I usually throw a five foot bait bet because i can cast it further than an eight foot net. I usually pick my bait up in either bayou chico or texar on sandy ir muddy bottom. Most of the time i take my jon boat out to get them but wading is also effective.i also get bait off of bob sijes bridge.most of the time i catch menhaden but sometimes i gi go for finger mullet and bull minnows. I know there is some shrimp in bayou chico but i personally wouldnt use them, they are small and kind of off looking.
them. If you cant throw the eight foot well keep practicing ir change your technique. I have caught a few pomps in a cast net but they were small and not common to catch.hope this answers some if your questions

 

Thanks SY! I'll keep trying with the 8ft one. Lived on Bayou Chico for over 30yrs so I won't be going there for shrimp or anything else anytime soon. That place is to me just a reminder of the old hard head cat that nailed my thumb down to the bone when I was a kid. I am curious as to the legality of casting off of bridges like Bob Sikes. Seems like I can remember someone saying something about it not being legal and being fined but I'm not sure. I basically want to use them to catch maybe Pompano, mullet, and shrimp to eat. On occasion I'll use them for bait and have caught a few shrimp at Bob Sikes at the parking area but they were really small. Should I avoid the grass beds there which are very thick? I'm kind of afraid I'd get snagged up so I haven't tried. I'll mostly be using them from a bank at night so wading is not even a thought :no:

 

i throw one all the time for mullet. ive caught all kinds of fish in it but nothing with any consistancy except mullet and baitfish. i like to go when its cloudy so they fish dont see the net coming as much. i go on hwy 90 going into pace on the south side of the road at the last bridge and south side of 98 anywhere in gulf breeze and navarre. i personally like to wade.

 

I use a 10' bag net and wade in shallows near shore. I Fish for mullet with pretty good success but from time to time will catch Redfish, Black Drum, Sheepshead and Specs, mostly Mullet though. Went last night at Floridatown but only caught Menhadden and Pinfish. Spent all my time cleaning out my net. It gets like that sometimes, but it is still fun and worth it in the long run. It is very hard to catch fish on a sunny day. Go if you can when it is overcast or early in the morning or late in the evening. Just after dark can be very productive.

Greg

 

I hope you've thrown back the game fish.

 

I always take my net with me while fishing, it gives me something to do while I have lines in the water. I have caught good, big mullet around Ft. Pickens and smaller ones in the sound. I throw my net with a very easy technique - basically coil it up in my right hand, hold the lead line in my left and throw crossing my right hand over my left as I throw... it works pretty well but there are a ton of vids on youtube you can try.

 

You're gonna scare shallow water fish.

 

Learning to throw a cast net is on my bucket list I guess you could say.
I've heard of two different kinds - braille and bag. What's the difference ? What kind and size would you recommend that somebody start out with ?
I'm going to check out those youtube videos. Thanks.

 

The two different types of nets are for two different types of fishing. If you are throwing from a moving boat or a pier then the braile net is what you want. If you are wading then a bag net is what you want.

Sizes vary between people but if you are just starting then a 8 or 10 foot net would be best in my opinion.

Hope this helps.

 

I taught myself to throw a cast net in my front yard...with videos on YouTube on my phone there is a great one by Jose Wejebe (RIP) on YouTube. Pull it up and start practicing in your yard.

 

What size and type do you recommend I start out with ? And where would be the best place to get one ? What is a ballpark figure that I should expect to pay ?

 

Also I think the bigger the better, I started throwing a big net like a 12 footer and now it's hard for me to throw a small net because I am used to the big one and I overthrow the small ones

 

There is a guy in town...I forget his name I actually think he died recently but his family is still running the business...I think it was around 130 bucks for an 8 footer. I'm sure someone on this forum knows who I'm talking about. I can't recall his name...

 

I throw 8 and 10ft. bag and braille nets for mullet on a regular basis...best thing I can say is to practice your technique as much as you can, throw in your yard or driveway if you have the room until you feel comfortable with how you make-up and carry your nets...don't be afraid to throw them into dark holes or around structures when your out in the water, best advice is keep a mask handy if you can for when you do get snagged up...it will happen, when it does just take your time and try not to pull on the net too hard unless you want to shred it...avoid thick grass beds, the weight of your nets won't keep the fish from pushing under them through the grasses...best to hit em coming out of the grasses onto the sand or in light grass and sand mixed bottoms...and stay away from water deeper than 5-7ft., those smaller nets don't sink fast enough and the fish often swim out from under before they get caught in the mesh or pinned to the bottom...other then that just look for jumping mullet or swirls on the surface and throw! If you open up you'll have something in it most likely...oh and as you probably already know its a good workout too haha, hope that helps some...good luck!

 

Just remember the more you pay for a net the more often it will get hung on something. I've cast at places with my Walmart "Great Value" net 100 times only to go back to the same spot with my custom made net and get hung up on the first throw.

Wade around in the shallow water (< 1ft) this time of year and you can load up on finger mullet and bull minnows. Over grass beds at night you can get alot of pinfish and some shrimp.

