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Cast Net General Information

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.

 

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.
 Parts of a cast net

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.

Mesh size measurements
(Above) -square is also called 'bar' and the stretch size is diagonal across the mesh with it stretched(always double the bar measurement).

Which Cast Net Should I Get?

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.

The picture above describes the difference between square mesh and stretch mesh when we talk about mesh size. Square mesh means the distance from knot to knot. Stretch mesh is twice the size of sqare mesh; length from top to bottom of the diamond shape mesh when it's stretched. This is all there is to know about cast net mesh size.

Please use the table below to guide you in choosing a cast net.

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.

If you ask 5 people you will likely get 5 different methods of throwing it. So to get you started, here is one for you, demonstrated for those who are right handed.

throwing a cast net
1. Attatch the end of the hand line to your wrist by either slide your hand through the loop at the end or make a second loop as shown then attatch to wrist.
throwing a cast net
2. Collect the rest of your hand line and hold it in the same hand.
throwing a cast net
3. Grab on to the top of the cast net, just below the horn.
throwing a cast net
4. With your right hand, straighten up the net and slide your right hand down by your right hip.
throwing a cast net
5. Take the webbing on your right hand and place it in your left hand with the rest of the net handing over.
throwing a cast net
6. Pick up the section of lead line closest to you.
throwing a cast net
7. There are many people who like to put the LEAD line in their mouth...not sure why, but for the sake of health and this tutorial, we will throw this section of lead line over your left arm. The effect is the same.
throwing a cast net
8. Now, with your right hand, reach under the cast net and grab about half of the net. So you'll end up with about half the weight on your left hand and half on the right.
throwing a cast net
9. Use your fingers and move the lead line so that it is enclosed in your right hand.
throwing a cast net
10. Face your target area with both hands up at around elbow height.
throwing a cast net
11. Swing the cast net about 45 degrees to your left while keeping your foot stationary.
throwing a cast net
12. Throw! Release right hand first immediately followed by left while keeping your left hand close to your body.
throwing a cast net
13. Your cast net should open up as shown. Now just wait around 10 seconds until the net sinks to the bottom and pull up by the hand line.If you've picked a good spot, you will have all the bait you need!

 

Cast Net Care

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.

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