OK…it’s time…I’ve avoided it long enough. It’s time for me to purchase and learn to throw a cast net. I know nothing about a cast except that you learn a technique, throw it and hopefully catch bait. What should I get ? Net size? diameter ? brand ? any recommendations and/or tips would be greatly appreciated.
2003 Key West 1720 Sportsman
2016 Ocean Kayak BG2
For a bait net, go to Walmart buy a cheap 6ft net (3/8"). Look up techniques on YouTube, practice in back yard…no need for am expensive net for bait in the rivers/creeks…you’re bound to get it hung up at some point.
what are you trying to catch?
If I’m posting, its because I’m sitting here at work, dreaming about fishing.
5 or 6ft Betts for a beginner net, tons of videos on Youtube to help you out!
we need to know what you want to catch first. But generally speaking unless you are short, exceptionally uncoordinated, unwilling to learn how to throw a slightly more difficult net, or only intend to catch smaller baitfish and shrimp in very shallow water, i would say a 5’ or 6’ net is a waste of time. It’s not that much harder to learn how to throw a 7’ or 8’ net (except in cases of the limitations i mentioned above). Youll catch alot more bait faster and spend more time fishing than catching bait.
Betts Blue, 5’, 3/8" mesh, videos on youtube
Ya know, it must be nice living in Neverneverland. Remind me to come visit you, when I need a break from reality.
Too bad y’all ran off ladyshrimpkiller, she could throw a net.
“Apathy is the Glove into Which Evil Slips It’s Hand”, but really, who cares?
I wouldn’t waste my time with a net smaller then 8’. If you really want to invest time into using a cast net then don’t buy a cheap one. Start with a decent net like a calusa. The better the net the easier it is to throw correctly. A 14’ custom net with throw like a 10’ bets net but I wouldn’t use it around structure or shallow water. That’s what the 8’ bets net is for.
Thanks for the input guys…I’ll mainly be trying to catch bait in fairly shallow water…creeks, and probably Winyah Bay. When y’all say a 5ft,6ft,8ft,etc. net, is that radius or total diameter ? Also, what weight net ? I’m 6ft tall and definitely not uncoordinated.
2003 Key West 1720 Sportsman
2016 Ocean Kayak BG2
quote:
Originally posted by millacdwe need to know what you want to catch first. But generally speaking unless you are short, exceptionally uncoordinated, unwilling to learn how to throw a slightly more difficult net, or only intend to catch smaller baitfish and shrimp in very shallow water, i would say a 5’ or 6’ net is a waste of time. It’s not that much harder to learn how to throw a 7’ or 8’ net (except in cases of the limitations i mentioned above). Youll catch alot more bait faster and spend more time fishing than catching bait.
How come we don’t have a middle finger emoji? 
I can throw a 6’ consistent, but push it out to 8’ and I fold it every 4th cast. I’m short 5’8", been throwing a net for 42 years, I throw what I’m comfortable with. A 5’ or 6’ has caught me all the bait I could ever use and quit a few coolers of shrimp over the years. I guess there have been times I could have done a touch better if I’d have had an extra 2’ radious.
“Why Bruce?”
quote:
Originally posted by Rick McGeeThanks for the input guys…I’ll mainly be trying to catch bait in fairly shallow water…creeks, and probably Winyah Bay. When y’all say a 5ft,6ft,8ft,etc. net, is that radius or total diameter ? Also, what weight net ? I’m 6ft tall and definitely not uncoordinated.
