I have been looking into a new leader design. My old leaders consisted of a length of 500lb mono with a sliding snap swivel (for a weight) crimped to a swivel crimped to a length of 480lb cable crimped to a 20/0 circle hook. The problems I have with this setup is that it is extremely bulky and hard to deal with. It only serves one purpose; anchoring big baits out off the beach. It is not that great (and un-stealthy) for pier/bridge fishing, freelining, or ballooning. I am thinking of switching over to a leader consisting of a 500lb mono wind-on leader with a heavy duty snap swivel at the end, and just connecting that to a shorter section of #15 wire and a 12/0 "J" hook. I figure if I need weight I can just slip it on the snap swivel, same with a balloon. And if I want to freeline it ends up being a rather streamlined and subtle rig. What do you guys think?
If fishing from a pier just go with. 8 feet of #19 and if you desire use a winding leader... if u wanna pop the balloon off tie sewing thread or very very thin mono to the eye of the hook....u could do the same but with thicker mono if wanted to keep the balloon on until the shark takes 
Do you use any weight off the piers and bridges or do you just freeline and let it drift?
Do you use any weight off the piers and bridges or do you just freeline and let it drift?
If I can yes but I cant always do that...if you have very calm waves and you can watch ur line than freelining will definatly work so try and drift it into the tide you can also have a swivel on the wire close to the hook and let the led slide on the linebut tie some thin mono around bother swivel and the weight eye...and the other end of the mono to the balloon....you can use a sepearate line around the balloon to rip it off...