Casting Nets and Gill Nets

[Machias]

I never looked into it when I was in WA, but can guys use cast nets and or gill nets for collecting bait?  I have been practicing and using a casting net for shad and just got a nice 6 foot by 100 foot gill net for shad.  We have to have our information on the net, can't be more than 1/4 mile away, and have a recreational gill net license which is only $9.  I was in a catfish tournament this weekend, put my gill net out for a 5 minute soak and caught 8 small catfish all released, and 5 really nice shad and one 8 pound carp.  Caught a lot of blue catfish, just nothing big enough to weigh in.  It was a tough night of fishing, out of 20 boats 10 did not weigh a fish in, 2 boats weighed in one fish including the big fish winner who weighed in a 45 pounder.  The 1st through 3rd place were separated by less than 2 pounds and each had mid 70 pound weights for the two fish weigh in.

Here's my gill net in out:



Big fish winner



Big fish runner up, lost by a couple of ounces



1st place winners

[fastdam]

That looks like a lot of fun.

[Gobble Doc]

Whoa.  Big fishy!

[lokidog]

I don't think you can use gill nets here.  You can use cast nets but only on the coast, not in the Sound.  In the Sound, you can use dip nets though.  Wish you could use the cast nets, we have a ton of herring at times near our dock.

[bowhunterforever]

Monster cats

[Machias]

I don't think you can use gill nets here.  You can use cast nets but only on the coast, not in the Sound.  In the Sound, you can use dip nets though.  Wish you could use the cast nets, we have a ton of herring at times near our dock.

Do you know, are the expressly forbidden?  Guess I need to do some research.  Thanks!

[Machias]

Found it, nope can't use them.  Bummer.