I am considering using a cast net from the shore to catch bait. I’ll probably be at the north end of IOP. How big of a cast net is suggested? I’ve never thrown one before and thought smaller (4-6 FT) would be a good size to start. Is that size sufficient?
Thanks in advance for replies.
I usually throw a 5 or 6 foot, easier to throw and spreads better versus big nets.
I agree on the 5 or six foot, especially if you’ve not thrown one before. Youtube has great videos on how to throw one. You’ll catch more in a properly thrown smaller net than a big one that is a banana…
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Look up Toobusy’s tech tips on Youtube. He has an easy technique.
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Thanks for the quick replies. I have access to a 4ft cast net but the consensus seems to be 5 FT at the smallest. I’ll certainly look up the toobusy videos. I have enjoyed his tips in the past.
Be careful there. People often get diameter and radius mixed up.
A 5’ to 6’ diameter cast net should be easy to begin with, but what the pros refer to as a 6 foot cast net is in reality a 12’ diameter castnet, which took me months of practice to throw well.
radius = the center of the circle to the outside.
Diameter = 2 times the radius, or one end of the circle to the opposite end.
circumfrence isn’t even used w/ cast nets, so why bother, but I think it’s pi * radius squared?
So, just be sure to buy a small net.
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Thanks, liveaboard. I’ll have to double check my 4ft net. Perhaps it is 8ft diameter.
Net is a 4’ radius, meaning it’s 8’ in diameter. Too much for a newbie?
That’s what I learned on. Just remember the old saying. practice practice practice
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cheep one. Throwing into unknown waters will get you hung up. No point in having an expensive net when throwing from shore.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaCNV16gzts this video was easy for this newbie.
95 1720 Key West 70Evinrude
King fisherman can throw a 12footer like its their job…
A 4-6 foot net is a good place to begin and can catch plenty of bait, and shrimp for the freezer. But I know some 14 year old kids who can throw a 20’ mullet net and make it look easy. It’s all in technique.
quote:
King fisherman can throw a 12footer like its their job...
Yep, and that’s 24’ diameter for the the math challenged, such as this…
quote:
circumfrence isn't even used w/ cast nets, so why bother, but I think it's pi * radius squared?
That formula is for the area of a circle, not the circumference 
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
Thanks for all the replies. I’ll stick with the 4ft net. I’d better get to watching videos and practicing.
Cast nets are measured by their radius. A 4’ net has an 8’ diameter. Never seen anything smaller than a 3’ net before which is 6’ diameter. That is for toddlers to throw. The minimum size a man should own is a 6’ net. Most 10 year olds can throw a 6’ net.
Its harder for me to throw a 5’ net than my 6’ net. I don’t even bother with anything smaller than 6’.
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I throw a 5 and 6 foot, anything larger and I have a hard time with it spreading out right.
Anybody ever watched a Vietnamese, about 5’ tall and 90 pounds throw a 20’ cast net? Over and over again. I can’t do it, but I’ve seen it done. Dang. It’s all in the technique, not the strength.
For the pie are square challenged, if we round pi to 4 decimal places, that’s 1256.64 square feet of net. As big as some houses. Catch a lot of shrimp with that.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
Those videos of them casting those nets standing on a piece of drift would are impressive. I can throw a 10 footer pretty good but I struggle with a 12.
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Captain Steve Baysinger from Mt. Pleasant’s Haddrell’s Point shows how to cast a net.
http://youtu.be/twJzZ--A1tg
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