The Complete Guide to Flounder Beach Drag Nets in New Zealand

Everything you need to know about drag netting for flounder on New Zealand beaches — technique, gear, rules, and which net size to choose.

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Why Drag Net for Flounder?

Flounder are one of New Zealand's most popular table fish — and for good reason. Yellow-belly, sand, black, and greenback flounder are found right around the country, from Northland harbours to Southland estuaries. They're delicious, they're plentiful, and they're perfectly suited to catching with a beach drag net.

While set nets work well for flounder overnight, drag netting is the active, hands-on way to catch flounder — and many Kiwi fishers prefer it. You're out on the beach, wading through the shallows, working the flats at low tide. It's social, it's effective, and there's nothing quite like the feeling of pulling up a net full of flatties.

Drag netting is also legal in many areas where set nets are restricted, particularly inside harbours and near river mouths where dolphins may be present. If you're fishing in a set net ban zone, check whether drag nets are still permitted — in many cases, they are.

What is a Beach Drag Net?

A beach drag net (also called a seine net or haul net) is designed to be actively pulled through the water by two people walking along the beach or wading through shallow water. This is fundamentally different from a set net, which is anchored in place and left to fish passively.

Key differences between drag nets and set nets:

• Construction: Drag nets are built heavier and stronger than set nets. They need a heavy lead-core bottom rope to stay on the seabed while being dragged, and extra floats on the top rope to keep the net upright under tension.
• Mesh material: Our flounder drag nets use heavy-duty 18-ply green braided twine rather than the monofilament used in set nets. This gives the net the strength to handle the forces of dragging across sand, mud, and shell beds without tearing.
• Depth: Drag nets are typically 30 meshes deep (~2m+), creating a wall of mesh that sweeps flounder off the bottom as you walk.
• Usage: You must be actively attending the net at all times. You cannot set a drag net and leave it — that would make it a set net and different rules apply.

How to Drag Net for Flounder — Step by Step

What You Need

• A flounder beach drag net (15m–40m depending on the beach)
• Two people (one on each end)
• Waders or old shoes you don't mind getting wet
• A bucket or chilly bin for your catch
• A measuring device (25cm minimum for flounder)

The Technique

1. Choose your spot. Look for sandy or muddy flats in harbours, estuaries, or gentle beaches. Flounder love areas near creek mouths, cockle beds, and worm beds where the bottom is soft. Avoid rocky or weedy ground — it snags the net and makes dragging difficult.
2. Time it right. The best time to drag for flounder is on the incoming tide as water covers the flats, or on the outgoing tide as it drops to knee-deep. Flounder move in with the tide to feed on the flats, so you want to be there when they arrive. Dawn and dusk are prime times, but flounder feed throughout the tidal cycle.
3. Set the net. One person holds one end of the net on the beach while the other person wades out in an arc, paying out the net as they go. The person wading should go out until the water is about waist-deep, then swing back parallel to the shore.
4. Drag together. Both people walk along the beach in the same direction, keeping the net in a U-shape or crescent. The lead-core bottom rope should be dragging along the seabed while the floats keep the top rope on the surface. Walk slowly and steadily — don't rush. Flounder are bottom-dwellers and the net needs time to sweep them up.
5. Close the net. After dragging 20–50 metres (depending on your net length and the terrain), the person in the water walks toward the beach, closing the U-shape. Both people then haul the net onto the beach together, keeping the lead line tight to the sand so nothing escapes underneath.
6. Check your catch. Measure every flounder — the legal minimum is 25cm for all species. Return undersized fish and any bycatch you're not keeping. Check your daily limit hasn't been exceeded.

Choosing the Right Net Size

Our NZ-made flounder beach drag nets come in five sizes. Here's how to choose:

Tip: If you're unsure, start with a 20m or 25m net. These are the most versatile sizes and work on most NZ beaches. You can always go bigger later!

Net Specifications

All our flounder beach drag nets are made in New Zealand at our Auckland factory. Here's what's inside:

• Mesh size: 114mm (4.5 inches) — legal for flounder throughout New Zealand
• Mesh depth: 30 meshes deep (~2m+ net height)
• Twine: 18-ply heavy-duty green braided twine — far stronger than monofilament
• Bottom rope: 7mm heavy lead-core rope — keeps the net hard on the seabed while dragging
• Top rope: Loaded with floats to keep the net upright under drag tension
• Colour: Green — blends with the water for less fish avoidance

These nets are purpose-built for New Zealand conditions. The heavy lead-core bottom rope and extra floats are specifically designed to handle the forces of dragging across sand and mud — unlike set nets, which aren't built to take that kind of punishment.

