A seine net is a long, rectangular net with a weighted bottom line and a floating top line that you drag through shallow water to corral fish. Using one effectively comes down to proper setup, smart positioning, and a coordinated pull back to shore. Here’s how to do it right.
Parts of a Seine Net
Every seine net has three key components. The float line runs along the top edge, strung with buoyant floats that keep the upper portion at the water’s surface. The lead line runs along the bottom, weighted with embedded lead so it stays in contact with the river or ocean floor. Between them, a wall of netting hangs vertically in the water column, trapping fish as you pull it forward. Many nets also have a bunt, which is a central pocket of finer mesh where fish collect as the net closes.
The mesh size you choose determines what you’ll catch. A 25 mm (roughly 1-inch) mesh captures the widest variety of species, including small baitfish. A 38 mm mesh filters out juveniles and retains mid-sized fish, while a 44 mm or larger mesh targets only bigger species. Larger mesh also means less drag in the water, making the net easier to pull. If you’re catching bait, go small. If you’re targeting food fish or want to avoid retaining juveniles, size up.
Choosing the Right Conditions
Timing matters more than most beginners realize. Seine at low tide when water depth is between about 1 and 3 feet (30 to 100 cm). At this depth, the net is manageable and fish are concentrated in shallower zones with fewer escape routes. You can seine at higher tides, but the net gets heavy fast in deeper water and becomes difficult to haul.
Look for a stretch of relatively flat, debris-free bottom. Rocks, logs, and heavy vegetation will snag the lead line and create gaps where fish escape. Sandy or muddy bottoms are ideal. If there’s a current, you’ll want to work with it rather than against it, pulling the net in the same direction the water is flowing whenever possible.
How to Deploy the Net
The basic technique requires two people at minimum, one on each end of the net. Here’s the sequence:
- Start at the shore. One person holds their end of the net firmly on the bank or beach, keeping both the float line and lead line secure so no fish slip under or over.
- Walk the net out. The second person wades out perpendicular to the shoreline, paying out the net as they go. Keep the lead line on the bottom and the float line at the surface the entire time. If the net twists, stop and straighten it before continuing.
- Sweep in an arc. Once the net is fully extended, the wading person curves gradually back toward shore, forming a half-circle or “J” shape. This arc herds fish toward the bank rather than pushing them sideways out of the net’s path.
- Close the gap. Both people now walk toward each other along the shoreline, pulling their ends of the net in simultaneously. Keep the lead line pressed against the bottom as you haul. If it lifts even a few inches, fish will shoot underneath.
- Beach the net. Once both ends meet on shore, pull the entire net up onto the bank. The catch will be concentrated in the bunt or the center of the net.
Keep Your Hauls Short
One of the most common mistakes is trying to cover too much water in a single haul. Research on beach seine efficiency has found that shorter hauls, under 50 meters (about 160 feet), consistently outperform longer ones. Counter-intuitively, longer hauls don’t catch more fish. As haul distance increases, fish have more time to detect the net and swim around or under it. Catch rates per unit area actually decline the farther you drag.
Short hauls also take less time and energy, which means you can do more of them in a session. Three quick, tight sweeps of a productive area will almost always outperform one long, exhausting drag across a wide stretch.
Handling Your Catch
Work through the net quickly once it’s beached. Remove target fish first and place them in a bucket or livewell. Any non-target species, undersized fish, or other animals like crabs and turtles should go back in the water immediately. The faster you return bycatch, the higher its survival rate. Turtles in particular survive well if retrieved and freed from the mesh promptly.
Before you set the net again, scan the water in the area you plan to seine. If you spot protected species like sea turtles or marine mammals nearby, wait for them to move on or choose a different spot.
Caring for Your Net
A seine net that’s cleaned and stored properly will last years. One that’s stuffed wet into a bucket after use will degrade in a single season. After every outing, rinse the net thoroughly with fresh water and remove all debris, fish slime, and scales. This prevents rot and keeps the mesh from stiffening.
Dry the net in the shade, not in direct sunlight. Nylon (the most common seine material) has poor resistance to UV rays and breaks down quickly with sun exposure. Polyester and polypropylene hold up better, but even those benefit from shade drying. Once dry, store the net in a cool, dry place like an open shed. Hang it on horizontal bars above ground level to keep rodents from chewing through it. Inspect the mesh regularly and repair any holes before your next trip. A small tear becomes a large escape route fast once the net is under tension in the water.
Legal Considerations
Seine net regulations vary widely by state, country, and even by specific body of water. Some areas ban seining entirely in freshwater but allow it in saltwater. Others require permits, restrict net length, mandate minimum mesh sizes, or limit seining to certain seasons. Before you head out, check your local fish and wildlife regulations. Using an illegal net or seining in a restricted area can result in gear confiscation and significant fines.