been fishing for years , tuna , cobia you name it and i've at least been there when one was caught, but getting these damn bunker in the net, in the ocean close to impossible for me so far. couple of weeks ago i had them everywhere around me and the only way i could get them in the boat was snagging them with a gotcha plug + a few blues. not very efficient for getting bait and bookin if you know what i mean. now i've heard of getting them close to shore in the morning, but they never seem close enough. in the inlet can get all the small ones you want but there basically chum for me, whats the trick!
Full Version: netting them menhaden
Virginia Beach Sport Fishing > VBSF.net Sport Fishing Forums > Chesapeake Bay & Coastal Waters to 15 miles (Ocean City MD to Hatteras NC)
been fishing for years , tuna , cobia you name it and i've at least been there when one was caught, but getting these damn bunker in the net, in the ocean close to impossible for me so far. couple of weeks ago i had them everywhere around me and the only way i could get them in the boat was snagging them with a gotcha plug + a few blues. not very efficient for getting bait and bookin if you know what i mean. now i've heard of getting them close to shore in the morning, but they never seem close enough. in the inlet can get all the small ones you want but there basically chum for me, whats the trick!
Get a neat that has at least 1.5 lbs of lead per foot and 1" mesh so your net will sink faster and you will be in business.
Leave out of inlet take a right and start at rocks and ease down the beach. They can be jumping all around the boat and be 0 in the net stay with the school and when you see a big group flashn in the water put on them try stay in 10ft or less water I know sometimes not for the faint of hart but you will put fish the live well.
All good advice. No less than 1.5 oz lead per radius ft and 1" mesh will do the trick. Don't fool with the 3/8" or 1/2" mesh. The 1" will increase the sink rate for the Menahaden and the smaller unwanted baits will go right through. I would also advise a net no smaller than 8 ft. radius. Just keep throwing and you have to "anticipate" sometimes where to throw to hit the bulk of the bait pod. When they are thick, they will turn sideways and you can see the flash, that's when you know there is something substantial enough to throw on.
QUOTE (ericuhl @ Sep 1 2007, 12:54 AM)
been fishing for years , tuna , cobia you name it and i've at least been there when one was caught, but getting these damn bunker in the net, in the ocean close to impossible for me so far. couple of weeks ago i had them everywhere around me and the only way i could get them in the boat was snagging them with a gotcha plug + a few blues. not very efficient for getting bait and bookin if you know what i mean. now i've heard of getting them close to shore in the morning, but they never seem close enough. in the inlet can get all the small ones you want but there basically chum for me, whats the trick!
Just so you know, snagging fish in Virginia is illegal. Try using a 6 foot diameter cast net.
I have noticed they are getting more skiddish day by day with the net. Now I have to have my crew run the boat into the school with speed and throw the net, have my crew then throw the boat in reverse so we dont outrun the line so it will sink. I have a 9' 1" mesh net and have had many throws on top of schools in 12' water and they have run quick. We have chased them going atleast 6 mph to keep up with big schools. There catchin on to the game. Just keep trying, I always end up with a live well full of atleast 40. All it takes is one good haul and your in action.. South of Rudee is the ticket. 
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