cast net size

[catfish hunter]

what size nets are you guys throwing for adult bunker.I am throwing a 8 ft. calusa w/ 1 inch holes ,it is extra fast sinking and I have no problem getting all the bait I need for a trip in one throw but for some reason I want a bigger net ,there are many times I have to net bunker for the family bait shop and I am thinking I can put a whopping on them w/ a 10-12 footer .lets hear your opinions

[CapBob]

Catfish

I throw a 12 ft......1" mesh and 1 1/2 lbs of weight per foot, makes it fast sinking.

I added a throw ring to my net, it is a metal ring that fits on the top and you throw the net like a frisbee......a lot easier, especially when you are doing everything  by yourself....

[mboy]

I do not believe anything over 10' is legal without a license or something.

I have an 8', believe it is a Calusa (cracker maybe-I forgot). 1 1/2 mesh, 1.5lbs lead/ft. it is nice.
Have not thrown for adults yet, only practice on the lawn . It was my 1st hence the 8 vs 10. Should have gone with 10.
My pops met with Charlie Kay at the Show last week and is buying one from him with 10 hours instructions thrown in for him and my sister. He said the 10 opens to like 30% more then the 8' does.

I also have 2 smaller nets I use for peanuts and spearing.

I am sure my man Young Gull will chime in. He has a few and REALLY knows how to fill up a live well in short order.

The 1 thing I will be doing on Young Gull's advice is adding another 20' rope to the existing so the net can sink without opening.

last season was my 1st with cast nets and I was finally able to throw a small 3' net on bunker that were about 7-9' deep, holding right off the bottom and get them.  Without seeing them on top, only using fish finder.

My goal is to be able to do that with adults in 30' of water


Catfish, you are in an ideal area for bait.

You will be able to get adults in the creek, but will see huge schools almost any time of day, any tide by the sailboats in the no wake zone.

Forget about peanuts. You will be able to walk across them  when they come in.  Think millions upon millions of them all over the place, splashing all around in the creek (they move in put with the tide), but almost always at the mouth of creek where it opens up right before the fishing pier.

[catfish hunter]

I was at the charlie seminar myself and it got me thinking I need bigger ,I guess I have 2' itis w/ my net now ,I fell for the percy nets and called my buddie that works for sal cursi and he said they are the best nets around so now I am on the edge of going bigger I might have to take a ride to S.I. and look at his nets again and see how I like the 12'

[mboy]

I hear the Percy and Kay are fairly comperable.
 I think Kay only makes like 40 nets a year (think my pops said).

I am sure if Percy was there instead of kay, my pops would have gone with that.

My dad is excited to get the lessons on how to throw (guranteed not to leave without knowing how to throw it) for him and my kid sis.

I don't think any quasi semi serious fisherman should be without 1 to catch adult bunker and another for peanuts and spearing.

[CapBob]

Recreational cast nets are legal under 30' and haul scenes under 150'

[mboy]

30'? Good luck throwing that.
hen maybe NY has a 10' maxi?

I am pretty sure I heard a 10' maxi somewhere, especially when they got rid of the commercial cast netters over by Great Kills last year.

[catfish hunter]

I hear the Percy and Kay are fairly comperable.
 I think Kay only makes like 40 nets a year (think my pops said).

I am sure if Percy was there instead of kay, my pops would have gone with that.

My dad is excited to get the lessons on how to throw (guranteed not to leave without knowing how to throw it) for him and my kid sis.

I don't think any quasi semi serious fisherman should be without 1 to catch adult bunker and another for peanuts and spearing.

I teach all the local guys how to throw and they learn w/ in minutes ,I watched charlie throw and cam home and tried his way and couldnt get it right so I am sticking w/ my way do to the fact that I cant learn the right way to do it ,He did say he only makes 40 nets a year and his price is very fair for the quality of the net ,I would buy one of his in a minute.

[IrishAyes]

Yup, New York is 10' max.

New Jersey, cast net - 20'
            seine net - 50'

[Luna Sea 5]

I throw a 12'.. After a while it gets very heavy lifting 200 lbs of bunker over the rail.

[shucker]

I throw a 12'calussa for bunker,I use a cheap 6' $30 net from sports authority for nuts and fill it every throw and a 4' 1/4" mesh for spearing or killies. I used to have a cracker for nuts but lost it at the marina on under water debris,the cheap net works just as well as long as you soak it in fabric softener overnight

[catfish hunter]

alot of guys are throwing 12 ' nets ,I am shocked ,I heard it was very hard to do ,I am gonna have to look into this more.thanks

[Luna Sea 5]

believe it or not, the only thing different from throwing my 6' net and my 12' net is I double it around my hand.  Thats it.  With the 6' net I grab the net at my waist...  SO.. with the 12' net I have to grab it twice or wrap in around my hand twice so my last grip is still at my waist... Then throw it as usual.

[Luna Sea 5]

If you have a net larger then that, lets say as an example a 20' net... you may have to wrap or loop it around your wrist 3 times.. and just throw it a bit harder.

[catfish hunter]

ture ,my only fear is that a lerger net might be to heavy for me ,I think my 8' is heavey after throwing it a couple times .I am gonna take a ride one day and play w/ some bigger nets and see how I like them.I am up in the air about this ,Ithink I do fine w/ the net I have and I get plenty of bait in a single throw so do I realy need bigger

[IrishAyes]

How many additional baits will you get per throw with a larger net?  Probably not more than a few.  To me, it would not be worth the extra struggle in throwing a heavier net to get only a few extra baits per throw.

You could throw an 8' net for a longer period of time than a 10' net before you would tire out.

As you said Catfish, it wouldn't be worth the extra effort to throw the larger net with the additional weight.

[Luna Sea 5]

ture ,my only fear is that a lerger net might be to heavy for me ,I think my 8' is heavey after throwing it a couple times .I am gonna take a ride one day and play w/ some bigger nets and see how I like them.I am up in the air about this ,Ithink I do fine w/ the net I have and I get plenty of bait in a single throw so do I realy need bigger

I hear ya.. I wait for the exact moment to throw it.  After 3 misses, I need a break, it is heavy..   BUT also.. a larger net means more bait, which mean more weight.  Throw a net a few times and miss, then when you score its crazy lifting 200 lbs of bunker over the rail.  With this said, use the larger net, you will get more bait with less throws. Al lyou will need is 1 good throw and you have plenty of bait for the day.. so....  watch the water and try not to waste a throw.

[Hunter 2]

Ive never used one, I'm gonna need some how to  help this season, I found the websight for the place in Staten island.
 http://www.eastcoastnets.com[email]

[catfish hunter]

there isnt much to throwing them ,I learned in minutes from a 8 year old kid that we used to pay at the shop.he showed me how to throw it and it is easy once you learn .if you buy a net go out back and practice ,with in a hour you will have it down

[Hunter 2]