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blowin · Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 3:59 am Post subject: "cast netting" from the sea shore

The kind of net which documentaries show people throwing out to catch fish . I am sure it would be a successful technique for mullet but am equally sure that you'd be suspected of poaching salmon or sea trout . Has anyone tried it ? Is it even legal over here ?

bref · Joined: 16 Dec 2006 Posts: 136 Location: South Dublin

I dont think so, however I have a friend who is a fishery officer and I will ask him about cast netting and a few other things as well. I would be interested to see if it would work for mullet (have you ever eaten mullet) as I suspect that the smaller mesh used on I suppose the 'normal' ones would cause the mullet to bounce off it. I might just have a go at making one! Smile

blowin · Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 2:22 am Post subject:

Thanks bref . Good point about mesh size -- I hadn't thought about that ( for those who aren't familiar with them , the common grey / thick lipped mullet have relatively wide heads ) . What do you reckon -- 1 1/2" ? I wonder whether that would be a permissible size ( if there is one ) .
We could keep your Fisheries friend busy with plenty of questions ! Like -- whether Signal crayfish have reached Ireland ? is the native species protected ? what about freshwater mussels ? and at what point does "estuary" become "open sea" as far as fishing regs are concerned ?

I have eaten mullet . It is fairly bland , which suits me because I am generally not that keen on fish . I fillet then fry until it is golden brown , with plenty of salt & lemon juice added . Must have a go at them this year . There are good fish in the harbours and I have seen shoals of what I would guess to be 5+ lb fish within feet of the rocks in very shallow water .

wayland · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 1163 Location: Campile. Wexford

Mullet is great to eat providing you work at it a little. I can imagin that it is a bit bland if just fryed. The same gose for Pike me thinks. The recipe that Rick Stein published was very good. I am told that the native crayfish is protected. I have also heard that the Yankey ones are bred in fish farms in Ireland. I hope that they know that the signals can support their own weight on dry land and just walk off. A point that was over looked in the UK Crying or Very sad

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bref · Joined: 16 Dec 2006 Posts: 136 Location: South Dublin

Well a 1 1/2 inch mesh would still be fairly small, I'd be thinking of more like 3 inch as you are actually trying to get them to 'mesh' in the net and not get wrapped up in it(I believe by the way cast nets are constructed this is what needs to happen.
In case you didnt know mesh size is measured fron one knot to the other when the mesh is streched.
So the below mesh size is 70mm.

blowin · Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2007 1:55 am Post subject:

So Signals will be everywhere then , it's just a question of time ? I have just remembered that about 18 months ago a neighbour was about to restock his aquarium but first wanted to find a good home for the colourfull crayfish which had eaten everything else . It had been bought at a well known Irish pet store not a million miles from here . If I didn't want it , could it go in my pond ? I explained about Signals and even left a message at the shop but don't know what the outcome was . So maybe they are already here Shocked

.
Thanks for the tip about mesh measurement . I was doing it the wrong way, as I'm sure you guessed Wink

. But at least we both have the same sort of size in mind ( 3" , done the right way ) Laughing

So , how to get a permit then ? I'll see what I can find on the Fisheries' website .
I think it is more likely that we would be locked up for being mad than for breaking the law anyway .

GB · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Posts: 317 Location: Ireland

no no no PLEASE dont use 3 inch mesh, you will NEVER CATCH ANYTHING Shocked

unless you are after whales Laughing

speaking as one who's first net had a 2 inch mesh even large fish can get away quite easily Sad

The way the net works is to first cover and pin the fish against the bottom and then to scoop the fish up in a purse type arangement of mesh and draw strings. Mullet are the perfect fish for this type fishing because when startled they jump, instead of heading for the bottom. Go for a mesh of quarter to half inch and about 6 to 7 foot (12 to 14 ft spread) that size will also net you shrimps, crabs and flat fish as well as other fun stuff Very Happy

Oh, and dont bother trying to make it as they are diabolicly hard to make for such a simple looking thing and they only cost about £50 on E bay
I love fishing with them and have spent many hours doing so. Just watch the bottom isnt to rocky or you will be spending all your time trying to retreve it and not too deep or the fish have time to cop on to what you are doing.

good luck and if you need any pointers just pm me
great hobby
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wayland · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 1163 Location: Campile. Wexford

I have got loads of purse nets Smile

So with a large/ huge purse net we can catch fish!!! Ok. I am away to Ebay and have a look. This may be fun. Cheers GB.
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wayland · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 1163 Location: Campile. Wexford

Moving on. There is a cast net on Ebay. It has small mesh and is 4ft 6in. Would this be the radius? If so it would make a 9ft net when cast. If it is just 4 ft 6in in diametre it seems a it small. I see that there is a DVD on how to use one. I`ll get it. Wink

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GB · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Posts: 317 Location: Ireland

%$%&^&*&&& computers grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr its taken me 20 min and agro to get this far Evil or Very Mad

but never mind, at least I made it Very Happy

That would be the radius. If you can find a bigger one It would be slightly more effective but more difficult to learn to throw so its swings and round abouts, really. Throwing is really just a trick, like getting a Frisbee to go where you want it. The larger sizes seem more daunting but the extra is just looped with the rope so you really are just casting the same amount, just with more force. I wish I had had a video when I started, picture little girl with 6 ft net grimly throwing again and again, not knowing that the mesh was to big to catch anything other than suicidal fish Laughing

ah, those were the days

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