Landing net advice

Hi All,
I know this topic has come up before - I've searched through the forum -- but I am still uncertain on a choice of landing net. My criteria are perhaps too complex:
- needs the legal 18 inch diameter opening
- Handle should collapse or be short enough so I can store it flat on the back of my sit on top kayak
- I am currently fishing for small/medium rock cod, but hope to graduate to salmon in the future. Ideally, one net would serve for both.
- floating is nice, but not necessary
- it seems that rubber coated is better for the fish.
Any suggestions are most welcome!
Thanks
Jonathan

A few thoughts FWIW. Others may have different opinions. Get a bigger net than you think you need. 18" is too small if you are want to use it for salmon. I just went to Dicks and picked up a collapsible net 22x24 net. (I see some serious salmon slayers with larger nets) Collapsed the handle is 38" long. That seems right for me. I never use it any longer. Put some pool noodle on it so it floats. Don't net anything you don't plan on keeping and you don't have to worry about hurting fish. If it is borderline keeper size just haul it into your boat without a net, or, better yet, let it go in the water.

I have one of these and like it. I bought the medium thinking that would be big enough for anything I would catch. I had a lingcod over 30" long in it a couple of weeks ago and thought I need a larger net. I lost a big ling about a month ago that flipped out of the net so I make a mental note to flip the net sideways and "roll it" into the kayak as soon as the fish is in the net.

A friend I go fishing with does not use a net and has a lip gripper...but if you have a rider??

https://promarnets.com/shop/promesh-series-landing-nets/

You can also just get a fixed handle net and cut the handle to the length you want.

I bought a EGO S2 slider with a medium (I think) rubber net on a group-buy organized here years ago and it's served me well. I've added a couple nets over the years so I can take an appropriate size with me when I go. I have the XL rubber coated nylon net and even at 38" bag depth it doesn't feel big enough for salmon for my comfort level. I do like the versatility and it's been a reliable product for me. The handle extends, and the stop on that handle has had some corrosion over the years so it takes a little maintenance and can be tricky to lock in place, but it's never impeded my ability to land a fish. I often don't even extend it for for smaller catches. I generally gaff bigger halibut, but I've landed decent sized halibut in the XL.

https://www.egofishing.com/s2-slider-nets/

After having a huge ling flip out of my small net years ago, I upgraded to this one and it has served me very well over the last three years.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C4ZSBZK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Havoc wrote:

<snipped> My criteria are perhaps too complex: - hope to graduate to salmon in the future

Once you add salmon in to the mix, it seems to be simple, non complex criteria. Go BIG. 

Once you add salmon in to the mix, it seems to be simple, non complex criteria. Go BIG. 

+1

Fishing gear-wise, probably the number one mistake that some folks make in this sport is not having a large enough net.  The small net is affordable and doesn't catch as much wind, but it could and often will cause you to lose a lifetime fish.  Anyone in the ocean has the potential to catch a monster that you may not have even imagined was possible.  It IS possible.

Be ready - go big.  Size is the number one factor to consider, for sure.

Regarding rubberized - it's better for fish, and it's admirable for some to cruise with one in a strictly California halibut fishery, but in the open ocean especially, where you might get a huge and strong fish, even a slight delay in your "swoop" to net the fish can and will mean the big one gets away - not to mention visibility factor.  A salmon will almost always see your net, so bulkier can be the factor that loses a fish too.  Go with standard netting and aspire to have a fine mesh or rubberized net for a catch and release freshwater pursuit like steelhead.

Short handle - why?  All you have to do is not be able to reach a big fat salmon that's on the surface and tired and is totally ready for netting, and I think you will be re-thinking a short handle.  A long handle has never been a drawback for me, and there are plenty of times that I wish my long handle was just a bit longer.  Go with standard/long.

Focusing on gaffing instead of having a big net - I am still waiting to see anyone's video showing gaffing a 40 pound plus fish from a yak.  I'm talking one person with one gaff.  Sounds like at least a wrenched elbow to me.  Use a gaff when appropriate, but be ready to need a huge net.

