Best Cast Nets

Are you in need of the best cast nets on the market today? Do you want to catch bait fish for your fishing trips? With the right cast net, you can easily catch a lot of bait fish. In this article, we not only review some of the best cast nets available today but also share the factors to consider when choosing a cast net.

1. Yeahmart Cast Net

This saltwater cast net features handmade, durable, and copolymer monofilament mesh. It is easy to throw and is ideal for bait fishing. It also features a heavy-duty environmental-friendly material sinker. It delivers a quick sink and a tight bottom seal that prevents the bait from escaping. It is one of the best cast nets available today.

Additionally, this cast net comes in sizes of 4ft, 6ft, and 8ft radius and 3/8-inch mesh size. It also features an electro-galvanized chain button. You benefit from a better spread due to uniform weight distribution which makes it easier to cast. It also has double selvage along the leadline for extra strength and durability.

What We Like:

Durable

Easy To Use

Zinc Sinkers

Heavy-Duty Swivel

Precision Net

2. UGM Cast Net

This cast net is a handmade, durable, and copolymer monofilament mesh saltwater cast net that is available in sizes of 4ft, 6ft, 8ft,10ft, and 12ft 3/8-inch mesh. It provides a quick sink and a tight bottom seal to prevent the bait from escaping. It is easy to throw from a distance with accuracy but will sink quickly for a good haul. It is a favorite of many anglers and is one of the best cast nets on the market today.

What We Like:

Durable

Environmentally Friendly

Easy To Use

3. Drasry Cast Net

The Drasry cast net is a durable, handmade, and copolymer monofilament saltwater mesh net that is easy to throw for distance and accuracy. Its lead sinkers allow this cast net to quickly sink to the bottom, prevents water splashes, and prevent the bait from escaping and capturing more bait. It accommodates more bait with its 3/8-inch mesh. It comes in a 4ft, 5ft, 6ft, and 7ft radius with a 49 ft long braided poly hand line.

What We Like:

Durable

Easy To Use

Pure Lead Sinkers

4. Betts Old Salt Premium Cast Net

The Betts cast net is one of the best cast nets and is ideal for bait fishing, it comes with a box to store fishing items like lures, hooks, tools, and other supplies. It is 4ft by 3/8 inches with a weight of 1 lb per foot. It is easy to use and catches plenty of bait with its full spread.

What We Like:

Durable

Easy To Use

5. BASSDASH Cast Net

This cast net is made of premium copolymer monofilament mesh, environmentally friendly plastic-covered weights, 316 stainless steel swivels, and a durable ABS horn. It comes in sizes of 4ft, 6ft, and 8ft radius with a 3/8-inch mesh that allows it to catch small to medium baits. The length of the hand line is 32.8 ft.

What We Like:

Durable

Easy To Use

Environmental-Friendly

6. Goture Cast Net

This saltwater cast net is durable and made of premium copolymer monofilament mesh. You can get this cast net in sizes of 4ft, 6ft, 8ft, 10ft, and 12ft radius with a 1/4-inch mesh size. This cast net is ideal for bait fishing and you can catch a lot of small and medium-sized fish with it.

Additionally, it features a 32 ft long floating braided poly hand line with a 2-inch anodized swivel. With a taped border and 3/4 lb. of weight per radius foot, it provides a quick sink and a tight bottom seal to prevent bait from escaping.

What We Like:

Durable

Easy To Use

7. American Pro Cast Net

This cast net is handmade, durable, and made of copolymer monofilament mesh. It comes in sizes of 4ft, 6ft, 8ft, 10ft, and 12ft, with a 3/8-inch mesh size. This cast net is designed to catch a lot of small and medium-sized fish. It is ideal for fishing. The quality of the lead sinkers allows it to sink quickly and bring in a big haul.

