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Best cast net to catch mullet

Choosing the right cast net for your target bait species

Choosing the right cast net or the best cast net to catch your target species comes down to several factors.

  1.  Type of cast net (horses for courses)
  2.  Type and size of bait fish you hope to catch
  3.  Net quality (cheapie nets can tend to fall apart).
THROWING CAST NET
Catching live bait in a cast net not only depends on how you throw the net, but the type of net and where you throw it.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT CAST NET TYPE

Firstly there are three main types of cast net and these are used for different applications.

  1.  Bottom pocket cast net
  2.  Drawstring cast net
  3.  Top pocket cast net

We demonstrate the use of each of them in a previous video called cast net types and their applications.

BOTTOM POCKET CAST NET

When choosing the right cast net for shallow water (less than 1 metre), you can’t go past a bottom pocket.

As the name suggests, these nets have pockets sewn into the lead line.

The lead line weights the net and it sinks to the bottom.

As you retrieve the net, the lead line drags along the bottom preventing bait from escaping.

They are then caught in the pockets

They need to be used in the shallows as they need to hit the bottom to work.

Common target species are mullet, garfish/ballyhoo, whiting, silver biddies/mojarra.

Bottom pocket cast net is the right cast net for chasing mullet in the shallows
Choosing the right cast net for chasing mullet in the shallows: bottom pocket. Note how the mullet are trapped in the bottom pockets. We demonstrate how to throw/cast and retrieve a bottom pocket net here. It’s important to keep the net low and retrieve slowly for best results. Of course, finding the bait is the first step and I go into this in great detail in my course Locating Livies.

DRAWSTRING CAST NET

Choosing the right cast net for deeper water depends on how the net closes.

Drawstring cast nets work differently from a bottom pocket because they close under the bait into one big pocket.

The drawstrings pull the bottom of the net up.

Hence they work better in deeper water where they don’t hit the bottom.

Common target species are herring/threadfin.

drawstring cast net sinking
Drawstring cast net sinking. You can see the strings attached to the lead line which will soon be pulled to trap the fish.
Drawstring cast net during retrieve with pocket forming.
Drawstring cast net during retrieve with pocket forming. Note the strings pulling the lead line up into the middle of the net forming the pocket.
TOP POCKET CAST NET

Choose a top pocket cast net if your target species are shrimp/prawns.

These nets are designed for critters that flick upwards, hence they get trapped in the top of the net.

Because the net opens at the top bait can be quickly emptied. Since picking them out of pockets is time-consuming.

Therefore it’s a big time saver over chasing prawns with a bottom pocket.

Top pocket cast net
An additional pocket at the top of the net traps critters that flick upwards like prawns and shrimp.

So in short, shallow water bottom pocket, over 1 metre drawstring, critters that flick, top pocket.

WHAT SIZE NET DO I NEED?

Once you’ve decided on the type of net, size is the next consideration.

This depends on two things.

  1.  Size of the person
  2.  Where will I be throwing the net.

Choosing the right cast for the person’s size is important as they are heavy!

Especially when bait are scarce and you may need to walk long distances or cast many times.

We do show you how to make catching them easier and quicker in our Locating Livies course. 

However to give you some idea, an 8 foot cast net weighs around 3 kilos and a 12 foot can weigh over 5 kilos.

I find a 8 foot or 9 foot is perfect for me size wise when I’m on foot.

In addition, when I’m cast netting the estuaries for mullet, I don’t want a huge net to get stuck on snags and mangrove roots.

So an 8 foot for me is perfect.

Throwing cast net in drain for mullet
Choosing the right cast net depends on the terrain you’ll be throwing over. This 8 foot net is perfect for this terrain.
Snag in cast net
Otherwise this happens. A snag in the cast net can cause rips and tears requiring a cast net repair.
Casting a net to catch live bait
Whereas in open areas or from a boat, I can use a larger net to get a better spread.
Large mullet the best live bait
Big baits big fish. Hence why I like to use 1 inch mesh.

MONO OR NYLON NET

After 30 years using every imaginable cast net, I prefer mono (fishing line) nets.

The nylon (string) nets hold water and get heavier as you cast.

They also sink slower and are easier for the fish to see.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT CAST NET MESH SIZE

Mesh size really depends on the size of the bait you are chasing.

Here in Australia our ultimate target are large sportsfish species from 70 cm long and beyond.

Hence we don’t use small baits.

I therefore like to use a 1 inch mesh.

