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Wherever
you may fish, live bait is always the best lure. To save
time and money, you need to keep live bait ready. Cast
netting is the most economic tool for catching your own
bait. You can also use a cast net to catch shrimp, larger
fish, mullet, etc.
Cast
nets have been used for thousands of years. A good example
of cast netting in antiquity is after His resurrection,
Jesus tells his disciples to "'Throw
your net on the right side of the boat and you will find
some.' When they did, they were unable to haul the
net in because of the large number of fish." (John
21:6 NIV).
Cast
netting is very popular, either in fresh or salt water, and
can be used in different applications from Sport to
Commercial fishing. Many people use cast nets, from kids to
experienced professional fishermen, almost everywhere in
the world.
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CAST NET BASIC STRUCTURE
- Swivel: two metal
loops or rings attached together, that turn at
both ends.
- Hand line: a rope
which is attached to the swivel on one end,
with the other end attached to the caster's
wrist.
- Horn: a ring with an
indentation around the center, where the top of
the net is tied.
- Lead Line: a rope
with sinkers attached. This rope is at the
outside perimeter of the net to sink it.
- Brail Lines: lines
attached to the swivel at one end and to the
leadline at the other. Their function is to
pucker the net, thus trapping the catch.
- Netting: made from
nylon multifilament or monofilament to form the
desired mesh.
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HOW CAST NETS WORK
Throwing
the net creates a driving force that causes the lead line
to open the net to a flat form, the lead weights then sink
the net. After the net has sunk, and the brail line is
pulled, the lead line is forced to close, thus creating a
pouch in the net which holds the catch, trapping a school
of shrimp or fish. After pulling the net from the water,
opening the leadline will cause the catch to fall out.
Depending
on what kind of catch is targeted, i.e. shrimp, pin fish,
shiner, mullet, sardine, etc., the correct size of mesh and
net will provide more accurate hauls. As with any fishing
equipment, the bigger the targeted catch, the bigger size
of mesh and stronger netting material needed.
| BAIT SIZE |
MESH SIZE |
NET BREAK STRENGTH |
| 1" -
3" |
¼"SQ
(1/2" STR.) |
5 - 9 LBS |
| 3" -
6" |
3/8" SQ
(3/4" STR.) |
7 - 15 LBS |
| 6" -
9" |
½ " SQ (
1" STR.) |
9 - 20 LBS |
| 9" -
12" |
5/8" SQ
(1-1/4" STR.) |
12 - 25 LBS |
| 12" OVER |
1" SQ.
OVER (2" STR. and OVER) |
20 LB and OVER |
HOW TO THROW A CAST NET
There
are many ways to throw a cast net. If you need to find the
right method, or just need to practice, we have several
videos available to order.
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Cast Net Care
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The most
important thing in cast net care is rinsing your net
after every use. Washing the net not only washes away
the salt water; it also removes fish particles and
slime remaining on the net. The fish slime is
particularly harmful in deteriorating the net. Simply
rinse well with a garden hose and allow the net to
dry. Then place the net into a bucket or any other
dry storage area.
Sunlight is another harmful element to the cast
net. Do not allow your cast net to stay in the
sunlight for long periods of time. This is especially
important for monofilament cast nets. Overexposure to
sunlight will cause the netting to become brittle and
weak.
Another secret in cast net care is fabric
softener. By using fabric softener you can prevent
the net from becoming stiff and help in the overall
spread of the net. Just take a pail of water, add a
cup of softener, and place the cast net in the pail,
for about one hour. Remove the net, rinse, and store
the net after it dries. This process should be done
when the net is first purchased and repeated every
six to eight months.
Finally, just inspect your net occasionally,
checking for any holes or weak areas. You, or your
local net shop can repair these areas. If repairing
the net yourself, "How
to Make and Mend Cast Nets" by Ted Dahlem
can be a helpful tool. Also, you may contact us for
any twine, netting, or needles that are used
in any repairs.
Order our video, "The
Art of Cast Net Throwing".
This video shows you step by step everything you need
to know about cast net throwing.
$ 19.99
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