 

Bobby Burns is his name google it

 

I have my nets made by Mr. Daffen Kee who lives in the Perdido area...he had cancer this time last year and I haven't spoken with him recently so I don't know if he's still capable of filling orders, but I swear by his nets! My 8 footers are over 10 years old and no dry rotting or deterioration and very strong...I've put a few holes in em but I always get em un-stuck with a little patience pm me if you'd like his number, don't want to open advertise just in case, wouldn't want to offend my net maker!

 

I use a 10ft, 1 1/4 mesh (2.5" stretch) .177 mono and then I have a roe mullet net which is 12 ft, 1 1/2 (3" stretch) mesh, .208 mono. I always go with .177 mono because the .139 is so thin that it will stretch out over time and will tear easy with roe mullet.

.139 = 14lb mono.
.177 = 21 lb mono.
.208 = 29lb mono.

I would start with a 10ft, 1 1/4 mesh with .177 mono. That is a great net to start with and once you throw a 10ft well step up to a 12ft.

 

I wouldn't pay more than 10$ a foot to have a net made. I've had 2 made at that price and they are quality nets. I throw a 10' and a 12' mullet net both one inch mono mesh. I would say start with the net you want to throw consistantly, so if you see yourself wanting to throw a 12' then buy a 12er. My rational is that why spend the $$ on an 8 or 9ft net only to stash it away when you realize it's not big enough. I Started with a 10' thinking that would satisfy me, I soon stepped up to the 12' and am now happy. Everyone has "their" way of throwing a net. I took bits and pieces from evryone and put together my own way of throwing it. All of these folks are pointing you in the right direction, grab a few beverages of your choice, youtube the videos and spend a few evenings in the yard. The only problem there is that throwing while wading and from a dock/pier can be TOTALLY different. I wouldn't be opposed to catching up with you some time and showing you my technique. Shoot me a P.M. when you get ready.

 

On 98 West of Foley is a net company, Brunson's they have a web site as well. They have been in the business forever and can answer any questions you might have.

Going farther west is another shop, not as large and not specializing in nets, Fisherman's Discount or it may be Captain's Discount.

Good Luck

 

Thanks for all the info. I'm going to watch some youtube videos.
I would guess I'd mostly be wading. Is it much harder to throw wading than it is from a dock or boat ?
The odds just don't seem very good that a school of mullet would pass by somebody wading. Does that happen often ?
Smarty, I didn't mean to take over your thread. These questions have been on my mind and your thread seemed to be right in line.
My apologies.

 

you would be surprised but the fish do get rather close to you when your wadding...you have a lower profile in the water wadding so they don't see you from as far away, you can kinda sneak up on em...also try wadding the edge of deep holes, they will often try to settle to the bottom of the hole rather than run out of it...I have caught my biggest haul in one cast from the boat however, and that was because the speed of the boat allowed us to get on top of a whole school before they broke and scattered...wadding will produce constant catches tho and it is easier to just walk out off the beach most days then to rig up the boat...that being said I am a shorter guy so wadding past my waist is useless, can't get the upper-body twist needed to get the net out much past my spot in the water...oh yeah, and watch out for sting rays and never drag your net across your body until you clear in, catfish barbs suck!

 

Just to add to j post, if you look on google earth or flash earth you will see that on the bays there is a drop-off where the sand turns to a darker color as you move off-shore. I often have good results thowing blind into the deeper water. If I cannot spot any fish in shallow water I go to the mud line and thow blind. If I don't catch anything I move down the line 15 or 20' and throw again. I have salvaged an otherwise 0 catch into a good day on the water by using this tecnique.

Greg

 

Pompano Cast Net

Lots of good info here.

To answer the question about 'catching Pompano in a cast net'.

I have such a cast net. It is 9 feet long and has 3"(6" stretched) meshes. It doesn't have brails or bag.

It's good for flounder because flounder will roll up and tangle themselves.

It has an 'enclosed' leadline where the leads are inside the line.

Yes; it's legal.

I prefer to catch my Pompano using a rod and reel with jigs. C2

 

try this link: http://www.calusa.com/

Greg

 

Cast Nets

Go over to Foley to Brunson's Net Shop west on Highway 98.

These people are a 3rd generation netmakers and know their business.

Look at their Seamaster line of cast nets. Good nets at reasonable prices.

I am not affiliated with Bronson. I have been dealing with them for many moons; starting with the present owner's Grandfather when the shop was in South Foley. C2

 

The Calusa llink is great for learning how to throw a net. I buy my bag nets from Richard Broxson on Nicholes Lake Rd. in Milton. Tell him Jason Robards sent you, although my name is Greg.

 

What size mesh should I be looking at for mullet ? I imagine that's what I will target.

 

The larger the mesh the quicker the net will fall to the bottom, or the lighter the net can be made for a given size. I throw a ten foot 1 pound per foot radius foot net with 1 1/4 " mesh. The only downside for me with this net is the number of Menhaden that get caught in the gills. Whatever size net you get, don't get frustrated. Begin by practicing in your yard, but you will find it more challenging to throw in the water. The deeper the water, the harder the net is to throw. The more tired you are, the harder it is to open the way you want. I just go out when I can and enjoy being on the water whether I catch any or not, but when you learn to get a good spread of the net, you will catch more fish than you immagined.

Greg