The smaller fish just tend to swim straight through.

What you do need to check is that the mono is good quality and a decent thickness.

Too thin and they just rip on the first obstacle and have no longevity.

You can usually tell from the price if it is good quality. Too cheap is usually poor quality.

Although a good custom made net has set me back around $400, these days you don’t have to spend that much.

Truth is I stopped using custom nets as my net maker stopped making them.

So I turned to production nets around the $130 to $200 mark.

I have since created my own line which you can Buy Here.

Keeping live bait alive
I keep my live bait alive in a custom bait tank built into my boat. There is no pump and no plumbing. The water refreshes itself through holes in the boat. Why don’t we sink? Click here to watch the video.

CHAIN OR LEAD LINE

When choosing the right cast net, you’ll need to decide chain or lead line.

Chain can be either galvanised or stainless steel, however, the stainless is much more expensive.

I find I rip the net before the gal rusts so for me I go for gal.

Chain sinks better and in my opinion is better for drawstring cast nets and also bottom pocket if you’re throwing in open country.

Because I use my bottom pockets around snags, I often opt for lead line as it is a bit less snaggy.

You’ll want to make sure they have a decent amount of weight.

Lighter (cheaper) nets sink more slowly and allow bait to escape underneath.

The chain on a good quality net will be fastened securely to the net and weigh around 5 kg for a 9 foot net.

KNOTS AND LINE CLASS

As we mentioned before, the line class of the mono needs to be strong, although most manufacturers don’t advertise the line class.

What they do mention is the knots. Double knots or double diamond are the way to go.

See below the knots are quite large for the line class, evidence they are double knotted.

Chain bottom on drawstring cast net
A chain bottom is the best option for a drawstring castnet. Also note the knots are double knots. This makes the net stronger and is imperative for a cast net that will last.
Lead line
When choosing the right cast net, smooth elongated leads reduce snagging. You’ll also want the leads spaced not too far apart.
Count the joins on your cast net to determine how many panels it has. Six is ideal.
Count the joins on your cast net to determine how many panels it has. Six is ideal.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT CAST NET TYPE

CHOOSING THE BEST CAST NET

Well hopefully that helps you choose the right cast net for you and your target bait species.

We do have some cast nets currently for sale over at our shop. We have a limited number available and they are great quality at a reasonable price and tick all the boxes we have described in this post.

I’ve made a career out of catching clients trophy fish using live bait. And I hope you get some great fish too.

That said, there’s nothing I like more than wandering some of my favourite bait catching scenarios early in the morning.

Watching, observing, sighting and catching, epic live baits for the day’s fishing session.

If you’d like help getting more live bait in your net, and doing it much faster, check out out course Locating Livies.

 

Early morning scouting for live bait
Early morning scouting for live bait.
Locating Livies student feedback

Robert Toscano - Locating Livies Member

Townsville, QLD

"I liked how Locating Livies showed so many different options for catching bait. Some of these places were right in front of my eyes. I highly recommend the course! Catching live bait can be one of the most frustrating & time-consuming things you do. This course helps reduce the stress & gives you more time to actually go fishing."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Picture of Ryan Moody
Ryan Moody
Ryan Moody started his fishing career on the reef boats before catching bucket list marlin for the likes of champion heavy tackle angler Johnno Johnson, INXS and the King of Sweden. Branching out in the late 80's to guided barramundi fishing, Ryan has made a name for himself as a Big Barramundi specialist and to date has put clients onto over 2000 metre plus barra. That is over 2 kilometres of metre plus barra! With attitudes changing from 'keep all you can' towards catch and release, Ryan has decided to share his extensive knowledge and hopefully inspire people of all ages to get out from behind the computer screen/TV and into the fishing outdoors lifestyle he has spent his life perfecting.
Picture of Ryan Moody
Ryan Moody
Ryan Moody started his fishing career on the reef boats before catching bucket list marlin for the likes of champion heavy tackle angler Johnno Johnson, INXS and the King of Sweden. Branching out in the late 80's to guided barramundi fishing, Ryan has made a name for himself as a Big Barramundi specialist and to date has put clients onto over 2000 metre plus barra. That is over 2 kilometres of metre plus barra! With attitudes changing from 'keep all you can' towards catch and release, Ryan has decided to share his extensive knowledge and hopefully inspire people of all ages to get out from behind the computer screen/TV and into the fishing outdoors lifestyle he has spent his life perfecting.

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