New Cast Net

[boondoggle]

Either this net

Bait Buster Premium Cast Net

or this one

Any first hand knowledge or recommendations in the same price range?

[Palmetto Bug]

I have a cracker 8'x 1/2" mesh. It's a great net. I like it much better than my other 7' Bett's super pro. Never handled a Bait Buster but you can't go wrong with a Calusa or Cracker.

Learn the "Calusa method" of net throwing. There's a video demo on their web site. I can open a 10' net throwing it that way.

I don't know whether you're getting one for shrimp or bait fish but anything over 8' is a bitch to dump and untangle unless you've got a crane boom in your boat.

[boondoggle]

I want a good 3/8" 7' net for the reason you state. I buy a Wally World special every year to load up on herring during the run so I'll have cut bait/chum in the summer.

[Trenchards]

I'd recomend a Rueben Fripp special. By far one of the best cast nets ever made!

[justpracticin]

Boon, I've shrimped with the 8' Bait Buster for three years. It is tough!!! I re-tied it once this past fall. I've thrown a Calusa 8' also. Its a little "softer" and probably opens a little bit easier, but it doesn't seem like it would be as durable. If you can throw an 8, you won't notice the difference IMHO.

If I were only throwing into a swimming pool, I'd definitely go with the Calusa.

JP

[Rubberhead*]

Like Boondoggle, I've been throwing a 7' 3/8" WalMart special for the last couple of years. It's fine for menhedan and finger mullet.

I also got a 4' 1/4" cotton net from Cableas that I use for mudminnows. I bait them with the backbones and tails from flounder and trout that I've clean. A couple of accurate throws with this little net and I've filled the livewell with mummies.

[Fish]

A 14' West Coast Net is the only way to go. [img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[Claimer]

Wally world has a 12 ft cheap net. For as bad as I tear em up works great. I have thrown a 14 ft mullet net befo. Thats a heavy sum bit. Ifin you get on the fish you can fill yer coolers quick.

[duckcrazed]

I use a custom built 8' net from SNL Commercial Fishing Supply in Florida. They had the option of going with a leadline(weights inside the line) instead of the typical poly or nylon with the weights on the outside, so I gave it a try. I'd have to say, I've been pretty impressed, it virtually illiminates tangling, and I haven't seen any reduction in performance.