Best Flounder Drag Net Locations Around NZ

North Island

• Manukau Harbour — Wide sandy flats, excellent flounder habitat. Try the southern end near Waiuku or the eastern side near Mangere Bridge.
• Kaipara Harbour — NZ's largest harbour. Huge flats full of flounder, especially around Shelly Beach and Helensville.
• Raglan Harbour — Sheltered estuary flats produce quality yellow-belly flounder.
• Tauranga Harbour — Extensive tidal flats, especially near Omokoroa and Katikati.
• Bay of Islands — Numerous sheltered bays and estuaries with sandy bottoms.
• Hokianga Harbour — Remote and productive. Large sand flounder and yellow-bellies.

South Island

• Canterbury estuaries — Avon-Heathcote, Brooklands Lagoon. Sand and greenback flounder.
• Otago Harbour — Sheltered flats with good numbers of sand flounder.
• Southland estuaries — New River Estuary, Riverton. Some of the best flounder fishing in NZ.
• Marlborough Sounds — Sheltered bays with sandy bottoms, especially in Queen Charlotte Sound.

MPI Rules for Flounder Drag Nets

Always check the latest rules for your specific area at mpi.govt.nz before you go. Here are the key rules as a guide:

• Minimum fish size: 25cm for all flounder species
• Daily bag limit: Varies by area — typically 20 flounder per person per day (check your fisheries management area)
• Mesh size: Minimum 100mm stretched mesh for drag nets targeting flounder. Our nets use 114mm which is well above the legal minimum.
• Net length limits: Varies by area. In most recreational areas, drag nets up to 40m are permitted. Check your local rules.
• Actively attended: You must be with your net at all times when drag netting. It must be actively hauled — you cannot set it and leave.
• Dolphin protection zones: Some areas have set net bans to protect Māui and Hector's dolphins. In many of these areas, drag nets are still permitted because they are actively attended and can be quickly removed if dolphins are spotted. Always check the specific rules for your area.

Important: Rules change and vary between fisheries management areas. Always check the MPI fishing rules for your specific location before heading out.

Drag Net Tips & Tricks

• Walk slowly. Flounder bury themselves in the sand — give the net time to sweep them up. Rushing just pushes water ahead and scares fish.
• Keep the lead line down. The most common mistake is lifting the bottom rope off the seabed. Flounder will escape underneath in seconds. Keep it tight to the sand.
• Work the tide edges. Flounder follow the tide in and out. The edge of the incoming tide on a flat is the prime spot — that's where the fish are moving to feed.
• Check the bottom. Before you start, walk the area and feel the bottom with your feet. Soft sand and mud = good. Rocks, shells, and weed = snags and torn nets.
• Short drags, multiple passes. It's better to do several short drags (20–30m) than one long exhausting pull. You'll catch more fish with less effort.
• Night fishing. Flounder are active feeders at night. If regulations permit, night drag netting can be very productive — use a headlamp.
• Clean and dry your net. After fishing, rinse your net in fresh water and hang it to dry. This extends the life of the twine and prevents salt damage.

Why Choose NZ-Made Drag Nets?

Our flounder beach drag nets are made right here in Auckland by Action Fishing Nets. Unlike cheap imported nets:

• ✔️ 18-ply heavy-duty green twine — won't tear on shell beds and rough ground
• ✔️ 7mm lead-core bottom rope — stays on the seabed, doesn't ride up
• ✔️ Extra floats — keeps the net upright even under drag tension
• ✔️ 114mm mesh — legal for flounder everywhere in NZ
• ✔️ Made for NZ conditions — designed for our beaches, our tides, our fish

We've been making fishing nets in New Zealand for years, and our drag nets are built to last season after season. Custom sizes are also available for commercial or customary fishing — contact us for a quote.

Ready to Get Started?

👉 Shop our NZ-made flounder beach drag nets →

Available in 15m, 20m, 25m, 30m, and 40m — starting from just $133. Made in Auckland, shipped NZ-wide.

Also check out our full range of flounder nets including set nets in mono and multi-mono mesh.

Action Outdoors — New Zealand's largest fishing net manufacturer. Made in Auckland. 🎣

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Always check the latest fishing rules at mpi.govt.nz before heading out.