cast net mesh size

[devildogdad]

What would be the size mesh for a cast net to be used for 'Whitebait" Thanks.

[Jack Hexter]

A general all around mesh is 3/8". If the bait is small, you will have to go to a 1/4" to keep from gilling it. If it's deep and large enough, go to a 1/2" to sink quicker

[lemaymiami]

I keep two nets on board, mostly for whitebait.... A 1/4", eight footer for shallow netting along shorelines and shallow grass flats and a 3/8", 10 footer for deeper water. The 1/4" is always my first choice since I'm a lot less likely to end up gilling small stuff (nothing like having to hand pick 100 to 200 little baits "christmas treed" in your net before you can use it again...). In a bit deeper water you need the larger mesh because the 1/4" acts like a parachute and doesn't sink fast enough. The 3/8" is much better for finger mullet as well. Hope this helps. Each net has 1.5lbs of lead per foot so they're not light weight at all.

[devildogdad]

thanks,so I guess I need two nets then. Glad Christmas is comming

[Team Balla's Steakhouse]

11' 3/8" is money....Black Pearl makes the Best! Very high quality & top notch service

[baitkiller]

Originally Posted by lemaymiami

I keep two nets on board, mostly for whitebait.... A 1/4", eight footer for shallow netting along shorelines and shallow grass flats and a 3/8", 10 footer for deeper water. The 1/4" is always my first choice since I'm a lot less likely to end up gilling small stuff (nothing like having to hand pick 100 to 200 little baits "christmas treed" in your net before you can use it again...). In a bit deeper water you need the larger mesh because the 1/4" acts like a parachute and doesn't sink fast enough. The 3/8" is much better for finger mullet as well. Hope this helps. Each net has 1.5lbs of lead per foot so they're not light weight at all.

Listen to Bob. That is exactly what I carry. Same size and weight, either Calusa or Cracker. I have three dead nets in the garage, two of them 1/4". yesterday our buddy boat was late and asked if we could get them some bait. We said sure even though my well was packed with pin fish and sand perch. So the only net I had on board was my 3/8 X 10'. I marked a big pile in the usual spot and pulled up 300 lbs of little thread hering. Spent hours picking the little buggers out. When its that bad you can just pull off their heads and shake the bodies out.

White bait or Piltchers are on the bottom.
Sure wish I had my 1/4" on board!

[lemaymiami]

Here's a trick I've learned when you end up with a "christmas tree" instead of a net.. What's worked the best for me is to take a half hitch around the horn of the net (the top portion) to keep the braille lines in place, then cleat off the net line to the bow so that the net lays alongside the boat in slow speed and the end of it is well away from your transom, then gradually come up onto plane.... That will clean your net of all little gilled baits, no need to pick them (or worse yet put the net away and do it the next day...) out by hand. Just make sure you're careful about cleating the net off and keeping the rest of the rope in the boat so that you don't foul your motor....