Non rec gillnet, I want a bigger one to make it easier for me. Also who has the best prices on the bigger nets around here?

Here you go Bill.
Mass. Division of Marine Fisheries - Permits (http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dmf/commercialfishing/permit_index.htm#fishing)
There is not a gill net permit
What you need is a commercial boat permit.
Attached to that you need an endorsement for inshore net for the gill net.
You will need to know size of net and mesh size for the endorsement.

Thanks Ronnie, so I should get the net first, or at least know what i am going to get.

Thanks Ronnie, so I should get the net first, or at least know what i am going to get.

Yes

You can get the individual permit and add the gill net endorsement.

Its cheaper than getting the boat permit, and as long as your not selling striped bass, its the only endorsement you need to its less $$$.

I don't remember having to specify the net size, only that the endorsement is for a net over 200 sq. ft. But my memory is getting worse by the day.

You can't do online, they send you the form.
IMO. keep the bucks in your bank account until the last minute.

The net rules changed last year. You may want to read over the gill net rules (on sizes) before you buy anything, because I know there are some length restrictions on gill nets. You def do need a permit for a gill net. Selling bait requires another permit.

The 200 sq ft limit was for other nets. (cast nets, seines etc). You use to need a net endorsement for nets over 200 sq ft for nets but now you don't. (don't ask me why). For some reason, for cast nets....you don't need a permit anymore and you can take all you want and not have to report how much you take as long as you don't sell them. (this is what I was told from the DMF)
I use to get the net endorsement and only take what I really need but the state contacted me and said I could save 30 bucks and not get the endorsement and still use my net of any size as long as I don't sell them. (Unfor'ty there are those that are doing this and taking thousands and selling them under the table to other fishermen and shops most that don't have permits to buy bait, nothing is getting reported...IMO it is a dumb rule and the state is naive) I would bet there is more money in catching/selling bait then SB.

BTW, If you get caught using a gill net without a permit...your boat and all your gear could be impounded.

The best thing you can do is go to the DMF website, if your questions are not answered CALL them up and get the current regs.


I have always thought that all gill nets should be registered, have permit markings and you should have to present your permit to even buy one. If your net is found drifting around out there, the fine should be really steep. It is almost a free-for-all right now and know one knows how many bunker are being taken, no one seems to care either.

i have the individual...i fish a 100X8 ft and 100X16 ft.. you can sell bass on it if you are the only one fishing on the boat. fishing alone, fishing for bait or bass. thats what i do.(pulled over twice by epo's this season catching bait for tuna fishing before picking up my friends and they told me to take the net off the boat if i had more than one person on board, because they can cite you if its even on board ...during the comm bass season...) the individual and the endorsement is what ive used for last 3 yrs.

ill be endorsing the boat this next season though, just got a 100yard 15 ft net, and am trying to get a comm bait license.

btw, heard a story of of a comm guy, with the individual license, that had his girlfriend on board , catching bait after work and got SCREWED. go with the boat endorsement.

Good call Christian, if you go with the huge net and want to sell the 100' x 16' or the 100' x 8' let me know..

Good luck with 100 x 15!! I think that will be a tough net to pull and you might be dragging bottom in a lot of the harbor areas. I believe that it's a Surface Gillnet endorsement to your commercial permit that you want. Inshore and Gillnet are different reg's. and have other area restrictions.

I want to get one this year. Where's the best place to get a net?

Memphis net. cheap too. about a buck a foot shipped.
1.5 inch mess if you want to coral them.{some get out} 1.75 inch if you don't want ANY to get away.
If you hit a school with a 100 foot net with 1.75 mesh, you are srcewed,:wall: you been warned

Ordered a net with Memphis today, 100' x 9' 1 3/4" mesh 94 bucks + shipping. Thats about 55 less than I spent on a 40' x 5' up here. Good call FF thanks for the info.

If that's the stretch measurement (1 3/4") thats way to small for pogies! 1 3/4 sq.= 3 1/2 stretch I believe. I would also recommend a heavy leadcore bottom, 1/2" foamcore top and no floats. Put your own floats on to meet the min. law requirement. Very easy to run your net out without floats and not as many tangles when pulling.

If that's the stretch measurement (1 3/4") thats way to small for pogies! 1 3/4 sq.= 3 1/2 stretch I believe. I would also recommend a heavy leadcore bottom, 1/2" foamcore top and no floats. Put your own floats on to meet the min. law requirement. Very easy to run your net out without floats and not as many tangles when pulling.

I was gonna go bigger, but someone up here who gills nets alot says he uses 13/4, and the i asked the people online what they recommend, and they said that is what they sell up here in the Northeast for bunker.

The rec net had 2" or 2 1/8" and I used to lose some every set.

Hey Spec. - Just took a look @ my Memphis catalog. 1 3/4" sq. is 3 1/2" stretched. You should be good to go. I do definately recommend the other things I mentioned if it's not to late! Less is best when it comes to weights and floats IMO.

Hey Spec. - Just took a look @ my Memphis catalog. 1 3/4" sq. is 3 1/2" stretched. You should be good to go. I do definately recommend the other things I mentioned if it's not to late! Less is best when it comes to weights and floats IMO.

:love:

Make sure to put extra weights on the corners of the bottom line to stretch the net out. Like Mike said, set over too big a school and you're screwed.