What We Like:

Durable

Easy To Use

8. BasicGear Cast Net

This cast net comes in sizes of 3 to 12 ft with 1/4 or 3/8 inch mesh of reinforced monofilament nylon and premium galvanized zinc iron sinkers for rust resistance. It can be used for freshwater or saltwater fishing. It is durable with a double lead line and stainless steel swivel. It features a fast sink speed to easily catch small and medium-sized fish.

What We Like:

Durable

Easy To Use

9. FunVZU Cast Net

This cast net is a handmade and durable cast net that is made of quality materials and has a 0.3mm monofilament line that renders it soft, yet strong. It also features a tightly sealed bottom to prevent the bait from escaping. This cast net also features a 32.8-inch braided rope to easily and comfortably cast the net.

Additionally, this cast net sinks quickly with its high-density lead sinker and 1lb per radius foot weight. It comes in sizes of 4ft, 6ft, 7ft, and 8ft, with a 3/8 inch mesh size to accommodate different fish species.

What We Like:

Durable

Easy To Use

Types of Cast Nets

1. Minnow Nets

Minnow nets are used for small baits in the range from 1 to 3 inches. Its square mesh is usually 3/16 and 1/4 inches. Fishermen usually use this net to catch minnows and shrimp.

2. Bait Nets

Bait nets are regular-sized nets ranging from 3 to 12 inches with a square mesh size of 3/8, 1/2, and 5/8 inches. Pinfish, threadfin, scaled sardines, menhaden, and ballyhoo are the fish that are caught using this net.

3. Mullet Net

Mullet nets are large nets in the size range of 12 inches or more. The square mesh size is 1 and 1-1/4 inches. Mullets are the fish that is caught using this type of net.

What To Look For When Choosing The Best Cast Nets

1. Mesh Size

The mesh size is one of the important factors to consider when choosing a cast net. Actually the smaller the mesh size, the more bait fish you will catch. The best cast nets have mesh sizes of 3/8 or 1/4 inches. The sweet spot is a mesh size that will allow you to catch small and medium-sized bait fish.

2. Size

The size of the cast net is also important. The size of the cast net will determine how much bait you catch and how quickly you want to catch it. The best cast nets today have a radius in the size range from 4 to 12 feet.

3. Weight

The weight of the cast net is also another important factor to consider when choosing the best cast nets. The regular weights are 3/4 lb or 1.5 lbs per radius foot. This is just the amount of weight that is added to the perimeter of the net. The cast net will weigh more than this weight. The depth of the water, the type of bait, and your skill level for throwing a cast net will determine the weight you choose.

4. Ease of Use

How easy it is to quickly cast the net is also important. The best cast nets are designed to be easy to use; however, you must verify that it is indeed easy to use and not just assumed that it is.

5. Storage

The cast net that you choose should be easy to store. Make sure that it is easy to quickly store the cast net after use. You don’t want a long-drawn process to store a cast net. Most cast nets are easily put away and the best cast nets are designed for this to be an easy process.

How To Throw a Cast Net (Right-Handed Person)

As an angler, there are times when you need to catch baitfish like shad, minnows, and others for fishing. Using a cast net makes it easy to catch a lot of baitfish. Knowing how to throw a cast net will help you be successful in catching a lot of baitfish. After throwing a cst net a number of times, it becomes second nature and you will do it almost in one motion.

1. Holding The Cast Net

With the yoke of the cast net in your left hand, hold the net lengthwise in the air until it is fully extended vertically. Give it a shake while looking at it to make sure the lead line around the bottom is not entangled. If the cast net is not free of tangles it will not open up completely. When throwing a cast net, you want it to open up completely. This is how to open a cast net.

2. Hold The Cast Net In The Middle

Estimate the middle of the length of the cast net and hold it at that midpoint, between the yoke and the lead line. It is important that you hold it in the middle because if you hold it too low, the cast net will successfully open with its own weight.

For beginners, it is good to practice throwing the cast net at home in your backyard where there may be some grass. When practicing, you can also learn to approximate the middle and learn to hold the cast at the middle. Do this until you find the middle point and you are comfortable holding the middle as it will become second nature.

