Fishing nets are one of the essential pieces of tackle that no fisherman should be without. It is possible to fish without them, but you will lose fish and will not be able to catch as big of fish as you could by using a net. The two main types of nets most fishermen use are landing nets and casting nets. If you are fishing from a boat or a dock, there is absolutely no way you can catch any sizeable fish without a landing net. Sea fishing nets, or casting nets can even be used to catch schools of baitfish for later use.
Fishing Landing Nets
A landing net is the type of net that most of us are familiar with. It is a net that is held open by a stiff hoop that hangs at the end of a handle. The handle can be of various different lengths for different kinds of fishing. Nets for wade fishing and fly fishing nets will be very short because you can get the fish right next to you, while landing nets for dock fishing for fishing from rocks are longer because the closest you can get the fist may be several feet away from you. Some handles on these nets reach up to eight feet long.
These fish nets are used by fisherman to scoop up hooked fish. Fish netting has several advantages to simply landing the fish on the bank. First, landing a fish, especially larger ones, can result in losing upwards of twenty-five percent of the fish you catch because the hook falls out of their mouth. This is especially true for boat fishing, where some fish may be too big to lift into the boat. If you are doing catch and release, a fishing net will also minimize the damage done to the fish as you catch them. Treating the fish well will let them live long lives after you’ve caught them.
Landing nets are made out of three different types of materials. The first and cheapest type of net are those made out of nylon mesh. While these are very cheap, they also get tangled up very easily and tangle hooks easily as well. They are also abrasive and damage the slime covering fish have to protect them from bacteria, so they are an especially bad choice for catch and release fishing. A slightly better quality material for nets is coated nylon. These nets are made out of nylon dipped in a chemical solution that makes it softer and smoother. This makes the net longer lasting and more gentle on the fish. Hooks do not tangle in it as easily either.
The most expensive, but also best quality landing nets are those made from rubber. These nets do not harm the fish at all and are also almost impervious to tangling and knots. Their only downside is that they break down much easier than their nylon cousins in salt water and sun. However, if you take good care of your net you should still be able to get several years of use out of it.
Sea Fishing Nets
Using a Casting Net
Nets used to catch fish in the sea, also called casting nets are entirely different than landing nets. These nets are a circle with weight on the edges that cause it to sink and are tied to a long cord that is used to close and retrieve the net. They are mostly used for catching baitfish and other small fish while surf fishing. There is a specific technique to throwing these nets
- Make a loop and place it over your throwing wrist
- Repeat this by making several more loops and make sure the net’s drawstings are hanging straight down
- With your throwing hand, grab the net about one-third of the way down
- With your non-throwing hand take the lead line and straighten the line to make sure that it is not twisted.
- Finally, throw the net using a counter clockwise cast that causes the net to turn as your throw it.
- Retrieving the net is much simpler, just pull the hand line of the net towards you
Fishing nets are an essential piece of equipment for any angler. Landing fish can cause you to lose fish and also treats them in a much more harsh way than netting them does. The cheapest landing nets made out of nylon will get the job done, but if you are a serious angler, or just want fewer hassles, a rubber net is of better quality and will give you less of a headache to use.
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