel. Make sure to give them a good cleaning after exposure to salt water.

I have used my fresh water lines in the sea, with no issue. Just wash the reels and line afterwards!!!

Thanks chaps ,I will remeber to wash my rod etc in fresh water.

All flylines come off the same plants.

There can be some minor differences in plastisol/pvc ratios allegedly to take account of heat effects in the Tropics . Probably more to do with the marketing departments than actual fishing reality .

In practise I've never been able to detect anything in any way strange about the performance of normal Flylines in Salt or Fresh .

You might need a varient taper if you are going somewhere seriously windswept - but even that is unlikely .

The advice on washing salt off after fishing is more important for reel than line but very sound for both - as in absolutely essential . The easy way in hot climates is to take your reel in the post fishing shower with you . I've done that one for about 20 years and it works .

Best wishes

Steve P