How to Select Your Fishing Nets

How to Select the Best Fishing Nets: Mesh Size Guide for New Zealand & Pacific Regulations

Action Outdoors Ltd is committed to helping fishermen in New Zealand and throughout the Pacific region get the maximum productivity and safety out of every fishing trip. In this in-depth guide, we’ll help you select the right type and size of fishing nets while complying with current NZ MPI mesh size regulations for sustainable fishing—and show you how to share this expertise via Google My Business updates the right way.

Why Mesh Size Really Matters: Beyond the Legal Minimum

Many anglers simply default to the minimum mesh size permitted under MPI and Pacific Island fishing regulations. They’ve been told “that’s the minimum you can use.” But at Action Outdoors, we believe that the legal minimum mesh size isn’t always the most effective choice for your fishing goals.

• Regulations ensure fish mature before harvest—mesh sizes are set so target species can reach sexual maturity and breed before being caught.

• Different net mesh sizes = different results—even if you’re legally compliant, your net may not be well-suited to your specific target species or desired fish sizes.

Practical Mesh-Size Tips from 50 Years of Fishing Experience

Over my 50-year commercial fishing career, from just 1 m to depths of 300 m along New Zealand’s East Coast—from East Cape to North Cape—I’ve tested various mesh sizes, materials, colours, and twine thicknesses. Through this, Action Outdoors Ltd now manufactures customized nets that reflect this hands-on knowledge.

Myth: One net fits all—many customers want a single “all-purpose” set net for snapper, kahawai, mullet, sprats, and mackerel. In reality:

• If you use a small mesh for sprats, any snapper caught will be too small to eat.

• If you choose a snapper-sized mesh, smaller fish like mullet, sprats, and mackerel pass right through.

A Serendipitous Discovery: Large Mesh Nets Work Better

In the late 1970s, near Auckland, I once used a much larger mesh (145 mm) by accident—the supplier had sent the wrong size. Most locals used 116 mm mesh. The surprise?

• I caught fewer but much larger fish, each weighing roughly four times more than legal-minimum-size fish.

• Handling fewer, larger fish resulted in less work overall.

• The fish stayed alive longer, greatly enhancing quality.

From that day, I began exploring a range of larger mesh sizes, colors, and materials—with consistently outstanding results.

Smart Advice: Legal Minimum ≠ Optimal Choice

MPI regulations define the smallest legal mesh size, but they don’t mandate it’s the best for your catch goals. Your own experience and experimentation matter more.

Looking to catch larger flounder, kahawai, or mullet? Try using a mesh size one increment larger than the legal minimum net size.

Safety & Best-Practices Tips

• Choose nets designed for inshore bottom-dwelling species—they tend to feed and breed in well-defined areas, letting you fine-tune mesh size effectively.

• Always follow NZ and Pacific safety regulations—wear appropriate gear, check buoyancy aids, use visible markers, and ensure nets are securely anchored and accessible.

• Regularly inspect your nets for damage, repair carefully, and store them properly to maintain strength, colour, and performance.

Explore Our Net Ranges

Visit the following product pages to explore our selection of expertly designed nets:

• Fishing Net Mesh Unslung

• Bait-Herring Nets

• Piper Nets

• Complete Nets Ready to Use

• Snapper-General Purpose Nets

• NZ Flounder Nets

CLICK HERE TO VIEW OUR RANGE OF UNSLUNG MESH ON PDF FILE