spearing/silversides

[ralphrox]

any body know were/how to catch atlantic silverside/spearing

[IrishAyes]

I throw a cast net over them at the dock. 

Very rarely have I been able to coax them into a bait trap. 

[ped579]

I know many guys cast from shore.  This year is the first year that I have seen so many guys trying their luck.  Many were successful.

[ralphrox]

the dock?? WERE can i catch them bays grass cover ect

[IrishAyes]

Ralph, later in the season there is spearing in the bay, most docks and bay shore line should give you success in cast netting the spearing. 

[ralphrox]

well i hope they are not smaller than the holes in my net

[Hotrod]

 

[IrishAyes]

well i hope they are not smaller than the holes in my net

You do need a fine mesh net. I use a 3/16" mesh. Hardly any get gilled

[BigAl13]

I wouldn't waste my time throwing a cast net. I go with my brother down to the beach with a drag net. In about 4-5 drags we have enough for weeks.put them in cheap sandwhich bags and freeze them. The work way better than those bright yellow ones the b&ts have.

[ped579]

I would not say it is a waste of time.  The guys I know have all different styles of cast nets and they all do pretty well with them in the surf.

Most have not bought bait in years as they freeze a lot of them for later use.  With bait as it is in price a cast net is an inexpensive piece of equipment if you fish just about every day.

Happy Catching

Paul

[pilot2550]

Umbrella net, cast net, drag all very effective.

[Capt. Birch]

I think Joe hit it good with his post. If you choose a cast net it must be 1/4" mesh (will gill larger spearing) or 3/16"(screen of death and nobody will get by ya)to be effective for catching bait.
  If you choose to seine most of the small mesh cheap store bought will work fine. Don't worry about adding to the lead line as keeping it a little off the bottom will help it fish much cleaner. A little helpful tip is to choose a clean stretch of sand and stay away from the grass. Walk the area down first and remove all large rocks and wood. Chum the area with some bunker and crushed crabs. Walk the chum out as not to attach any seagulls. No need for long tows and it should be best  to fish solo or have your helper just post up a few feet from shore and the "walker" tow  180 degrees.
The umbrella nets  generally work fine for smaller quantities. Heavy chum can be key in a good location is key.
The good thing with spearing is they are available just about year round. Even now there enough in the bay to fill a bucket and around Easter has a great showing of all jumbos.
As far as good locations I can give you plenty of spots in Barnegat Bay if that helps.  

[ralphrox]

I think Joe hit it good with his post. If you choose a cast net it must be 1/4" mesh (will gill larger spearing) or 3/16"(screen of death and nobody will get by ya)to be effective for catching bait.
  If you choose to seine most of the small mesh cheap store bought will work fine. Don't worry about adding to the lead line as keeping it a little off the bottom will help it fish much cleaner. A little helpful tip is to choose a clean stretch of sand and stay away from the grass. Walk the area down first and remove all large rocks and wood. Chum the area with some bunker and crushed crabs. Walk the chum out as not to attach any seagulls. No need for long tows and it should be best  to fish solo or have your helper just post up a few feet from shore and the "walker" tow  180 degrees.
The umbrella nets  generally work fine for smaller quantities. Heavy chum can be key in a good location is key.
The good thing with spearing is they are available just about year round. Even now there enough in the bay to fill a bucket and around Easter has a great showing of all jumbos.
As far as good locations I can give you plenty of spots in Barnegat Bay if that helps.  

if the shrewsbury river counts some spots can help

[Hunter 2]

Good info!!

[gagedylan]

I get the kids involved. I use a 24' seine, me and the wifey walk the shores at any bay beach on Barnegat Bay, mostly on LBI. The best luck i've had is by seven bridges. the water is warm, the kids have a ball picking up the fish, and seeing the different sea life.

[ralphrox]

I think Joe hit it good with his post. If you choose a cast net it must be 1/4" mesh (will gill larger spearing) or 3/16"(screen of death and nobody will get by ya)to be effective for catching bait.
  If you choose to seine most of the small mesh cheap store bought will work fine. Don't worry about adding to the lead line as keeping it a little off the bottom will help it fish much cleaner. A little helpful tip is to choose a clean stretch of sand and stay away from the grass. Walk the area down first and remove all large rocks and wood. Chum the area with some bunker and crushed crabs. Walk the chum out as not to attach any seagulls. No need for long tows and it should be best  to fish solo or have your helper just post up a few feet from shore and the "walker" tow  180 degrees.
The umbrella nets  generally work fine for smaller quantities. Heavy chum can be key in a good location is key.
The good thing with spearing is they are available just about year round. Even now there enough in the bay to fill a bucket and around Easter has a great showing of all jumbos.
As far as good locations I can give you plenty of spots in Barnegat Bay if that helps.  

if the shrewsbury river counts some spots can help

woops confusing it with rariten bay

[ralphrox]

I get the kids involved. I use a 24' seine, me and the wifey walk the shores at any bay beach on Barnegat Bay, mostly on LBI. The best luck i've had is by seven bridges. the water is warm, the kids have a ball picking up the fish, and seeing the different sea life.

do you have some kind of program or your talking about your kids? if you have a program do u mind dooing one by fishermans cove for me some time this summer?

[gagedylan]

no, I meant my kids

[blynch]

well i hope they are not smaller than the holes in my net

dude if you really want to catch spearing most wil be smaller than the holes unless you get a net with really fine mesh (3/16"). 

Marshy areas tend to attrach them

Seine nets are a good alternative if your not into the castnet thing

If you want them for bait, killies are usually better in my experience

[cfishigotu]

Need 1/4 cast net and do it on the bay. Some might get stuck in the holes though.

Best to use drag/seining net. Get a lot more but you need two people.