Re: Netting Tips for Big Fish/Hogs

Hello Brothers!

With the advent of these recent Marin catches of some real big salmon i.e hogs, I have accumulated some tips mostly from CS (because they have gone out more and lost more) and from my recent trips regarding how to land/net these hogs. I am not an expert at it which is why I needed the information. Do feel free to share your experiences so we all can be enriched with ours. Some tips are from boat views, so you need to readjust to suit.

Netting Tips for Slugs:
1.   Net only when fish is ready. Signs: Belly up or on its side.
2.   Net only when fish is close to side of the boat. But don’t bring fish to the boat until it’s time to net. Different story if there’s sea lion.
3.   Do not overextend to reach the fish.
4.   Have the option to pull the net back/withdraw net. Do not force the netting. Do it only when fish is ready.
5.   Set the drag and don’t readjust when fighting the fish. If fish pulls line, let it but keep line tight all the time. Never readjust drag and if you need to, limit it to 1/8th inch move – Lico. It may seem easy to pull out because the fish is already applying pressure to the line so it may seem loose.
6.   The first and most important rule is to bring the fish to the net nose first, head up.
7.   I have tried to keep the boat in gear longer, keep the fish away from the boat longer and get the fish more tired out before bringing the fish closer to the boat.
8.   Slow turn and circle the fish, don't be in a hurry and put a lot of pressure on the fish, once he starts getting tired swimming and you can reel in to the boat have the net sitting handy on the gunnel, the leader can't be too long as what you'll do once the fish almost rolls on his side is get the leader tight to the pole tip and by holding up the rod tip up high you use the free hand to dip the net on the fish, if he swims away pulling slack put the net down and go back to reeling in the slack till it's at the tip and try to net him again, don't hurry the fish, once in the net go ahead and set the rod down and of course either go vertical with the net handle or I prefer to just slide it back to close up the belly and leave the fish in the water and grab the fish billy and give him a couple thumps. The weight of the net handle actually balances the hoop part of the net and its easy to control it. Works for me. Real slugs (only had #15's Monday) might be more challenging and looking forward to that.
9.   First thing is stay away from fleet and sea lions. You are solo so:
You must play the salmon while keeping it way away from boat.
I repeat don’t bring it to the boat till it’s time to net.
Get net ready.
What seems to work for me solo is that I added extension to my net handle so
when I’m ready to net I lay net on gunnel and pull salmon to net and
when I push down on end of net handle it raises net to net salmon.
10.   Never try to net a green fish. Keep it away from the boat until it's all but given up.
11.   Set the rear hook 1 1/2" behind tail of chovie. Choked herring setup?

Danny

Thanks Kuya Danny for the tips!

I have yet to net Salmon but I did a Pac Hali once.

These are the only simple rule I follow in netting big fish, I know I have netted a few;

•   While reeling in don’t force it, let it run.
•   Always have the net ready
•   Once you see the swivel  between your main line and leader put the net in the water (prevent from spooking it later)
•   Net the fish while its facing towards you or towards the net
•   If at least half from head to mid bodies of the fish is within the ring of your net scoop right away. Do not wait, it will swim itself towards the net.

The pac hali prove this theory, I tried 5x before I manage to net it. It would not fit in my net so I net half of its body and let itself inside.

I have a question! how do you net a really big Thresher Shark!? 
I think i might try that just for entertainment purposes only. ...If I ever get a thresher.

Best tip I ever got for netting fish: Gaff them instead. Put a small collapsible net in your hatch to be legal and stick em. Works on pig salmon and works on big Pac Halis. Nets suck. Gaffing is easy.   

Best tip I ever got for netting fish: Gaff them instead. Put a small collapsible net in your hatch to be legal and stick em. Works on pig salmon and works on big Pac Halis. Nets suck. Gaffing is easy.   

I disagree I've lost a few fish to the gaff before.
Never lost one once it's in the net.

Just my opinion not wanting to argue.

Best tip I ever got for netting fish: Gaff them instead. Put a small collapsible net in your hatch to be legal and stick em. Works on pig salmon and works on big Pac Halis. Nets suck. Gaffing is easy.   

I disagree I've lost a few fish to the gaff before.
Never lost one once it's in the net.

Just my opinion not wanting to argue.

How many have you lost at the net, not in the net?.

Not trying to argue either brother, just having a discussion in which I hope we can all share our experiences. Just my thoughts, that's all.

Best tip I ever got for netting fish: Gaff them instead. Put a small collapsible net in your hatch to be legal and stick em. Works on pig salmon and works on big Pac Halis. Nets suck. Gaffing is easy.   

+1

Nets are great for salmon but suck for everything else in my opinion. Nets will often get tangled with the hook and or leader so if your fish is green and fights it's way out of the net you will lose it. Example would be a nice big halibut which if played correctly will glide gently up to the boat only to explode in the net.

Gaffs rarely tangle and will give you more than one chance to stick a fish. I love gaffing halibut, lings, cabbies, albacore and White Sea bass. Salmon can be tough to gaff especially green and are my one exception.

Just my opinion.

-Eliot

I was referring to hog salmon as the op stated I thought that was the subject. I would never gaff a salmon.
Big prey like larger halibut and wsb and those type get the gaff for sure but personally anything under 30 pounds is getting the net not the gaff.

To answer your question about how many I've lost at the net......don't wanna talk about it haha.