Anyone have any recommendations for picking up baitfish..ive never castnetted, I know that they are pretty expensive but wondered if anyone preferred certain sizes or brands over another? Thanks

If you have never thrown a net before, go to Walmart and get one of their 6' $25 ones. Trust me, you will get it hung up on stuff especially when you are learning, and it is a lot easier to deal with getting holes in a cheap net then an expensive ones. Once you learn to throw it well and are comfortable catching bait, shell out the money for a better/larger net if you think you need it. I use an 8' Betts with 3/8" mesh, it is a good all around size for what I use it for (mostly catching mullet, pilchards and shrimp)

I swear by my Walmart nets esp. when throwing the the rock and oyster filled canals for mullet and such.I toss that net in spots that the thought of throwing a $200 castnet would make me break out in a cold sweat.

If you coming to Broward County.. there is a weird unexplain-able regulation that says 7' is max allowable size for cast net's.....

he is right, there's a silly rule in broward that you cannot throw a cast net larger than 7 feet, I got busted at John U Lloyd for throwing an 8 footer

I agree with learning on a Wallyworld cheapo. Then, you will learn about sink rates, mesh sizes, weight & so on... Most important: there are dozens of ways to load up & throw nets. Ask around, till you feel comfortable with a method for yourself. Personally, I like my 8' with 1/4 inch mesh & extra weight, as it sinks quick & is easy to shake out with less gilling of smaller greenbacks...

Ed

Agreed with all above suggestions. Practice is the Key Sean, practice a ton in the grass at first then hit the water for the real deal and you will be good to go in no time.

FYI, do not practice on concrete or cemenet, you will damage the sinkers and net dude.

It's not a weird rule. I cuts down on illegal fishing. I think they should expand the zone for it, unless they form some type of licensing to do otherwise.

If you are going to be netting smaller size Pilchards, Sardines, etc, get a glass minnow net. That will prevent most bait from getting stuck in the holes.

I use one cast net for mullet and another for white baits. Get a smaller meshed castnet for white bait. Don't use your mullet net for white bait or you will have christmas trees all day. You need two castnets.

thanks for the input....yes wallyworld it is even though I hate going there.

Once in a while, soak your net in warm water and fabric softener. After an hour or so, wash it off and hang the net up full length. This will keep the mono from drying out, and it will allow your net to open fully when you use it.

hey bro thats some pretty helpful advice there

try the kmart at 595 and university. it is closing and has drastic sales.
just no sales people

Thats bull crap, or it would be law everywhere. I can go out of Haulover with a cast net twice that size.. but if we come in John Loyyd and the man checks ya at the ramp, and it ticket and cut the horn off yer net time.

There is not nearly as much bait to be caught in Broward compared to points South. The illegals that over fish and keep buckets full of snappers don;t care bout the law's ..

Well since I could not care about what you just said, you go ahead and use whatever you like. Plenty of people that pretend to be legit do something illegal anyways.

And btw, if you knew what you were doing, you'd find that when it's the right time, there are tons of bait of many varieties in Broward.

Like the others said

A cheap one is the way to go.

IMO 6' is sufficient anyway. When the mullets boil up in the canals that 6' will get so damn heavy you hardly can pull it up.

Besides once you got the hang of it which I do not claim to have "but good enough" a second and third and so forth throw will accumulate what you need.

Besides that rule of a 7' is way fine. If that becomes rule in other county's I would not have a problem following that. Krash & Chris21 understand that you might think the rule is weird and in your case Chris that you almost got busted for a 8' but rules are rules. Some make sense some do not but id they are out there what you gonna do? You got to follow them.

I think Zebco has a very valid point in his statement with the illegal fishing.

No offense just my opinion