End Game 5' Braided Stainless 480lb Leader with Mustad 39960 Review
Our verdict
At $11.99, the End Game 5-foot 480lb braided stainless leader earns its keep by shipping pre-rigged with a 16/0 Mustad 39960 circle hook, saving the crimping step. With a 4.6-star average across 220 reviews and 100+ bought last month, it's a solid single-leader pick for big game trips.
Check price on AmazonBest for
Anglers targeting shark, tarpon, or other heavy saltwater species who want a ready-to-fish 480lb leader with a 16/0 circle hook already attached, skipping the crimp-and-tie prep before heading out on the water.
Skip if
Skip it if you fish inshore for smaller species, where 480lb test and a 16/0 hook are far more than the fish call for, or if you want a multi-leader pack instead of a single 5-foot leader per purchase.
- Material Braided 7x7 49 Strand Stainless Leader
- Length 5 Feet
- Line Weight 480lb
- Technique Braided Stainless Steel
- Size 16/0
- Color High Carbon Steel Inline Circle Hook
- Priced 15% above the category median ($10.42 across 26 tracked models)
Our scorecard
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Owner rating4.6/5
4.6 average across 220 owner ratings
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Popularity0.8/5
220 owner reviews, fewer than most models here
The overall score is owner satisfaction weighted by how many reviews back it, so a high rating from few reviews counts for less. The bars below show where this model stands against the other fishing gear and tackle we track in this category on price, popularity and size. Context, not marks against it, and our read of the data, not a lab test.
Overview
Picture rigging a bait for a shark or tarpon trip the night before you launch. You want a leader that's already tied to a hook strong enough to hold, not a spool of wire and a bag of loose hooks to assemble at the dock. The End Game leader is built for exactly that scenario, a single 5-foot length of 7x7 49-strand braided stainless with a 16/0 Mustad 39960 high carbon steel inline circle hook crimped on and ready to bait.
The 480lb rating puts this well above typical inshore leaders, and the 7x7 stranded construction gives it more flexibility than solid wire, which matters when a big fish is thrashing boat-side. The circle hook style is also worth noting, since it's designed to set in the corner of the jaw rather than gut-hook a fish, which helps with catch and release on species that are often released.
At $11.99, it lands at the same price as the similarly rated Maxima MLG25 (4.7 stars, 355 reviews) and well under the AFW titanium leader at $23.99, though that one is a lighter 30lb leader meant for different species. Against the Berkley 3W630BL at $4.61, the End Game costs more but includes the hook and far higher breaking strength, so the comparison isn't apples to apples.
Pros
- 480lb-rated 7x7 49-strand stainless braid built for large, hard-fighting species
- Ships pre-rigged with a 16/0 Mustad 39960 circle hook, no separate crimping needed
- 4.6-star average across 220 reviews shows consistent buyer satisfaction
- Bought 100+ times in the past month, a strong demand signal versus its alternatives
- Priced at $11.99, matching the well-reviewed Maxima MLG25 despite including a hook
- Currently InStock and readily available
Cons
- Sold as a single 5-foot leader, so per-unit cost is higher than multi-packs like the 30-count wire leaders
- 480lb test and a 16/0 hook are overkill for typical freshwater or light inshore fishing
- 220 reviews is a smaller sample than the Berkley (235) or Maxima (355) alternatives
- Fixed hook size means no swapping to a different hook style without cutting the leader
- No listed leader diameter beyond the 480lb breaking strength figure
Specifications
| Material | Braided 7x7 49 Strand Stainless Leader |
|---|---|
| Length | 5 Feet |
| Line Weight | 480lb |
| Technique | Braided Stainless Steel |
| Size | 16/0 |
| Color | High Carbon Steel Inline Circle Hook |
| Pieces | 5 Feet |
| Feature | Single 5' leader and Sticker |
Performance notes
The 7x7 49-strand stainless braid construction is a middle ground between stiff single-strand wire and soft coated cable, offering resistance to abrasion from teeth and structure while staying flexible enough to move naturally in the water. A 480lb rating signals this leader is built for large, powerful fish rather than panfish or typical inshore species. The 16/0 Mustad 39960 hook is a large circle hook, a size generally paired with big natural baits for shark, tarpon, or similar heavy saltwater targets. Circle hooks are designed to rotate and catch in the corner of the mouth as a fish swims off, reducing gut-hooking compared to J-hooks, which lines up with catch-and-release practices common on these species. The 5-foot length gives enough standoff from the hook to the main line connection to handle a thrashing fish without the leader failing at the knot or crimp.
What buyers say
A 4.6-star average across 220 reviews puts this leader near the top of its comparison set, just behind the Maxima MLG25's 4.7 stars but with fewer total reviews than that product's 355. The 100+ bought last month figure is notably stronger than the AFW and Maxima leaders, both of which show 0+ recent purchases in this data, suggesting the End Game leader is seeing more active, recent demand even though it isn't the cheapest or most reviewed option. That combination of a high rating with real recent purchase volume points to buyers finding it reliable enough to keep coming back to for big-game trips.
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Frequently asked questions
Is the End Game leader strong enough for shark fishing?
At a 480lb rating with 7x7 49-strand stainless braid, it's built in the range typically used for shark and other large, hard-fighting saltwater species. That breaking strength is well above what's needed for inshore fish, which is why anglers targeting bigger game tend to reach for a leader in this class rather than a lighter option.
Does the leader come with a hook already attached?
Yes, it ships with a 16/0 Mustad 39960 high carbon steel inline circle hook pre-rigged on the 5-foot leader, so there's no separate crimping or hook-tying required before use. That makes it a quicker option than assembling a leader and hook combination from separate spools and hooks at home.
How does the price compare to other stainless leaders?
At $11.99 it matches the Maxima MLG25 exactly and costs less than the AFW titanium leader at $23.99. It's pricier than the Berkley 3W630BL at $4.61, though that leader is a much lighter 30lb wire product without a hook, so the two aren't really built for the same fishing situations.