I found a way to catch herring with a cast net without getting so many threadfin shad caught in the net. Instead of turning the light off before throwing the net we turned off the light when the net hit the water. That gave the shad time to get away but not the herring which were below them. Probably got 5 or so dozen herring in one cast with less than a dozen small shad caught in the net.
Good luck and tight lines.
Why turn the light off?
“All fisherman lie. And if they say otherwise, then they’re lying”
“Sea~N~Stripes”
21’ Hewes Craft Custom
115 Evinrude
It draws them to the surface and they can’t see the net
Wellcraft V-20 sportfish with a 200 Evinrude
Taz, what kind of light/led are you using? Is it putting off a white light?
I have always had to turn the light off when the net hits the water if using a bright white light.
Tom, do you cut your hydroglo off after throwing the net or leave it on?
'07 198 DLX Carolina Skiff
FS90 Suzuki
It’s a bright white 400 watt halogen square light fixture used in parking lots. It takes about 2 minutes to come completely on but it draws bait from far and wide in a matter of minutes depending on the time of year. The shad are the right size to get gilled in a 3/8 mesh and it takes a little while to pick them out. In another month they’ll be bigger and not a problem getting gilled in the net.
I’d rather fish than eat.
A gun in the hand is better than a cop on the phone.
In God We Trust
What I’m saying is do you see all the bait guys turning their lights off at every cast. 
“All fisherman lie. And if they say otherwise, then they’re lying”
“Sea~N~Stripes”
21’ Hewes Craft Custom
115 Evinrude
I agree Chip! I never turn off the light and have no problem bringing them in.
TEAM HARD OF HERRING
2000 Legend 21 ft
2000 Evinrude 150
It is with the hydroglow. If I have a ton of bait I don’t bother turning it off. But when there isn’t a lot of bait or the bait is a little deeper I shut it down then throw. It seems to help. I noticed that when I shut the light off at the end of the night you can hear all the bait hit the surface so I decided to try it and it worked so I stuck with it.
Wellcraft V-20 sportfish with a 200 Evinrude
quote:
Originally posted by MurrymakerWhat I’m saying is do you see all the bait guys turning their lights off at every cast.
“All fisherman lie. And if they say otherwise, then they’re lying”
“Sea~N~Stripes”
21’ Hewes Craft Custom
115 Evinrude
That’s why I have always thought it had sommething to do with the type of light. As bright as their lights are, they are not a “white” light like the kind I have had problems catching them with the light left on. For example, from what I’ve seen, if I was to hang that bright white led corn bulb I’m now using as an overhead light to draw in bait, I would have to turn it off when I throw my net.
Specifically talking about a bright “white” light. I normally use my hydroglow these days and just use a sabiki and catch them as needed to bait a hook, but leaving it on even throwing the net is not an issue. Although, I have turned it off as well when throwing the net and seemed to get more per throw. That’s why I was curious what Tom does.
Riff, what kind of light you using?..and how’s the boat hunting going?
'07 198 DLX Carolina Skiff
FS90 Suzuki
I use a big sodium light. Pretty much looks like a parking lot light!! How deep are y’all when you bring up bait? I usually throw in less than 25 so the net can go all the way down. If I am in deeper water I like to use the sabiki rig. It gives you something to do until you catch a striper. It is almost as much fun. The boat search is still going. I find good ones but the owners never call back… I have to find something soon to get out of all these honey do lists!!!
TEAM HARD OF HERRING
2000 Legend 21 ft
2000 Evinrude 150
I’m almost always out over deep water. Probably doesn’t help that I use the cheap nets with plastic weights.
Wellcraft V-20 sportfish with a 200 Evinrude
Watch the bait guys and see where they go. Doesn’t look like they are deep
TEAM HARD OF HERRING
2000 Legend 21 ft
2000 Evinrude 150
I never count on catching bait to fish, been burned too many times. I use the light to attract bait which pulls in the fish. If bait runs low or isn’t the greatest bait I will catch them. I never had a home tank so I just dump what I don’t use. If I were just going to catch bait I would just go out from the ramp or emergency spillway like the bait guys do.
Wellcraft V-20 sportfish with a 200 Evinrude
1/4 inch net will solve your problem
Tore my 1/4" mesh up on some oyster beds at the beach and haven’t had time to fix it. As I said earlier in another month the shad will be bigger and not a problem getting gilled in the net. Actually I’m primarily after the herring so letting most of the shad get away is not a problem.
I’d rather fish than eat.
A gun in the hand is better than a cop on the phone.
In God We Trust