2003 Key West 1720 Sportsman
2016 Ocean Kayak BG2
We are all talking about radius. For shallow water, no more than 1 lb per foot is needed. 1lb will also be eaiser to throw than a heavy net like my large one that is 1.7lbs/foot. Use More weight if you plan on targeting menhaden or other deeper/faster baits more often. If you are mainly catching bait, 3/8" mesh. If you plan on shrimping, law requires 1/2" or bigger. Note that a 8’ net has nearly triple the spread area of a 5’ net. In my opinion (i’m about 6’1" and 195 lbs for reference) anything less than an 8’ net requires essentially the same amount of effort to throw. I like to catch bait fast so i favor 8’ nets for shallow baits and 10’ nets for deep baits. Dinky nets like 3-5’ nets, to me,are more difficult to spread than larger ones. For what you are describing, maximum 8’ net, minimum 6’, but preferably 7 or 8 is what i would say.
quote:
Originally posted by Fred67quote:
Originally posted by millacdwe need to know what you want to catch first. But generally speaking unless you are short, exceptionally uncoordinated, unwilling to learn how to throw a slightly more difficult net, or only intend to catch smaller baitfish and shrimp in very shallow water, i would say a 5’ or 6’ net is a waste of time. It’s not that much harder to learn how to throw a 7’ or 8’ net (except in cases of the limitations i mentioned above). Youll catch alot more bait faster and spend more time fishing than catching bait.
How come we don’t have a middle finger emoji?
I can throw a 6’ consistent, but push it out to 8’ and I fold it every 4th cast. I’m short 5’8", been throwing a net for 42 years, I throw what I’m comfortable with. A 5’ or 6’ has caught me all the bait I could ever use and quit a few coolers of shrimp over the years. I guess there have been times I could have done a touch better if I’d have had an extra 2’ radious.
“Why Bruce?”
#128405;#127995;#128405;#127996;#128405;#127997;#128405;#127998;#128405;#127999; (Well, nevermind. I originally made this post from my phone. I guess the emojis don’t transfer over to the forum)
Here you go Fred. The iPhone has all your middle finger needs taken care of. Choose your skin color of choice and throw your discretion to the wind.
Lol, y’all are too much
As I age the net size get smaller! Use to throw a 10’ and now at 71 throw a 7’ but only for bait not for shrimping, went to a 25’ drag for them!
I’ll agree with Fred67. A 5 or 6 ft. net is all you need for baitshrimp in shallow water.
A Betts Blue throws reasonably well, works well in shallow water, and is much easier for a beginner to learn to throw than a heavy 7 or 8 ft. net. The Betts will not flatten out as well as a more expensive net. But, you can “reload” a 5 ft. net much quicker and make twice as many casts.
The “little nets” are fun to throw! It is easier for me to keep a 5 ft. net out of the oysters when throwing to baitshrimp bunched up in 1 ft. of water at the base of the oysters.
If/when you get into shrimping over bait in deeper water, you can “find” the bait much easier with a 7 or 8 ft. net. I like my Tim Wade 5/8"x7ft. nets for deeper water. They sink fast and spread flat.
spec
1980 Skandia 21 w/ '93 JohnRude 150 gas drinker
5 footer works fine for gathering bait and will cost far less than a larger one. land it on top of a school of bait and you will have more than enough for a days fishing in a single throw. me personally i can make a 5 footer open all the way no problem and land it anywhere i want pretty accurately. even having the arms length of being over 6 feet tall, i just couldnt get a 7 to open anywhere near as much as i could a 5 and thus caught way more bait with a 5. also easier to throw a smaller net near cover without hitting it and ripping the net! if at all possible try before you buy to see what you are comfortable with.
Yea, 4-5 net is fine for catching mullet and shrimp in the creeks. Buy a $40 net from wallmart and you’re all set. Just MAKE SURE the net has real lead weights, not plastics. General rule is 1lb per foot.
Sizes are radius so 4’ opens to 8, supposedly lol.
Buy the (**() net and you’ll never be bored.
2002 17’SeaHunt
Thanks for the info, guys…time to make this happen.
2003 Key West 1720 Sportsman
2016 Ocean Kayak BG2
This is how I learned to throw it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbmcW9zvg7g
I like the idea of not having to use my teeth, works like a charm for me.
2002 Key West 1900CC