trace or no trace

Hi guys, I'm a little frustrated as yesterday I hooked to great fish, so strong it spun my ski around and halled me back towards a reef, but I wound too much tension on and the trace/leader snapped. This happened again with a different kind of fish, much more like snapper swimming, jerky. The first one was just a straight swimmer.
Should I be using trace or just hook straight onto braid line?
If I use trace, what's a good stength for the possible kingi, big snapper?
Without trace when you reel in you can have the soft bait at the rod tip, so easy to motor off to the next spot - I noticed some others doing it this way?
Only reason i've used trace in the past is to prevent losing too much line if snagged on a reef and swivel helps nylon line from twisting - but I'm on braid now.

thanks for any advice
thanks tangaroa for the cod I did manage to land.

I always go for about a 1.2-1.5 meter 20lb flurocarbon trace, and use a back to back uni knot to join the braid to the flurocarbon, Its quick and easy and the wife can tie it no probs, a Yacutan is a nicer knot but harder to tie and does slip if you dont get it quite right. I should add that the Uni knot can slip through the eyes and do as you are wanting if needed, my rods either have a factory hook holder down by the reel or I add a cable tie to the ones that dont

20-30lb should be ok for a kingi if you dont just want to winch it in

Hi Orca
I have had a similar problem. The braid to Flurocarbon can be a real pain to get right.
You should use a flurocarbon Leader as it handles abraision from a fish or reef alot better than Braid.
Try a breaking strain test on your Braid. What I was using turned out to be a bad batch and was under the breaking strain it was meant to be. If its crap get rid of it and even go up a in little size.
Deano

Another method which Matt from East Side Bait and Tackle in Auckland has shown me is, to double over the thinner braid about a metre back before joining the trace. This gives more strength and not so much stress on the braid, allowing to use a more respectable size trace.

Definately use a flurocarbon leader as others have already advised. I also tie uni to uni and have never had one pulled EVER !!.

I would also recommend using something to fasten your hook down by the reel seat. I.e split ring cable tied. whatever factory fitting on the rod or at the least the reel seat. If you wind all the way to the top I will bet money that you will snap the tip off your rod or at the very least smash the inner ring out of your top guide.