Function of Hawaiian Throw Nets

• Hawaiian throw nets are typically made of natural fibers.colorfull fishing net image by Lario Tus from Fotolia.com
  
  Throw netting uses a circular net with weights attached around the perimeter. The method requires patience and skill but often lands groups of 20 to 30 fish at a time. The weighted net is cast over a school of fish and sinks to the bottom quickly. The net can be pulled up by hand, or by a line that closes the net at the top, trapping the fish.
  
  Traditional nets were made of olona fibers and often dyed with Kakui nut juice for camouflage. Today’s Hawaiian nets are still made with natural fibers and are easiest to manage at 9 to 10 feet wide. Spacing in the holes of a throw net is generally three inches wide. The three-inch spacing retains larger fish while allowing the small fish to sift through.
  
  

Considerations of Proven Methods for Throwing a Net

• Fish will scurry away if they see a net before it's tossed.Many Fishes image by Rick Chesler from Fotolia.com
  
  Skill in throwing a net is essential to a successful venture in Hawaiian net fishing. According to Big Island native Hana Pa`a, knowing how to “load” a net means knowing how to hold it in three parts to allow for a throw that will open the net at a wide angle. This takes practice. Timing is also important because fish will scurry away if they see the net before its coming.
  
  

Benefits of Timing a Successful Net Toss

• Agility and a sense of safety will come in handy while tracking fish.empty coastline road with a rocky shore. image by Sergey Mostovoy from Fotolia.com
  
  The main aspect of throw net fishing in Hawaii requires a keen eye for spotting groups of fish through the water and following them until the moment arrives for a successful toss. Patience is an obvious virtue to the art of knowing when to throw the net, but it can mean the difference between catching an entire school of fish, or nothing at all. It’s not unusual to track a school of fish for 30 minutes before making the decision to skillfully toss the net. Agility, good judgment and a sense of safety are also valuable tools when it comes to avoiding injuries such as stepping on sharp rocks or shells while tracking fish.
  
  

Warnings About Lay Gill Net Fishing

• Gill net fishing is banned in Maui.macro fishing net image by Marzeev Andrey from Fotolia.com
  
  Another type of Hawaiian net fishing is not quite so popular anymore. Lay gill net fishing is highly restricted in the Hawaiian Islands and altogether banned in Maui. Lay gill nets made of monofilament are set vertically in the ocean to trap fish by their gills. The results of lay gill net fishing have been devastating to marine life, mostly because gill nets have been the major cause of overfishing and the subsequent depletion of reef fish populations.
  
  Besides the intended fish that are caught through lay gill net fishing, countless other varieties of marine life are randomly trapped and killed, including sea turtles, sharks and lobsters. According to Kim Hum, Director of the Nature Conservancy’s Hawaii Marine program, gill net gear is indiscriminate and leads to overfishing, more so than the guy who is just out there fishing with his family.
  
  

Considerations of Ethics and Hawaiian Fishing Laws

• Hawaiian fishing regulations protect undersized fish.tropical fish image by Earl Robbins from Fotolia.com
  
  Hawaiian fishing regulations do not require a license for recreational fishing. Additionally, according to the Hawaiian Division of Aquatic Resources, most shorelines are open to fishing unless they are marked with restriction signs. Keeping unidentifiable, undersized or out-of-season fish is legally prohibited, even if the fish is dead. When in doubt, the Hawaiian Division of Aquatic Resources recommends returning the fish to the ocean rather than risk a citation.