3. Rolling The Cast Net

Roll the cast net over your left hand and back over it so it backs towards you. If you roll it in the wrong direction, it will not open.

4. Splitting The Lead Line In Half

Split the lead line at the bottom of the cast net in half. Half of the net should be in your hand and the other half should be hanging down. After splitting the lead line in half, do another check to verify that the lead line is not tangled at the bottom.

Next, roll this portion of the cast net over the top of your left hand, going away from you. Splitting the lead line, which actually splits the weights, makes it easier to throw. For beginners, it is god to practice splitting the line at home in your yard.

5. Inspect The Lead Line

At this stage, you want to take another look at the lead line facing away from you and make sure the weights and lead line on your left should be about level and the weights and lead line on your right should almost be level also. If done correctly up to this point, there should be a drop in the lead line and this drop should be near the middle of the net facing away from you.

Hold the lead line in the middle where it drops. That is the middle of the net. Again, beginners should practice at home to become comfortable with this procedure.

6. Preparing To Throw The Cast Net

Some anglers prefer to hold the line, not the weights, in their mouth with their teeth holding it. If you prefer to throw the cast net without using your teeth to hold it, then lay this portion of the lead line over the top of your left hand.

7. Hold The Lead Line Facing Away From You

With your right hand, hold the lead line facing away from you as far down as you can grab it without bending over. Then roll the portion of the net laying over your left hand into the palm of your right hand and hold it firmly. At this point, you are ready to throw the cast net.

It is not about how hard you throw the net, rather it is about the motion of your body, the follow-through, and the weight of the net that will open the net. The motion and the technique will do the job to open the cast net. Practice this step and observe how the net opens up. When you twist at the waist about 90 to 120 degrees, the net will go with the motion and easily open.

8. Twist Your Body About 90 To 120 Degrees & Throw

At this point, you twist your upper body about 90 to 120 degrees and throw the cast net. Rotate your body, allow the net to open, and follow through with your right hand helping the net to open as it slides out of your hand.

Let the action take place naturally with the motion of your body. Allow your body to go through the entire process and follow through. Don’t overthink it and stop the follow-through in the middle of the process.

How To Throw a Cast Net Left Handed

How to throw a cast net left-handed follows the same steps outlined and discussed above, except that the hands are now switched and you will spin to the left instead of spinning to the right.

Therefore for a left-handed person, you will hold the net with their your right hand and use your left hand to throw the net. It is the same steps mentioned above but the hands will be switched.

How To Throw a Cast Net For Beginners

How to throw a cast net as a beginner is the same process outlined and discussed above. For a beginner, it is important that you practice the entire process from holding the net, figuring out the midpoint and holding it there, splitting the net in half and placing half over your hand to throwing it and going through the follow-through.

It is good to practice throwing the net on the ground in your backyard and as you become familiar with it, you can move to a dock or pier and continue throwing the cast net. As you get better at it, you can work your way until you are throwing the cast net from a boat.

How To Throw a Cast Net From a Boat

The main difference between throwing a cast net from a boat or kayak and from land is the increase in height. You are higher up in the boat from the water. To compensate for that height increment, you will have to hold the cast net a little more than in the middle, maybe at 3/4 of the cast net.

Additionally, your height will also have to be taken into consideration. If you are tall and in a boat, you may have to hold a little more of the net and place it over your hand. You will have to practice this until you find that “sweet spot” that works well for you when throwing a cast net from a boat or a kayak.

How To Throw a 12-Foot Cast Net

Once you learn to throw, you can throw any size net. The only difference is how much net you cinch up in your hand before you throw. There are many ways to throw a large cast net and this is an easy way to throw a large cast net.

1. Clear The Net

Make sure there is nothing that is stuck in the net. Verify that the braille lines are not tangled with any weights. if there is any entanglement, no matter how good is your cast or load, it will not open up.

