So far in our series of collecting our own fish we have covered the
introduction, which outlines some basic things you need to do and know about before getting started, how to buy, build and use
catch buckets the fish will be put into, then the
collection nets you need to catch the fish with. Now you need a hand net or two to scoop the fish in when they are in the collection net area.
and nets can vary in sizes, shapes and materials. Here are a few pointers to look for when choosing your hand net:
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Look for material that you feel will not cause scale damage. Be careful when purchasing nets that are advertised for use in sport fishing. These nets can look appropriate, but sometimes the material is course, made of nylon type material, and can cause a lot or scale damage.
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Look for a mesh (size of holes) that the fish will not go through or get caught in.
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Look for material that is soft and flexible.
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Look for easy to use handles. Can you attach it to a clip or rope line for easy storage while carrying it when not in use?
In Hawaii you can find basic find mesh red nets with wooden handles just about anywhere. They work well for using around your aquarium, for collecting inverts and smaller critters that might go through a larger mesh net. It also is a good net to use when exploring around tide pools. If collecting fish with this type of net, you will find the pocket too shallow and a fish will be in the net and out again before you can react. What you can do to improve the depth of the net is to buy two, cut the bottom out of one, cut the net off the hoop on the other and sew the two of them together, making a deeper pocket. Remember, the finer the mesh on your net, the slower it will move through the water and with a bright colored net (red) the fish can spot it and have a tendency to run away from it when they see it coming.
