Hoop Net: Suspended Bait Box

Most store bought hoop nets are designed with a double mesh pouch in the bottom ring to put your bait. One of the problems with that is it may take a bit to initially bait or re-bait. Some lobster/crab netters get a wire or plastic bait box to zip-tie to the bottom ring. This speeds up initial baiting and re-baiting, you can also have multiple bait boxes full and ready to go in your home freezer. A major disadvantage to both of these is that the bottom ring does not always land in the center of the larger ring. Having your bait off center can cause you to loose lobster/crab because they may not be in the larger hoop when you pull up. A solution to this is to suspend a bait box in the center of the top ring. This will allow quick bait changes and will help put the lobster/crab in the center as well.

What we need is a bait box, small bungees, utility clips, and stainless steel hog rings.

I picked up a pack of these small bungees at Home Depot for a couple of bucks. First cut off the ends, then clean up the ends with a lighter.

Run the bungee through the utility clip. Then put the hog ring on and partially crimp it down.

Tighten your loop, then crimp the hog ring down all the way.

 Do it to both bungees with both clips.

Then do the same on your bait box. Now you can clip your bait box to the top ring and no matter where the bottom ring goes the bait will stay in the center.

Comercial Float Chemical Light Install

 This is a pretty simple install all you need is a chemical light stick, 4 1oz egg sinkers, two drill bits, a drill, and a hammer. The drill bit for the chem light needs to be slightly smaller then the light. Same goes for the lead.

 

Figure out where you want the top to be and drill about 1/4in deep with the small drill bit. Make sure you can put your chem light in securely.

Once you have your chem light hole drilled drill the hole for a keel. This is the part that will make the chem light stick above water. It needs to be on the opposite side of the float to work properly.

 Now hammer in your weights until flush and you are done.

Hoop Net: Large Float with Rope Management

I am gearing up to go down to southern California to do some fishing and catch some lobsters. My brother gave me some hoop nets he does not use so I decided to rig them the way I want them. The first thing I decided to do was change the main float with a larger commercial style float. I also decided to add a weight at the tag end of my line so it will pull through the float and manage excess line. By sending it to the ocean floor out of the way of boat propellers.






The first step is to remove the small float. It is as simple as untying the knot. Then thread the line through the commercial float with the pointy end towards the net.

I went with an 6oz torpedo sinker to manage my excess line and a stainless steel fender washer to stop the float and rope from being separated.

Thread the rope through the fender washer and tie a double over hand knot. Then zip tie the sinker to the rope next to the washer and trim off the excess.

You can pull the sinker into the float for easy storage.

Now you have an upgraded hoop net with a bigger float and an excess rope management system.