Life Lessons from Tropic Isles

I wrote this in 1996 for a girlfriend who lived in Atlanta.

How to Throw a Castnet
The cast nets we use these days are usually nylon. However, I like the cotton ones better - they don’t tangle as easily. They generally have a radius of 4 ft. Circular nets with elongated weights placed around the edges about every foot. In the center is a metal ring through which the lines are drawn and to which the longer rope that loops around the wrist is attached.

Make a looped knot so that you can place the loop around your wrist (don't want to throw the whole net - lines and all into the water). With your right hand (if you're right handed) grasp the center metal ring. Lightly shake the net to make sure the lines are not tangled and to make sure the net is not hung on any of the weights.

With your left hand, pull one end of the net up - again stretching it to make sure all is free of tangles. For the real, down and dirty casting, place that edge between your teeth.

Now. Once again, pick up another edge - from the same side of the semicircle. Now your net will be fanned into a nice semicircle, slightly raised on one side.

With the right hand, the one with the looped rope around the wrist, (and also, the remaining rope will be looped and held in the hand).take another edge of the net. You will be standing in the center of a fanned semicircle of cast net.

Twisting from the waist, raise and pull back your right arm (like you’re about to dive). In one continuous motion, swing body from waist, extending your right arm. When your arm is approximately lined straight from the shoulder and slightly to the right in front of you, then lean slightly forward.. open your hands.

The net will fly into the air in a perfect open, circular flight. Wait 'til you feel it hit bottom, then immediately jerk the rope so that the weights will close the bottom of the net.

Quickly pull in the net..looping rope in hand as you retrieve it.

Quickly bring it out of the water.

Holding the circular ring, straighten the net. Holding the edges, open it so that the contents will land on the deck. (mostly seaweed, mud.. and maybe a shrimp or little fish). Bad luck is to get a big crab. They tangle in the nets and want badly to pinch you as you free them. (They aren't very bright.)

(Later lesson on how to hold a crab w/o getting pinched.)

Happy casting.. next lesson.. push nets


How to Throw a Castnet  Found this on Youtube - for your supplementary lesson!