Drag netting for prawns ?????

[kingkev]

Hi

Wondering on the success rate of catching prawns while dragging a net through the creeks in different spots (landbased). Have been told that prawns generally escape through the bottom of the drag net and also jump from the top and Castnetting is much more successful than drag netting. Wanting some ideas on this..............is drag netting for prawns good. bad or in-different??

[Ian1]

Kingkev

Used to drag net for prawns at night, in the noosa river years ago with some success. Only problem is you get a lot of other bait fish, probably more so then a cast net.
Other problem is getting someone on the deep end at night

Ian

[kingkev]

I might try late arvo.............I could do with some live mullet as well. Let you know how I go. Not too sure if Prawns are still around though.

[juju]

Had a go at it once, you loose more than you get....it gets cold if your the one out on the deep end....bit of burley first and you might get a surprise bycatch

[Horse]

I used to do it in the Noosa River with good results but its a lot easier with a cast net and I dont have to convince someone of the merits of taking the deep end

[kingkev]

I have been catching prawns there in the cast net . The water is not that deep............maybe 5ft at its deepest. Cold is not a problem.................warm water up here in the tropics.

I suspect that we will lose a lot but if I can get more than I have been with a cast net..............I will be chuffed. This creek appers to be safe from floating handbags so all in all it could be a dirty but great arvo.

[bushbeachboy]

Hey Kev,
Snapping handbags can be a bit like the redback on the toilet seat, you know: "I didn't see him in the dark but boy I felt his bite". Have a serious re-think before you do it mate, you're unlikely to get a second chance with a flat dog.

[Noelm]

drag netting is/was a big thing down our way (the Illawarra) but nets are very hard to come by these days, the net had a "licence" for the life of the net and new ones have not been isuued for many years, so unless you can find an "old timer" that has a net with a licence you cannot use them, you can get the net "repaired" for ever, which of course means you can get a new one and use the old licence, but of course we do not have a "flat dog" problem and they are far better used in Lakes with big sand flats so there is no real deep end (though it does happen) and they do catch prawns if they are built right.