I was out doing some surfcasting today at Foxton and my mate got talking to a fella down the beach that reckoned flounder netting was a good way to catch a feed down there.

We got talking on the drive home and I thought it would be fun to give it a go. Problem is I haven't got a clue where to start. To be specific, I am going to be doing it from the shore, I don't have a boat. I do have waders

H&F (Palmy) was pretty helpful, but he said there is a lot of bycatch (Kahawai that would have been dead a while without bleeding so not great for eating)? Also looked on http://www.fishingkites.co.nz/flounder_fishing/flounder_set_net_fishing_tips.html which is a great site, explains basically what gear you want but still not sure what to do with it! Then there's the regulations which I assume are: http://www.fish.govt.nz/en-nz/Recreational/Fishery+Management+Areas/Central/Finfish.htm

Most of what I can find on YouTube etc is about spearing or netting from a boat.

Just wondered if someone can give me an idea of where, when and how to get me started? Are there any good books about the subject? I would be looking at going to the Foxton river mouth.

Cheers.

any float will do,just need name on it,read rules as far as setting,cannot block entire estuary or let dry out etc.

The kahawai will be fine smoked.. 

Sorry for the delay in replying, for some reason I didn't get an email to say more posts had been made.

Appreciate your replies.

 

pjc wrote: any float will do,just need name on it,read rules as far as setting,cannot block entire estuary or let dry out etc.

OK, no danger of blocking the foxton estuary if i'm just wading, but in regards to it drying out I would have to go in pretty deep? This is an embarassing question but do you set the net at right-angles to the shore or parallel? Couldn't find anything online to explain that. Bit short on videos/books on flounder netting so it seems.

Big_red_hunter wrote: Put bags in the net to keep it on the bottom and you'll avoid all the bycatch. Tie the lead line and float together every 3m or so. You want the float line about 300mm off the bottom.

Great, beginning to figure it out a bit now thanks for that. 3rnzir further down suggested a company that puts the bags in for you.

part-timer wrote: The kahawai will be fine smoked..

Nothing wrong with smoked kahawai

3rnzir wrote: Check out Action Fishing Nets. Tell them where you plan netting and they will custom make for you. I went for a lead core line on the bottom of net. Will bag the net for you. They do a lot of work for commercial netters. They give good advice for newbies to netting too.

Thanks a lot, I had a look at their website and trade me store. They do look like a good supplier and prices much better than H&F.

They have a set net 5 1/4" x 30m and a tangle net 5" x 30m... What is the difference between these? Tangle net is about $12 cheaper and has floating top rope instead of floats. Apart from that I wouldn't know which one to go for. Both lead core and bagged.

Will give these guys a shout.

pjc wrote: the odd times i have used a net i have put it right angles to tidal flow,go up stream from net i.e up tidal currant if going out and stir up mud and it should flush flounder down towards net

That's got me a bit confused, I'm not sure how people get 30m out from the shore at Foxton to set their nets (without a boat)... Apparently they do it but it gets deep fairly quickly, can't figure out how it works.

I was thinking you'd put it parallel to the shore in waist-deep water at low tide then leave it over the high tide. Sounds like I've got it all a bit wrong?

pjc wrote: thought you may of been in a estuary,never mind,someone on here will have the answers for you

OK mate sorry for the confusion I should have explained earlier, Foxton is a river mouth (Manawatu) that goes deep reasonably quickly. Not somewhere you could wade for ages, at least not further towards the mouth. Haven't explored much back towards the yacht club maybe this is where I should be looking.

Yes if anyone does have any local knowledge I'd be grateful.

Cheers pjc :)

Coochdog wrote: I dont know your area at all ,but you dont have to have your net set in a straight line.You could set it in a U shape starting from the shore and going out as far as you can forming a trap. Or try dragging the net in the same formation.Where i usually set my net ,if put out in a straight line the flounder just cruise along the net and swim around it (clean water most of the time) I have more sucess using the above method.Get out and have a go you'll get em,Took me 5 or 6 attempts before i started catching.

Thanks for this, you're right I should give it a crack.

Hi,
Sorry to dredge up this old post, it just seemed relevant to my questions.

I've just purchased a net that is 20m by 25mesh deep. It has floats and extra lead on the bottom rope.
I've taken the net out once so far and as expected got nothing on my first try.

Can someone give me some guidance on drag technique please?
Specifically,
how deep the shallow person should be,
how fast you should both be going,
should one person be Walking ahead of the other (if so which, deep or shallow dragged?), when coming back in should the shallow dragger stop or walk slowly at an angle to the beach how many meters should each drag be for best results?
Also is there any Recommendations on how to to age the drag easier.

I've also heard that people tie a link from the float rope to the bottom rope at regular intervals. Can someone please elaborate as to why this is done, and over how many meters on my 20 Metre net I should do this?
Sorry for the brain dump above, thanks.

The action fishing nets are awesome, I have both the mullet and flounder.