Cast Netting for Bunker---Raritan Bay Area??

[lost sailor]

New to the site----seems like a knowledgeable crew. I am also new to catching my own bunker. Last year I had limited success. Any tips from the gallery? I can throw the net, but catching the bait is another story altogether......

[IrishAyes]

Lost, there are a few from the Raritan area who will chime in when they see this. I am not from that area but I do remember them saying the bunker, expecially the peanuts, were all over the marinas in the Atlantic Highlands last year.

[Salty Dog]

Usually have found schools of bunker in the feeder creeks and around the marina's.Look for the fish to be breaking or being chase what ever the case.The net has to hit bottom in order for them to get trap when you retrive your haul.When the adults show up,you can snag them with a weighted treble hook and light tackle.That's alot of fun.

[CapBob]

Lost Salior


Welcome aboard......it depends on the time of the year and where you will find the schools, early on look in the Keyport/Perth Amboy area in the MArina's and feeder creeks, Great Kills Harbor is an excellant place, as time goes on The mouth of Comptons creek in Belford, Atl Highlands Marina, etc are good. Right now Bunkers are in the back of the Navesink River as well as the back of the bay

[mboy]

You should just about always be able to find a school of adults in or around the Sailboats in Keyport. As mentioned great Kills holds a bunch and there can usually be some schools found in Princess Bay along Staten Island as well.

[lost sailor]

Thanks. I have to get my percentages up. Seems like a million empty nets for 1 good one. I fish out of Great Kills, Sewaren, and Keyport, and have ?caught bait? in both places.

Anybody have any tips on techniques?

[CapBob]

Best thing to do is practice........would like to have a dollar for every net I threw in my driveway, nieghbors that I was nuts


try this video's:   http://www.ausfish.com.au/castnet/

If you are throwing for Bunker, make sure you have enough weight on the net

[Luna Sea 5]

the bunker are almost always there.  You have to wait for them to school up and surface.  Most of the time, early moring right before sunrise.  When you see a swirl on the surface, odds are there is a pod under it.

[Hotrod]

Welcome to the site LS

[Luna Sea 5]

almost forget.. Welcome

[mboy]

My goal this year is to be able to get them when I can't see them.  find them on depth finder and throw the net over them. Def need fast sinking net and def need like 40' of handline.

[salty pig]

i hope to get them this year without snaggin.. lord knows my buddies almost snagged me  last year.. they caught my boat a few times though lol

The places the others mentioned are where i go to !

[lost sailor]

Thanks for the tips. I am throwing a 2.5" mesh, 18 pound net----it sinks like a rock! I also agree that early am is the key. I fish during the week alot and I will post some reports in the upcoming weeks. Thanks again.

[Luna Sea 5]

My goal this year is to be able to get them when I can't see them.  find them on depth finder and throw the net over them. Def need fast sinking net and def need like 40' of handline.

Mike, not that hard.  In the AH marina, all I do is watch the fish finder and drive slowly around the sail boats.  When I see a nice pod, just throw, you can't miss.  Also, look for that lone splash or swirl on top of the water.  It don't look like there is more then one fish there, but there are a bunch, only 1 bunker gave there location away.  This is why you need to do this very early before the boats leave the harbor and spook everything.  Once a boat passes, you have to wait 10-15 minutes for them to school up again.  When you throw the net, it gets really heavy, so heavy that the next time you throw it, you hope it doesn't open all the way.  Bunker at 1 lbs per fish, 70 fish to a good throw, plus the net, weights, and trying to lift over the rail.... it gets crazy.

[salty pig]

sounds like i need more muscle  or back to gym ... screw that Luna  or mboy your hauling it in for me LOL

[fishinfool]

sounds like i need more muscle  or back to gym ... screw that Luna  or mboy your hauling it in for me LOL

  

[salty pig]

sounds like i need more muscle  or back to gym ... screw that Luna  or mboy your hauling it in for me LOL

  

thuddont think u are suppose to agree lol

[Capt. Joe G]

Practice Practice and Practice your throwing. Most of all done drive into the pod you want throw on. I have the best luck drift into the schools, even killing motor and coast into them then throw! Call me on 68 when out  there I'll help you all you need! Starting May 1st!

[TUNAMAN]

use your fishfinder. mark a ball throw the net and you wont have to wait till it hits the bottom it will float to the top of the water everytime.one throw 100-200 baits time to fish.As for a heavy net you dont need a heavy one they close 2 fast on the way down. Use a percy net its just right and floats down like a parachute.

[blynch]

You probably need a second person on your boat if you don't have one already to nose you into the school. give the net a fast chuck off the bow.  Don't follow every splash to see...look for flashes beneath the surface to tell you where the big schools are.