Fishing Net Best Sellers: The Nets and Net Gear Kiwis Are Buying Now

Nine days ago we shared the fishing net gear flying off our shelves. That list was heavy on lead core rope and floats. This time we've gone back to the last 90 days of real orders and pulled out a different set: the finished nets, mesh and net-making bits Kiwis keep coming back for. These aren't hand-picked favourites. They're what people have actually been buying.

Everything here sits in our Fishing Nets range, and most of it is made up or supplied from our Auckland operation for fishers from Northland to Southland and across the Pacific Islands.

1. Flounder Net Multi-Mono, Floats on Rope

Our top-selling finished net over the last three months. It's a multi-mono flounder set net with the floats threaded on the top rope, available in 4.75, 5 and 5.25 inch mesh and lengths from 20m to 60m. Multi-mono is softer and less visible in the water than a single strand, which is why harbour and estuary flounder fishers rate it.

It's bought mostly by recreational netters working their local harbour flats, plus plenty of whānau topping up the gear for the season. Prices run from $121 (20m) up to $363 for a 60m net.

View the Multi-Mono Flounder Net

Fishing further south? The Sth Island Flounder Nets were right behind it in sales, starting at $99 for 20m in 5.5 or 6 inch mesh. See the full flounder net collection.

2. NZ Made Flounder Beach Drag Nets

If set netting isn't your thing, a drag net is the classic Kiwi way to get a feed of flatties off the beach with a couple of mates. These are made here in New Zealand from 18 ply twine with a 7mm bottom rope, so they handle being hauled across sand again and again.

Lengths go from 15m to 40m. The 15m is $133, a 20m is $170 and the 40m is $315. More options in our flounder drag nets collection.

View the Flounder Beach Drag Nets

3. AFM-11B 90mm Mullet Unslung Mesh, 245m

This one's for the people who build their own. It's a full 245m bale of snow-white 3.5 inch (90mm) mesh, 30 meshes deep, made for mullet and kahawai nets. As the diagram shows, 30 meshes of 90mm stretches to about 2.7m, and once it's slung at 50% you end up with a net roughly 2.3m deep.

It's popular with net makers, marae groups and our Pacific Island customers, who often buy a full bale and hang several nets from it. $186 for the 245m bale.

View the 90mm Mullet Mesh or browse all unslung mullet mesh.

4. Shark Clip 85mm, Swivel Closed Gap

Small item, big numbers. These 85mm clips with a built-in swivel were the most-bought accessory in the net range after lead core and floats. The closed-gap design holds onto your line securely, and the swivel stops snoods and droppers twisting up.

They are a longline and set-line staple, and easy to stock up on at $1.99 each.

View the Shark Clips

5. Fishing Net Needles, 5, 7 and 9 inch

Every net gets snagged sooner or later, and a proper net needle turns a ripped net into a ten-minute fix. The 5 inch suits fine mesh and small repairs, while the 7 and 9 inch hold more twine for bigger mesh and for hanging new nets.

At $3.14 (5"), $4.19 (7") and $5.25 (9") they're an easy add-on, and most people grab a couple of sizes. Pair them with twine from our fishing net accessories and check out our net construction and repair tips.

View the Net Needles

What this tells us

Flounder season is clearly on people's minds, with both set nets and drag nets moving well. And there's still a big crowd of Kiwis and Islanders who'd rather build and fix their own gear. That's exactly why we stock everything from finished nets to bales of mesh, needles and clips in one place. If you're setting up for the Islands, have a look at our Pacific Islands fishing nets too.

Always check your local fishing rules for net lengths, mesh sizes and where you can set before you head out.

Browse our full range at actionoutdoors.kiwi