Feed the Family with Fishing Nets — How Kiwi Families Save Hundreds on Fresh Fish

Why Kiwi Families Are Turning to Fishing Nets to Put Dinner on the Table

With grocery prices climbing and fish at the supermarket costing $30–$50 per kilo, thousands of New Zealand families are rediscovering the simplest way to feed the family — fishing nets. Whether it's a mullet net in the harbour, a flounder net set overnight, or a cast net thrown off the wharf for bait, Action Outdoors nets help Kiwi families put fresh, healthy protein on the table for a fraction of the cost.

This isn't sport fishing. This is practical fishing — the kind your grandparents did. One good night with a set net can feed the family for a week.

How Much Can You Save?

Let's look at the numbers. A 30m mullet net costs around $150–$250 and lasts for years. Compare that to buying fish at the shop:

After just 2–3 successful sets, your net has already paid for itself. Everything after that is free food for the family.

Best "Feed the Family" Nets by Species

🐟 Mullet Nets — The Everyday Provider

Mullet is one of the most underrated eating fish in New Zealand. Smoked mullet rivals salmon for flavour, and it's available almost everywhere — estuaries, harbours, river mouths, and beaches around the country.

Best nets for mullet:

• Mono mullet nets (90mm or 100mm mesh) — the classic choice, 20m to 100m lengths
• Multi-mono mullet nets — 20–40% better catch rate thanks to nearly invisible mesh
• Floating mullet nets — ideal for surface-feeding mullet in calm estuaries

Pro tip: A 40m mullet net set at dusk in an estuary can catch 10–20 fish overnight. That's enough smoked mullet to feed the family for a week and give some to the neighbours.

🦎 Flounder Nets — Weekend Family Favourite

Setting a flounder net is a family tradition in many parts of New Zealand. Kids love checking the net in the morning, and fresh flounder pan-fried in butter is hard to beat.

Best nets for flounder:

• Flounder net with floating top rope — keeps your net upright in shallow harbours
• Multi-mono flounder net — premium catch rate, nearly invisible in water
• Flounder drag nets — perfect for family beach outings, everyone can help drag

Pro tip: South Island fishers need a specific mesh size to comply with MPI regulations. Check out our South Island flounder nets with the correct legal mesh.

🎣 Cast Nets — Fresh Bait = Better Fishing

If your family loves fishing, a cast net is the single best investment you can make. Fresh live bait catches more fish than anything from the shop — and kids love learning to throw a cast net.

Best cast nets for families:

• 6FT or 7FT American style cast net — perfect starting size for beginners and kids
• 6FT Japanese style cast net — bottom pocket design, great for rocky areas
• 10FT or 12FT USA style cast net — maximum coverage for serious bait catchers

Pro tip: Take the kids to the wharf with a cast net on a summer evening. Piper and sprats come in close to shore — you can catch a bucket of bait in 30 minutes and have the best fishing trip of the summer.

🐟 Snapper & Multi-Purpose Nets — The Big Catch

When you want to put serious fish on the table, a snapper set net is hard to beat. One good set can produce enough fish for a family barbecue — or fill the freezer for the month.

Best nets for big catches:

• Multi-purpose snapper net — versatile enough for snapper, kahawai, and trevally
• Extra deep multi-mono snapper net — deeper drop catches fish other nets miss

Getting Started: Your First "Feed the Family" Net

If you're new to netting, here's what we recommend based on where you live:

North Island — Harbours & Estuaries

Start with a 30m mullet net in 100mm mesh. Mullet are abundant, easy to catch, and delicious smoked or fried. Add a buoy and anchor combo kit and you're ready to fish tonight.

South Island — Beaches & Bays

A 30m flounder net is the classic choice. Set it in a sheltered bay at low tide, pick it up a few hours later. Simple, effective, and the kids can help.

Everywhere — Bait Fishing

A 7FT or 8FT cast net will catch piper, pilchards, and sprats anywhere there's a wharf or beach. Fresh bait = better fishing = more fish for dinner.

NZ Fishing Net Regulations — What You Need to Know

Before you set a net, make sure you know the rules for your area:

• Maximum net lengths vary by region — typically 30m–60m for recreational fishers
• Mesh sizes are regulated by species and region
• Set net bans apply in some harbours and marine reserves
• Daily bag limits apply to all species
• Always check the latest MPI recreational fishing rules for your area

All Action Outdoors nets are made to NZ-legal mesh sizes. If you're unsure which net is right for your area, get in touch — we're happy to help.

Why Buy From Action Outdoors?

• 🇳🇿 NZ's largest fishing net manufacturer — we make nets right here in New Zealand
• 🎣 40+ years of experience — we know NZ fishing conditions
• 💪 Built to last — quality nylon and multi-mono mesh that handles NZ waters
• 📦 Free shipping on orders over $150 — most nets qualify
• 🤝 Expert advice — call or email us if you're not sure which net to choose

Stop paying supermarket prices for fish. Feed the family the way Kiwis always have — with a quality fishing net from Action Outdoors.

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