How to Choose and Use a Cast Net

I just realized that I really should have explained a little bit more about cast nets in those last few blog entries.

A cast net is a net that is thrown, or 'cast' directly on top of the fish you are after. This is different from a dip net and other types of nets with specialized uses.

Cast nets have weights along the edges which serve two purposes. First, the weights help to spread the net out by centripetal force as it is thrown. It is very important that the net spread out and hit the water as wide and flat as possible. Secondly, the weights help the net to sink quickly. If the net takes too long to sink then the fish will have time to swim out from under it.

Once the net sinks on top of any fish underneath it, the weights hold the net down and trap the fish inside. As you pull the net back to the surface the weights pull the net closed and tight so that the fish do not escape.

You can use a cast net either on fish that are visible or in a spot where you think fish are likely to be. It can work quite well even for benthic fishes that hang out on the bottom.

Cast nets come in various sizes starting at around four feet in diameter on up. A smaller net is easier to learn how to throw properly and is a good choice for a beginner. The downside of a smaller net is that a fish has decent odds of swimming out of its path, especially in deeper water. A wider net catches more fish.

Tossing a net tends to make some noise and stir up the water so you usually won't want to throw a net in the same place for long. The fish get spooked off. Throw a few times and then move on, giving it at least twenty minutes or so until hitting the same spot again.

The net I've been using is this 3.5 foot Tyzak model by Betts, which costs only $30 and has bagged me a whole lot of fish for the money. I've grown to appreciate this thing a lot lately, in particular once I realized that the mortality rate among fish that I throw back is probably close to zero. No hooks, no injuries. This isn't something that many people would use for sport, but if you just want to catch dinner in a hurry then a cast net is a smart item to buy.