To clear the net, hold it about should high and just inspect it with your other hand by pulling it away from you to check for any tangles. If you find any clusters, just clear them out by lifting the weights and putting them outside the braille lines, then continue clearing the net. After clearing about half of the net, switch it around and do the other half. This takes just a few minutes.

2. Hold The Rope About Waist Level

After clearing the cast net, hold the rope in your other hand at about waist level to cast the throw. Also, make sure that the right amount of braille line is hanging from the yoke at the top. When you create your loops with the net and the horn, make sure your loops are above the weight from the ground up.

There should be a gap from the bottom of your loops to the weights that are on the ground. If there is no gap from your loops to the weights, it can hurt your cast.

3. Split The Cast Net

Split the net in two for casting. After splitting the cast net into two parts use your elbow to separate the two sections and place the net over your shoulder with your elbow sandwiched between the two sections. Then put the weights on your back if you don’t want to put the lead line in your mouth and hold it with your teeth.

4. Grab a Foot of The Lead Line

Then grab about a foot of the lead line that will create a small arch of the net from your hand to your shoulder. Then grab the front section of the net and let the cast net slide down from your shoulder. You should now have half of the net in your front hand and the other half in your backhand.

5. Throw The Cast Net

Keep both of your hands about a foot apart and at the same height when you are about to throw the cast. Throughout the swing, keep your hands at the same height and the same distance apart. Then twist your body about 90 to 120 degrees as the front hand shoots off the net and the backhand follows the momentum of the swing cast the remaining net in its hand.

How To Throw An 8 Foot Cast Net

1. Attach The Line

Attach the line to your hand and feed the line into your hand. After that is completed, hold the horn, pull the net, and run through it to make sure it is nice and tight.

2. Hold a Foot of The Line

Grab about a foot of the net starting from the horn and hold it in your right hand with all of the rope, assuming you are right-handed. Pull the remainder of the net closer to your body with your left hand until the net is parallel to your height from the ground up.

3. Waist High Level

Grab the net about waist high with your left hand, pull the net up to you, and switch it to your right hand. Now with your left hand free, check to make sure the net is not tangled at the bottom using your left hand. Pull the net away from your body to inspect for clusters.

4. No Tangles

After checking the cast net for tangles and clearing any tangles or verifying that there are no tangles, grab about a third of the net in your left hand and the other two-thirds in your right hand. Then place one-third of the net over the wrist of your right hand and let that one-third rest over your wrist on your right hand.

5. Hold a Bit of The Net In Mouth

Grab a section of the rope between the lead and place that in your mouth and hold it with your teeth. Then grab the bottom section of the net that is in your mouth and hook it with the smallest finger of your left hand. Then take one-third of the net that is over the wrist of your right hand and place that net in your left hand.

6. Throw The Cast Net

With a piece of the net in your mouth, one-third in your left hand, and two-thirds in your right hand, twist your body about 90 to 120 degrees and cast the net with your body movement, and follow through.

How To Prepare a Cast Net

To use a new cast net to catch baitfish for your fishing trips, you will need to prepare it by relaxing the monofilament and helping it open up easily. A properly “prepped” cast net will throw and open up better than one that hasn’t been treated and the monofilament isn’t relaxed. Below are steps to prepare a cast net for throwing.

Step 1: Trim The Braille Lines

Most of the time, the cast net will arrive with the braille line ending longer than the net from the center point where the yoke is located. The braille line ends will extend past the end of the knot and the lead lines. This extra may cause the net to tangle up and trimming it will prevent entanglement.

Use a pair of scissors to trim the braille lines so they end at the knot and lead lines. While trimming the braille lines, check the knots and verify that they are good, tight, and not loose. If you find any loose knots, you can use a drop of super glue to tighten the knot.

Step 2: Soak The Cast Net

Preparing the cast net also involves soaking it to relax the monofilament and make the net softer to throw and open. Use some fabric softener with hot water in a container. 1 to 2 cups of fabric softener for about 10 gallons of water will prepare the cast net. Mix this in a cooler or container. Get the hottest water from the tap.

