Cast net recommendations for my son (14 years old, 5'6" tall)

[MathGeek]

My son wants a cast net, and I'd like to get him one.

The goal is to catch bait: mullet, menhaden, whatever presents an opportunity.

What makes, models, and sizes would you recommend for a 14 year old young man who is 5'6" tall?

Thanks!

[B-Stealth]

Get a 4ft net, a 6ft will be hard to throw from beach.

[Speck Attack]

Mono.... 5'6" young man he will be tall should not have any issues throwing 6ft cast net.

[netmkr]

Betts Tyzac 6 ft is a good beginners net.Open easy and last with a little care

[B-Stealth]

Yall do realize his son will be throwing from the surf most of the time?

He will have hell throwing a 6ft net in waist deep water but yes he will graduate to a 6ft net after time.

[MathGeek]

We fish surf, pier, boat. I take it 4' is good for surf cause he is wading and 6' is better for boat or pier?

[redaddiction]

Originally Posted by MathGeek

We fish surf, pier, boat. I take it 4' is good for surf cause he is wading and 6' is better for boat or pier?

Not really. You are going to fold the net in 1/2 or even 1/3's depending on it's size, before you throw it. I think 4ft is too small to do any good at all.

[Pat Babaz]

I personally like a 4' for catching bait because the accuracy of the throws is better. Alot of times that makes all the difference when youre trying to throw on a small school of finger mullet darting around. Now for the shrimp, big a net as you can handle

[meaux fishing]

I like a 5 or 6 ft net the best. Make sure it has real lead weights, and not the "environmentally safe" ones

[yigodiver]

The question would depend heavily on the experience level and some stamina in the conditions you have indicated.
Here is an explanation of my experience: Last fall while at the Weirs at Marsh Island, we were catching some shrimp, only my son 13 year old, and about 5'2" and I were casting and the wife and daughter were observing. The net I was tossing was 8ft, my son was throwing a 5ft, we were doing decent on shrimp but not busting the sound barrier. A rope was spotted floating in the tide movement and it appeared to be a cast net rope, I am a scavenger of sorts, so I got a fishing pole and snagged it and sure enough it was a cast net, brand new with tags still on it!!! I believe 3ft. My daughter then had a net, we gave a short course on throwing it, and she began wearing the shrimp out to our 3 to 1 and she is 10 years old and about 4'8", or shorter. I like the cheaper Wal-Mart nets they work and not as painful when you snag them up. We also catch lots of shad.
Last piece of advice, learn to use in the yard on the grass, can refine the technique, bigger net=heavier net, but sinks faster.
Good Luck!

[Speck Attack]

Originally Posted by redaddiction

Not really. You are going to fold the net in 1/2 or even 1/3's depending on it's size, before you throw it. I think 4ft is too small to do any good at all.

x2...to each his own...4ft is very small....as Redaddiction stated you will fold the net in 1/2 or at least 1/3's.... also practice in the yard, on the ground, standing on a bucket, in the boat in the drve way....

[goldenrod]

My son has been throwing a 6ft since he was that age. I am glad he wanted to learn how to throw it.....know I don't have too.

[Mr T]

if your top priority if for him to LEARN to throw a cast net, go with the smaller versions, 4 or 5 ft. 6 ft too big for a first time thrower standing only 5.5ft tall!
'fold it in half' etc is not what you want to do to teach him how to throw, that comes later.
I say go with smaller, work your up to bigger for learning purposes.

[Mr T]

I will admit, however, that a 6 ft is much more efficient, providing about twice the area as a 4 ft net.

[swampman46]

A 6' Tyzac is all I use. Good price, and it really lays out better than others in that price range. And I always appreciated the .75 lbs per ft. on those bad days when casting for shrimp could take 1-2 hours of casting to get my 25 lbs. However, a case could be made for a heavier net sinking faster thus possibly catching more.