How to Set Up & Maintain Your Fishing Net — NZ Guide

New to set netting? This step-by-step guide covers everything you need to know about setting up, using, cleaning, and maintaining your fishing net — so it lasts for years and catches more fish every time.

👉 Shop NZ-made fishing nets →

What's Inside Your New Net?

When you buy a ready-to-fish net from Action Outdoors, it arrives fully rigged and ready to use. Here's what's included:

• Mesh panel — the netting itself (mono or multi-mono nylon)
• Top rope (float line) — with floats attached to keep the top of the net at the surface
• Bottom rope (lead line) — braided lead-core rope that keeps the bottom of the net on the seabed
• Floats — spaced evenly along the top rope for buoyancy
• Anchoring loops/ties — at each end for securing the net

All you need to add is anchor weights at each end (a bag of rocks works fine) and a marker float or buoy so you can find your net again.

Step 1: Choose Your Spot

Location is everything in set netting. The best net in the world won't catch fish if it's in the wrong spot.

What to Look For

• Tidal flow — set your net across the current, not with it. Fish swim with or against the current and will hit a net set perpendicular to the flow.
• Channels and drop-offs — where shallow water meets deeper water. Fish follow these edges.
• Estuary mouths and harbour channels — mullet, kahawai, and flounder congregate here, especially on incoming tides.
• Mussel beds and rocky reef edges — snapper feed along these structures.
• Sandy flats — flounder lie flat on sandy bottoms in harbours and estuaries.

What to Avoid

• ❌ Heavy weed areas — weed tangles in the mesh and reduces catch
• ❌ Boat channels — risk of damage and safety hazard
• ❌ Set net ban areas — check MPI rules for your region
• ❌ Marine reserves — no netting allowed
• ❌ Very strong currents — can collapse or drag your net

👉 Always check MPI fishing rules for your area before setting any net.

Step 2: Set Your Net

Setting a net properly makes the difference between a full catch and an empty one.

From a Boat

1. Anchor one end of the net with a weight and marker buoy
2. Slowly motor or paddle away from the anchor, feeding the net out over the side
3. Keep tension on the net — don't dump it in a pile
4. When the net is fully stretched out, anchor the other end with another weight
5. Attach a second marker buoy or flag to the far end

From Shore

1. Anchor one end on shore (above the tide line) with a stake or heavy weight
2. Wade out, feeding the net behind you
3. Walk in a straight line perpendicular to the shore
4. When fully extended, anchor the far end with a weight and buoy

Key Tips

• ✅ Set perpendicular to the current — maximum exposure to fish
• ✅ Set on an incoming tide — fish move inshore to feed
• ✅ Set at dusk — many species (especially mullet) are most active at dawn and dusk
• ✅ Make sure the net hangs straight — no twists, no tangles, no loose mesh bunching up
• ✅ Check the lead line is on the bottom — if it's floating, the net won't fish properly

Step 3: Check and Retrieve Your Net

By law, you must check your set net at least once every 24 hours. Good practice is to check every 4–8 hours for the best quality fish.

Retrieving

1. Start at one end and pull the net in steadily
2. Remove fish as you go — untangle carefully to avoid damaging the mesh
3. Stack the net neatly as you pull it in (don't just pile it up)
4. Keep fish alive in a bucket of seawater if possible, or dispatch quickly and put on ice

Handling Your Catch

• Measure every fish — release any undersized fish immediately
• Count your catch — stay within your daily bag limit for each species
• Release protected species — if you catch a penguin, dolphin, or protected species, report it to MPI
• Kill and bleed fish quickly — better eating quality

Step 4: Clean Your Net After Every Use

This is the step most people skip — and it's the one that makes the biggest difference to how long your net lasts.

Why Cleaning Matters

• Salt, sand, and fish slime degrade nylon mesh over time
• Organic matter left on the net attracts UV damage and can weaken knots
• A dirty net smells — fish can detect this and may avoid it
• Weed and debris tangled in the mesh reduce catch next time

How to Clean

1. Rinse with fresh water — hose the entire net down thoroughly. Get the salt off.
2. Remove all weed, shells, and debris — pick through the mesh section by section
3. Soak in fresh water (optional) — if the net is particularly dirty, soak it in a tub of fresh water for 30 minutes
4. Hang to dry — in the shade. UV light weakens nylon, so don't leave it in direct sun for extended periods.

Step 5: Store Your Net Properly

How you store your net between uses has a huge impact on its lifespan.

Do

• ✅ Store in a cool, dry place — garage, shed, or covered area
• ✅ Store out of direct sunlight — UV is the #1 killer of nylon mesh
• ✅ Hang it up or store in a breathable bag/net bag
• ✅ Make sure it's completely dry before storing

Don't

• ❌ Don't leave it wet in a bucket or car boot — mould and rot
• ❌ Don't store in plastic bags — traps moisture
• ❌ Don't leave it in the sun on the deck/driveway
• ❌ Don't ball it up — lay it flat or hang it so mesh doesn't tangle

Step 6: Repair Damage Early

Even the best nets get damaged — a shark bite, a sharp rock, or general wear and tear. Fix holes early before they get bigger.

Common Repairs

• Small holes (1-3 mesh) — tie mesh back together with netting twine using a sheet bend knot
• Larger tears — cut out the damaged section and sew in a patch of matching mesh
• Frayed ropes — splice or replace damaged sections of float line or lead line
• Missing floats — replace immediately. A net without enough floats won't fish properly.

Repair Supplies

We stock all the supplies you need to repair your nets:

• Net parts & supplies — floats, lead-core rope, slinging twine, netting needles

How Long Should a Good Net Last?

With proper care, a quality NZ-made fishing net should last 3–5+ years of regular use. Here's what affects lifespan:

Pro Tips from Our Net Makers

After 50+ years of building fishing nets, here are our top tips:

1. Multi-mono catches more fish than mono — it's softer, nearly invisible in water, and fish don't see it coming
2. Set at dusk, check at dawn — the prime feeding window for most NZ species
3. Incoming tide is king — fish follow the rising water inshore to feed
4. Don't overweight your net — if the lead line is too heavy, the mesh bunches at the bottom and fish escape over the top
5. Use the right mesh size — too small = undersized fish (illegal); too large = target species swim through. Check our mesh size guide
6. Check your net regularly — fish quality drops fast, especially in warm water. Every 4-6 hours is ideal.
7. Move your net if it's not catching — don't persevere in a bad spot. Fish move; so should you.
8. Rinse with fresh water every single time — this one habit will double the life of your net

NZ Set Netting Rules — Quick Reference

• Max length: 60m per person (recreational) in most areas
• Check frequency: At least once every 24 hours
• Labelling: Net must be tagged with your name, address, and permit number
• Banned areas: Some harbours, marine reserves, and the Hauraki Gulf have partial or full set net bans
• Drag nets: Max 40m length, total warp 200m, one per person, must be hauled by hand

👉 Full rules: MPI Fishing Rules

Shop Fishing Nets & Supplies

• All fishing nets
• Mullet nets
• Flounder nets
• Snapper nets
• Net parts & supplies

Written by Action Outdoors — NZ's largest fishing net manufacturer, based in Auckland. Every net we make is custom-built in our factory with 50+ years of expertise.