We all hope for a 40 pound plus fish, eh?

Best of luck~

 

Thank you all for the excellent advice!
-Jonathan

I too have had a few nets in my history  :smt005
Lost em broke em still have 2 main nets now
I was at Ft. Ross a few years ago and had my ego S2, thought that was a nice net.
I picked up a 24” ling on a 6 oz swimbait and on the way up it got rather heavy...
So when I saw color I noticed mama Ling-40”+ was holding onto the little Ling and as it got close to the yak ,
Mama did the spin thing, Wow!!!  when she settled down I said,   
 I need a bigger net...
Got the small Ling in the net and Mama got her head in almost a foot and then said screw this!
She let go and just backed up  and said I’m out of here!
But Man, what a show!!! You can’t buy that on amazon :smt003
 That was one of my best experiences kayak fishing! :smt007 That kind of stuff is adrenaline pumping, it’s what makes this sport addicting!

I have a Promar  now, not sure of the # bit is BIG(21”x 24”),rubber and extending arm , is 6 ft.    I’ve had it a year and a half and can’t remember losing a fish with it!
My experience is that a bigger net, will help make you a better fisherman!!!

GO BIG LADDIE! :smt006

Scotty

I use to think that I could get away with just having one net for all. Big net for salmon is a must, but if I'm just rockfishing...it seems more of a burden. Having a small net handy serves a purpose.

One thing that hasn’t been mentioned is the depth and shape of the mesh. Deeper mesh is better in my experience because after you net the fish, you can lift the net up and then bring it close to you while the fish is still in the water. This allows you to put the rod in the holder and then use two hands to hoist the beast into the boat. Unlike a shallow net, you don’t have to lift a crazy flapping fish up in the air with one arm.
The size and material of the mesh will affect the amount of drag it produces in the water. However, if you tire your fish, eventually you’ll be able to scoop it.
Big nets are more challenging to organize on the kayak. They can snag in stuff and if you launch/land with the net sticking up, and you flip, it will possibly break.
I second the advice of a second net. My second net is smaller and much more manageable than my salmon net.

I've stopped carrying a net. IMHO, a gaff is a much better choice for ocean fishing.

Yes, I know that a net is required by the regs. But I've been stopped by DFW on the water, where it's obvious I don't have a net, and nothing has ever been said about it. Of course, YMMV.

I think it's ridiculous that kayakers should be required to carry a net. Releasing fish unharmed is a breeze on a kayak, and a gaff will work to land bigger fish than you can deal with using any net. A huge net also increases your wind resistance, which could be a real negative if you need to cover some distance in unfavorable conditions.

I got bored and took some pictures. My saltwater net is a 30x26 frabil conservation series net. So far it has fit halibut to 40 inches, sturgeon to 54 inches, lingcod to 40 inches, and salmon to the mid 30 inches. It is what some would consider barely enough, but it’s worked well so far. I’ve also cut the handle down to a length that I like. After cutting down the handle I filled it inside with pool noodle foam so that it floats.

When fishing I have it laid flat across my front deck. Handle in a paddle holder and clipped onto a retractable leash. I tuck some mesh into the front hatch bungee as well. It stays out and I don’t have to reach behind me to get it.

A lot of people like to keep their net vertical in a rod holder. If you decide to do that with a big net you can put a few rubber bands around the handle and tuck the mesh into the rubber bands. It makes the net more manageable.

If launching in surf the handle collapses and it goes across my rear deck, bungeed down and covering all my gear. Same with coming in. I’ve flipped on landings and it has saved gear for me.

Most of the time when I’m rockfishing I just use a lip gripper for rockfish and lings. But when you get that big hitchhiker like Scotty describes you need a big net! I had it happen last year when a 41 inch ling hitchhiked on a 24 inch ling. I was able to land both with my big net. It was a rodeo, but it worked out!