I picked up a Penn Fierce 2 spinning rod and plan on using a 7’ medium heavy rod. What do you guys recommend on the line? I was thinking about using 30 lb braid. The rig will be used for pier and maybe some surf fishing.

Most will say braid but I'm just not a big fan of it

I have braid on all of my saltwater spinning setups and do not regret it.

Do you use a florocarbon leader?

Braid for tarpon, cobia, redfish, crevalle,.......Mono for bonita and kings.

I'm on this side of the fence

I’m not a fan either. Great for bass but for open water fish that make big strong runs I think you’re better off having line thst has a little stretch to it. When there is that much speed and force something has to give and if the line has no give you end up having a lot of fish pull or tear off.

I don't care for it on my saltwater rigs, I've hooked several good fish, only to have it dig into my reel, and bind up. And yes i spool with mono first.

Especially with treble hook baits

I like how braid cast but it's hell on my fingers

Would 15 # mono be a good choice?

All depends on what you are fishing for.

King mackerel.

I like mono for kings. 20-30lb.

I would use 17-20 mono for kings.

I learned that the hard way last year on snook. 15 lb big game from now on for me

I would damn sure listen to Peach.
BrentM bringing some great information to the table(especially for a damn Yankee)

Braid on a reel with a good drag system is good to go!

Honest question.. Why use braid for some and mono for others?

Can't speak for pier fishing but I have braid on my surf reels and I love it. Where is the downside in being able to use 30 lb line yet because it's the same diameter as 8 lb mono you can put 300 yards of it on a 5000 size Penn Fierce II. You can cast line the diameter of 8 lb mono way farther than you can cast 20 or 30 lb mono as well. Cast distance may not be an issue from the pier but it certainly is sometimes from the beach. For any potentially line shy fish I just put a 3 foot fluorocarbon leader on the end.