The Complete Guide to Milkfish Nets in the Pacific Islands — Mesh Sizes, Specs & What Works

Milkfish (ava, bangus) is one of the most important food fish across Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, the Cook Islands, and the wider Pacific. This guide covers everything you need to know about the right gill net mesh sizes, net construction, and where to find quality nets that actually last on Pacific Island reefs.

What is Milkfish?

Milkfish (Chanos chanos) — known as ava in Fiji and Tahiti, bangus in the Philippines, and ibiya in Nauru — is a large, fast-swimming fish found throughout the Indo-Pacific. Adults grow to 1–1.5 metres long and can weigh up to 8kg.

Across the Pacific Islands, milkfish are traditionally caught using gill nets in lagoons, reef flats, and coastal waters. In the Cook Islands, adult milkfish are found around Aitutaki, Palmerston, and Manuae islands. In Fiji, milkfish juveniles are traditionally fished across Viti Levu, Lau, Cakaudrove, and the Rewa Delta, while adults are caught with gill nets in lagoons and along reef edges.

What Mesh Size Do You Need for Milkfish?

Getting the right mesh size is critical — too small and you'll catch undersized fish; too large and the milkfish swim straight through. Based on research from the FAO, SPC (Pacific Community), and Fiji fisheries regulations, here are the mesh sizes used across the Pacific:

Market-Size Milkfish (600g–3kg) — 2″ to 2½″ Mesh

For catching market-size milkfish in lagoons and reef flats, the most popular mesh sizes across Fiji, Guam, and Tuvalu are 2 inch (50mm) and 2½ inch (65mm) stretched mesh. This is the bread-and-butter size for everyday milkfish gill netting.

Ready-to-fish nets:

• Strong 2-inch × 0.60mm Pacific Island Net — 30m to 100m — Heavy-duty completed net, ready to fish
• Strong 2½-inch × 0.60mm Pacific Island Net — 30m to 100m — Perfect for lagoon milkfish

Mesh only (build your own):

• 2-inch × 0.60mm Heavy Duty Pacific Island Mesh — 200m hank
• 2½-inch × 0.60mm Heavy Duty Pacific Island Mesh — 200m hank

Adult Milkfish (2–5kg) — 3″ to 3¼″ Mesh

For medium to large adult milkfish, 3 inch (76mm) and 3¼ inch (85mm) mesh is the go-to. This is also an excellent all-round size for mixed reef species including mullet.

Ready-to-fish nets:

• 3-inch × 0.70mm × 33md Heavy Duty Pacific Island Net — Extra-heavy 0.70mm twine for tough reefs
• 3-inch × 0.50mm × 20md — 30m to 100m
• 3-inch × 0.50mm × 36md — 30m to 100m — Deeper net for deeper water

Mesh only (build your own):

• 3-inch × 0.70mm Heavy Duty Pacific Island Mesh — 200m
• 3-inch × 0.50mm × 20md Pacific Island Mesh — 120m
• 3-inch × 0.50mm × 36md Pacific Island Mesh — 120m
• 3¼-inch × 0.50mm Pacific Island Mesh — 80m

Large Adult Milkfish (3–6kg) — 3½″ Mesh

The 3½ inch (90mm) mesh is favoured across French Polynesia and the wider Pacific for catching full-grown milkfish in lagoons and coastal waters.

Ready-to-fish net:

• 3½-inch × 0.70mm × 30md Heavy Duty Pacific Island Net

Mesh only:

• 3½-inch × 0.70mm Heavy Duty Pacific Island Mesh — 200m

Full-Grown Wild Milkfish (5–8kg+) — 4″ Mesh

For the biggest wild milkfish — fish in the 5–8kg+ range — the 4 inch (100mm) mesh in heavy 0.70mm monofilament is purpose-built. Used across French Polynesia, Fiji, and the Cook Islands for targeting full-grown adults along reef edges and in deep lagoons.

Ready-to-fish net:

• 4-inch × 0.70mm × 27md Heavy Duty Pacific Island Net

Mesh only:

• 4-inch × 0.70mm Heavy Duty Pacific Island Mesh — 200m

Mesh Size Summary Table

Net Construction — What to Look For

Not all gill nets are created equal. Here's what matters for milkfish netting in the Pacific Islands:

FAO rule of thumb: The optimal gill net mesh size is approximately 25% smaller than the fish's girth at its thickest point.

Why Heavy-Duty Nets Matter on Pacific Island Reefs

Cheap imported gill nets — the kind you find on AliExpress for $1–$11 — use thin 0.20–0.33mm twine that shreds on coral after a few uses. Pacific Island reefs are brutal on fishing gear. Rocks, coral heads, and rough seabeds chew through lightweight nets fast.

Our Heavy Duty Pacific Island mesh uses 0.50mm, 0.60mm, and 0.70mm monofilament — two to three times thicker than cheap imports. Built specifically for reef conditions, these nets last season after season.

Fiji Fishing Regulations — What's Legal?

Under the Fiji Fisheries (Conservation and Management) Regulations 2006:

• Gill nets, seine, trammel, drag nets: minimum 50mm (2″) stretched mesh, max 300m length
• Cast nets: minimum 12mm mesh, max 2m radius
• Ring/lift/purse seine (bait): minimum 20mm mesh, max 600m length

All of our Pacific Island nets are 50mm (2″) and above, fully compliant with Fiji's regulations.

Fry & Fingerling Collection — Separate Gear

Milkfish fry and fingerlings are collected for aquaculture using completely different equipment — very fine mesh (0.3–1.6mm), hand scoop nets, and barrier nets. This is a separate, specialised market from adult gill net fishing.

Shop Milkfish Nets

We stock the full range of milkfish gill net sizes — from 2-inch market-size mesh up to 4-inch for the biggest wild milkfish. Available as ready-to-fish completed nets or mesh-only hanks for building your own.

• 👉 Heavy Duty Pacific Island Mesh (build your own)
• 👉 Completed Pacific Island Nets (ready to fish)

Shipped from Auckland to Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands, and across the Pacific. Contact us for bulk orders or custom net sizes.

Sources

FAO Sub-Regional Office for the Pacific Islands — Milkfish Aquaculture | FAO Country Reports — Milkfish fry resource and collection practices | SPC — Capture-based Aquaculture of Milkfish, Pickering | Filous et al. — Fisheries selectivity, French Polynesia (Ocean & Coastal Management) | Fiji Fisheries (Conservation and Management) Regulations 2006 | FAO — Fishing with Bottom Gillnets | FAO — Equipment and Facilities for Fish Farm Operation