[Jim Sammons LJKF]

No reason at all to use wire leaders for threshers and it can be dangerous. If live bait fishing use a larger 6/0 - 8/0 hook with a 12 foot 80-100 lb mono or flouro leader.
On a good quality reel you can land these things on 6lb if you have the time but 30-40 mono is a better bet. 50-80 if going with braid. A Trinidad 12-16 is plenty big enough, a TLD 15 lever is also a good inexpensive choice.
This fishery is a blast but is getting hit harder every year, so though legal to keep think about CnR.