Monitoring Photo Gallery

A printable field version of the photo gallery is also available.

Plastic - Fishing Line & Lures

These items can be found in a variety of forms based on fishing type. Fishing lures come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials depending on their function. Modern types are made of plastic with metal hooks and eyes for lines. Fishing line with lures attached should be recorded as one item. Fishing line types are mostly available in three varieties - monofilament, braided and fluorocarbon. Fishing line is usually made of nylon or PET/PETE, with monofilament being the most popular.
A clump of fishing line found on the beach.
A clump of fishing line found on the beach. (Photo Credit: Seba Sheavly, Sheavly Consultants, Inc.)
Fishing line found tangled around vegetation in the Chesapeake Bay.
Fishing line found tangled around vegetation in the Chesapeake Bay. (Photo Credit: NOAA)
Monofilament fishing line found along the shores of the Chesapeake Bay.
Monofilament fishing line found along the shores of the Chesapeake Bay. (Photo Credit: NOAA)
Fishing lure found washed ashore on Midway Atoll in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.
Fishing lure found washed ashore on Midway Atoll in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. (Photo Credit: Junichi Sugishita, NWR)
Fishing line found on the beach.
Fishing line found on the beach. (Photo Credit: Seba Sheavly, Sheavly Consultants, Inc.)

Other types of Plastic