This Is How To Catch Spooky Bait When Kayak Fishing Using A Cast Net
- By: Richard Thomas
- on
What is the best way to catch live bait while fishing from a kayak?
How can you avoid spooking off the bait and still catch enough to fish with?
Check out these tricks you can use next time you go to catch live bait from your kayak!
Learn more below!
How To Catch Spooky Bait When Kayak Fishing Using A Cast Net [VIDEO]
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Positioning
You have to be close enough to the bait to catch it.
If you are struggling to get close enough to a school of bait, you can benefit from standing outside your kayak in the water.
You can get closer to the bait because your personal silhouette is much smaller than that of the longer kayak.
If there is a sandy bottom where you are able to get out of the kayak, it is advantageous for positioning.
Especially if you are targeting finger mullet, they are one of the toughest spooky baits to catch.
How To Approach The Bait
First, you want to be thinking about which direction are the current and wind going.
The key is to maximize your positioning in line with the conditions to get close enough to the bait.
By having the wind blow from your back to front, it will assist in extending your cast further.
With regards to the current, you actually want to do the opposite.
You want to be down current of the baitfish, so if they manage to get spooked they will have to fight the current to swim away.
If you are positioned up current and the bait is spooked, they can speed off with the current far from where you are.
Another bonus to standing down current is your kayak or vessel will be out of your way.
Prepare Your Live Well
If you catch some bait and then go to empty your net onto your kayak, make sure you do not lose any through the scupper holes.
Scupper holes can be plugged up but if they are not the bait can slip through and you will lose it.
It is best to have your live well or area where you are going to set them aside ready to go before casting to catch bait.
This way your bait won’t escape after all that hard work and it will stay alive in the live well or bucket.
Conclusion
Catching live bait from your kayak can be tricky but following these tips will fill up your live well.
Remember that mullet and baitfish are easily spooked so it’s important to be stealthy and accurate with your casts.
It is all about proper positioning and preparation when netting live bait off of your kayak!
If you have any further questions or tips on catching live bait from a kayak, let me know in the comments!
And if you know someone who wants to catch live bait from a kayak, please TAG or SHARE this with them!
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Richard, good tips and thanks for sharing. Have you ever done a review or a walk around of your kayak? I’m getting close to being ready to upgrade from what I have and am trying my best to explore all options out there before pulling the trigger on something.
I have not done a full review as of yet, I may be able to do that soon though, great idea!
Also I know Tony did one on his hobie outback that is under out fishing tips section and a podcast on best kayaks where all the coaches spoke about what we like about certain brands that I think would be helpful as well!
Richard, thanks for the reply. I have actually watched Tony’s and listened to that podcast as well! From what I saw in this video, and from a comment or two, yours seems to rival the Outback, but not quite to the same price point as the Hobie. It just caught my eye! Thanks again.
No problem!!
Since you didn’t actually do this in this video, is that kayak truly stable enough to stand on and throw a net from?
It definitely is.
Not really casting from a kayak. More of a casting approach video. Bit misleading there. Not what I expect from the brand.
I didn’t see any cast netting from a kayak. The title of the article is misleading.
Here’s a tip on throwing a cast net from a kayak: https://saltstrongdev.wpengine.com/fishing-tip/how-to-throw-a-cast-net-from-kayak/
I think you covered the basics. I usually use a five foot net. Shallow water I walk, deeper water I can either stand up in the yak or throw sitting down. As long as you make an extra loop in your hand with the net, you can throw pretty well sitting down, it just takes practice. I never go smaller than four foot net as the bait usually gets spooked and gets away as you mentioned. Also, I use 3/8 inch minimum for a faster sink rate.
Great Info David!
Great video Richard! I’ve never tried cast netting away from a dock or ramp area, so the tips were helpful and to the point.
Thanks Jonathan! Hope it helps!
Good stuff!
Appreciate it Larry!
What size net did you use? Do you have a bubbler for your bait bucket?
Teri, I used a 3ft net with 5/8in mesh. I normally use a bigger net, but that little one fits great in the kayak.
How do you like the shearwater? I currently have the sea ghost 130 with a trolling motor but thinking about upgrading.
Tommy, for the price it’s been a good yak. Very stable and able to use a Hobie Mirage drive if you have one.
Good info. BTW, where did you get those rod racks?
Thanks Dave, I just ordered them off Amazon. Wealers Fishing Rod mount is the name.