Catching Live Bait With Cast Net

Casting your net and catch live bait for fishing can be fun and worthwhile activity. If you have read my earlier article about using live bait from and around the area you fish, believe me, the fresh baits caught locally do make a difference.

I was fascinated watching people casting their nets and catching fishes and shrimps since young and that’s what got me started with a cast net and I have not looked back since.

I was still in my early teens when I started and small catches with my cast net really got me thrilled. Don’t underestimate the cast net. I have had my fair share of bait and fishes caught with it. The area and timing where you do your casting will also yield different results.

And don’t underestimate the power of the fishes trapped in your cast net too. They have the ability to rip your net apart especially if your net has seen some wear over the years of usage.

I always try to catch live bait with my cast net whenever possible. It means more work but the thrill of casting your net, seeing it open and landing on the water and then drawing the net back.

The thrill and adrenaline rush as you feel the feedback from the net to your hands, the anticipation… If you have been casting net long enough, you will learn to feel your net and what it’s telling you as you bring it in. Overtime, from those feel, you can even tell what’s in the net before you even see them.

Now of course there’s a learning curve when it comes to your cast net and the ability to cast it properly so that you can actually catch something with it. The way to do it is with more practise to get the hang of it.

And don’t be shy about your casting skills in the beginning when the cast net doesn’t open. The cast net has to open properly in order for it to land and close around the area you cast. Remember, the cast net is like a parachute and works only when it’s open up properly. Focus on opening and once you get the hang of it, it’s then down to size and positioning/distance.

Start with a smaller radius cast net and see how it goes before going for a bigger cast net. A good start size would be the 5′ radius cast net.

In some places, you will not be able to fully open the cast net, you actually want it to open within a confined space to avoid structures, rocks and such.

Those are places where fishes and shrimps take shelter too. The ability to cast your net such that it opens up within the intended area makes a lot of difference. Eg. If your net opens up and covers say a rock instead, you are more than likely to end up with a “stone” fish instead.

Cast nets are made of different material with different mesh size. My preferred choice are those made of monofilament line because it sinks faster and dries faster too. What’s better than fresh live bait of course unless your preference is lures.

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