Immerse the cast net into the mixture and let it soak overnight. Using an insulated cooler will keep the heat for a longer period of time which will help treat the cast net longer resulting in a softer and more relaxed cast net.

Step 3: Remove The Cast Net From Water

Remove the cast net from the water mixture after it has been in it overnight. Rinse the cast net in clean water.

Step 4: Hang The Cast Net To Dry

Hang the net on any system that is taller than the length of the cast net to let it drip dry. It can remain hung for about 24 hours or more to get completely dry.

The Parts of a Cast Net

A cast net has a few parts and becoming familiar with the parts and their names will make it easier for you to understand it and use it better. A cast net has five parts:

1. Hand Line

The hand line is the long rope that you attach to your hand when preparing to cast the net.

2. Yoke

The yoke is the round part that is at the center of the cast net. Positionally, it is at the center of the cast net and I refer to it as the “eye” of the cast net.

3. Lead Line

The lead line is the rope that is sewn at the end of the net that creates the border of the net. It defines the circular shape of the cast net.

4. Braille Lines

The braille lines are heavier lines that run from the yoke down to the lead line. I like to refer to them as the “veins”.

5. The Net

The net is the mesh that is used to build the cast net which actually traps the baitfish.

Cast Net Throwing Tips

How to throw a cast net involves a series of steps that, if done correctly, will result in a very good throw. It is not difficult to throw a cast net. The more practice you get, the better you will become. Here are some cast net throwing tips to help you get very good at throwing a cast net.

1. Throwing the cast net is all about your body motion and the follow-through. Just let your body go through the motion and don’t try to overthink it. It is not about how hard you throw, rather, it is about how you throw.

2. Seasoning your cast net for throwing. It will make it softer and easier to throw. Like you season brand new hunting boots, you will have to prepare a new cast net for casting.

3. How you hold the cast net before throwing is as important as the throw.

4. When throwing, you need to move in a smooth motion. Don’t hesitate or overthink it. Just move your body naturally like when you hit the baseball and go through it naturally all the way to the end.

5. Don’t try to open the net as you throw it. The net will open up on its own using your body movement and the weights on the cast net.

6. The body motion will allow the net to open up. It is designed to take advantage of your body movement to open up.

7. When throwing the cast net, your lower body is not moving, only your upper body.

8. When throwing the cast net, you twist your upper body about 90 to 120 degrees and lean into the throw.

9. As you throw the cast net, lead the net with your dominant arm and follow through all the way.

10. Practice throwing a cast net in your backyard or on a deck or pier if you are a beginner or need to improve your cast net throwing skills.

11. Practice throwing the cast net until it becomes mechanical and opens every time.

How To Repair a Cast Net

There will be many times when there will be a hole in your cast net or a tear that will need to be repaired. Repairing a cast net is not difficult although from the appearance of the hole or tear it may seem really bad. There are a few steps for mending and patching a cast net that will be discussed.

Materials and Tools Needed

Step 1: Trim The Edges

The first step to repairing a cast net with a hole or torn section is to trim away the edges of the tear or hole to allow mending or patching.

Step 2: Create a Clinch Knot

Use the line and create a clinch knot with the hook.

Step 3: End With a Clinch Knot

Start at one point and tie a clinch knot. Move through by weaving the net together and tie a clinch knot at each point where there was a tear. Complete the mending and patching at the last point by weaving the net together and tying a clinch knot at the last point.

Best Cast Nets

The Bottom Line

Cast nets are crucial for fishermen who want to reduce costs and catch their bait fish. With so many different brands and models of cast nets today, it can be a little overwhelming when choosing the best cast nets.

In this article, we reviewed some of the best cast nets on the market today as well as discussed the factors to consider when choosing one. It is our hope that this review will give you a better insight into choosing the best cast nets for your fishing adventures.

If you fish for fish like bream and surfperch, you can read how to catch bream and how to catch surfperch to help you catch more breams and surfperch. If you are interested in fillet knives, you can read a review of the best fillet knives.