Castnet for pogies

[Mr. Sandman]

I have tried a bunch of cast nets...this is an area where you get what you pay for. Go for the CALUSA or Cracker nets. I have a couple of the calusa nets and once you get one you will smile as there is a H U G E difference between the cheap nets you get in most shops and a calusa. The quality is top notch and you will have this net the rest of your life.
I have never tried to cast full grown pogies (have not seen them that often) but with this net I honestly had 200#+ of baby pogies in there... in one cast, it was pulling the boat around. I could not pull the sucker on board. I opened it up and spilled out at least half of them and then filled up my live well with the rest. (made lots of chum) I have a photo of this someplace I will try and find it.

I think the regs that pertain to gill netting. cast nets are OK as far as I know, there may be some limit on square feet but it is reasonable. You want a net that sinks fast. Look for the #/linear foot. Also only use a small mesh on tiny bait in shallow water. if you are in deep water you need a bigger mesh. Calusa has an excellent video too.

[NIB]

Tough to beat a Calusa.I had a twelve ftr I trew a perfect banana wit it.Traded it for a more managble 10 fter.The calusa'a are the top of the line hand sewed Light line for better sink rates..The crackers Are made by the same company a little less expensive.Like someone said 1.5 lbs per ft.an 1" inch mesh.U want em to get down fast them bunkies got a pretty quick motor.

[NIB]

The'll pen up pretty good too.u get a pen of 6 ft or better in diameter with the generally cooler water up there they will suprise u how long they will last.U can't imagine what u can draw from the bottom with a live bunker.It's the # one Big Bass bait bar none.Bunker laugh at eels..

[Springtides]

Nice thing about this site is you can learn so much real quick. Thanks for the great post on nets Sandman.

[TheSpecialist]

Here is a link to the regs. It list a bunch of inshore areas where netting is prohibited without a permit, however it seems that is for commercial purposes only not recs. Recs are ok as long as a net under 200' sqare is used, and it says nothing about gill or cast specifically. I would read the regs in case I missed anything , I have been working allday ya know..
Sorry Click on section 4.00 it's all in there...

http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dmf/comme...ndex.htm#frame

[Clammer]

As usual I don,t know brand names // but the one I have works good /better with a M-80 kick // Gill nets /man what a pain // I got em but don,t use em ...

[CowHunter]

I cast net alot of bunker all spring...My favorite nets are Calusa, I have a 8ft, 10ft, and 12ft. I believe the nets I have are 1.7lbs per foot. I got the mullet nets which are more durable and sink fast in the 8ft and 12ft models. They are 1.5" mess, sink really fast. Those are the nets I use at night. Ive even had bass up to 35lbs in the cast net along with fluke, weakfish, bluefish, flounder and anything else that swims. After getting all that in a net it anly had a handfull of tears. The mullet nets are very durable because they use a much heavier mono, 28lbs I believe, and they are about half the price of the "Pogie" nets. No for day time I do use a 10ft Calusa "Pogie" Net. The seem to be very net shy once the sun comes up....