Gill Net Supplies

A gill net is a net used to snare fish. The openings in the mesh are deliberately sized to appear as though the fish can swim through them. The fish will attempt to squeeze their bodies through the net by swimming forward. Once they have done this, they can not back out, due to their gills being caught on the net.

Gillnetting is a fishing method commonly used by commercial fishermen. Gillnets are very effective and their use is monitored and regulated by the fishery management and enforcement agencies. The size of the mesh, the strength of the twine, as well as length and the depth of the net is closely regulated to reduce catching non-target species of fish. You can construct your own net if you have the correct gill net supplies.

A gill net is a series of mesh panels with a weighted foot rope along the bottom and a floating headline on top. These types of nets can be set to fish at any depth of water. The mesh is uniform in size and shape, and created for selective types of fish.

This type of fishing was first used by the native fishermen. By attaching stones on the bottom of their nets and a stick or branch to the top; this allowed the bottom to sink, while the top of the net floated. This suspended the net straight up and down while in the water creating a net barrier. Nets were often suspended from the shore or set up between two boats. This type of fishing is still used by the native fishermen in the Pacific Northwest, Canada, and Alaska, often to capture salmon or steelhead.

Gillnets, like other types of nets, are often made from synthetic fibers. Nylon monofilaments are a very popular choice due to their near invisibility in the water. Nylon is also incredibly resilient. If a net made from nylon can be left in the water for many years, before it will start to break down. For this reason it is important to remember to collect all of your nets, to prevent ghost fishing.

In 1993 the United Nations banned the use of gillnets in international waters. However, it is permissible to use them within 200 nautical miles of a coast. The reason for the ban was due to the high number of whales and dolphins that were becoming ensnared in the nets intended for tuna.

Gill net supplies can assist you in creating your own gill net. A gill net is a net often made of nylon monofilament. The size of the mesh is carefully designed to catch particular types and sizes of fish. The net features weights at the bottom and a float at the top; this keeps the net straight up and down in the water. Gillnets are very effective. They only catch the fish that can basically get their gills stuck in the net.