Cast netting from a boat

[Burley_Boy]

Ok I'm brave I'll ask the stupid quations....

My net is fairly small so I've had limited success casting in water that is a few metres deep. Is it just plain silly to try to get livies with a cast net off a boat, should I jigg instead? Should I keep the net for off the bank baitfishing?
Its not like I've ever seen anyone tossing a cast net offshore to get a livie

[jeffo]

if there is yakkas and slimies about just use a bait jig... wouldnt waste your time with a cast net.... sure you might get the ODD ONE OR 2... but bait jigs work a treat.

[coral_critter]

Sorry jeffo, but I'm a firm believer in the cast net. Normally 1 throw near a pillon or structure and I've got enough bait for a week.

Practice throwing in the back yard

[bidkev]

Mate,

Offshore there is generally too much current or depth to be chucking a net although I have chucked one around the Rous channel in the Paddock at slack water, with much success working via the sounder.

If I'm at the Pin or the Pine river I generally sound the slack eddies and can fill the net with one chuck. "Blind" chucking is hard work for me as I have a bad back.

Places like sandgate pier or Woody Point can produce a net full of poddies or herring if rather than chucking blindly, you berley a "tight ball" onto the bottom and wait a few minutes then chuck over the berley.

If you jig, I've found that the tiniest little slip of squid, added to the jig, makes all the difference.....I've caught 'em full house this way, whilst the kids have been catching 'em one at a time jigging without the squid.

Good luck

kev

[cHiCo]

depends on what bait ya after, if its yakkas or slimies the jig is the go. mullet get a net. herring can be caught on a jig if they are around.

[jeffo]

coral critter-read my post more carefully... i said for SLIMIES AND YAKKAS use a jig... if in the river yes cast net is perfect... but offshore no good.

[Maria]

Mate, generally offshore you'll probably find yakkas and slimies etc hanging around structure of some kind which would make life very difficult to cast a net over.

The rope on the net is also no where near long enough to make it to the bottom, and by the time the net does get there, it's probably not going to be the nice open circle it was when you threw it due to current, water movement, drag, resistance in the rope etc.

Use a bait jig for those mate.

Ben

[Burley_Boy]

Thanks for the tips guys, I'll give the net a go in the creek and stick to the jigging out on the deep. Although KingTin you seem to have had success in the eddies so I won't rule it out.
Thanks again.

[SeaHunt]

Hi Burley_Boy,
There are a lot of variables castnetting in deep water from a boat, it is pretty easy to end up in the water with a weight tied to your arm.
Having said that, I have been quite successful if the conditions are right.
First up , tie the net to the boat , if you accidently throw it over a shark, you don't want to be in there with it. I only cast if I can see the baitfish, and then I entice them up to the surface with some burley. You need to be a pretty good caster and use a fairly big mono net, you don't have to let it sink too far when they are on the top.
I have snagged about 30 hardiheads in one cast. But the water was calm, and I have a casting platform to throw it from. Good luck and be careful.