BLOG: Spiderman and a cast of hundreds

GROWING up, most of us read superhero comics and we all had our favourites. For some it was Superman - I can recall many running around backyards with a towel tucked into the back of his or her t-shirt collar looking to foil some dastardly Lex Luther plot.

For other kids Batman was the one and many mums' trusty Singer machines were put in to service knocking up little masks with pointy ears and black capes. I didn't mind the tall dark one either, with all his nifty modes of transport and tricky gadgets. But that Robin seemed a bit high maintenance and was forever dragging him back.

For me, when it came to idolising a super hero Spiderman was the one. Was it because he could easily climb up vertical walls or swing from building to building on a single strand of web? No. The real reason I liked him was because this dude was the ultimate throw-netter on the planet, and the ability to throw a net well in the '70s and early '80s was a big deal up here in Darwin. Back then boats, rods and lures were non-existent tools for most of us. If you wanted to regularly land fish around the foreshores of East Point, Larrakeyah or the Wharf then you needed a bucket full of live mullet or gardies and a couple of 50lb handlines rigged and ready to go.

Throwing a cast net successfully is a fine marriage between good technique and maximising the body's natural bio-mechanical fulcrums. Similar to a reverse punch in karate, the genesis of a long throw of a cast net first comes from adopting a low and strong body position. With a firm platform in place, a sequential flow of power starting from a twisting of the hips is transferred to the upper body, then through the shoulders and arms, all of which is imparted to the net as it flies from the hands towards a school of unsuspecting bait fish.

A perfect technical cast is when the net travels most of its distance very low to the water and only reaches its maximum circular spread just as it hits the surface. In this way the presence of the net is not telegraphed to spooky schools of baitfish which are well tuned to looking upwards for threats from circling birds. This is also the reason why you should try to position yourself so that you don't cast with the sun at your back as the shadow of the net will reach the bait school before it does. One technique for throwing a cast net can be found in an excellent Fishnote on the NT Fisheries website here. (Also check out Fisho's how-to cast net video here - Ed's note: The use of cast nets is prohibited in some states so check your local regulations.)

Whether from the shore or a boat, knowing how to successfully use a throw-net will ensure you have plenty of live bait ready for use. Pics: Peter Zeroni

Simply being able to throw a cast net well, however, doesn't guarantee you'll be successful in scoring baitfish. The art of being a good throw-netter is one third technical skill and two-thirds being able to spot the target baitfish. If you spend any time with a gun throw-netter you will soon think they possess super natural abilities when it comes to seeing baitfish (akin to possessing their own Spidey sense). While those new to the game will try to look for the fish themselves, which is nigh impossible in dirty water, these old hands are reading the surface looking for the tell tail signs of fish i.e. ruffled water that looks like wind but isn't thus signalling fish below.

What also sets the gurus apart is that they make fewer casts than everyone else as they only fire one off when they see the whites of those mullet eyes. Not surprisingly, the fewer casts you make the less other baitfish you will spook, and the less wet you'll get as you won't be repeatedly putting a soaked net on to your body.

Those throw-netting up in the Top End need to be wary of potential hazards. First up, strong footwear is important if you are throwing anywhere that isn't a nice sandy beach. In the old days the double-plugger thong was the footwear of choice. But not surprisingly these aren't real effective when dealing with oyster covered rocks, or even worse, the 13 deadly spines of a stonefish. A better choice is a sturdy pair of hard-soled dive boots. When wading also try and drag your toes as you move forward rather than take big lifting steps. This will reduce the chance of stepping on an unseen stingray buried under the sand. A dragged toe touching the wing of a stingray will usually be enough to get it scurrying away from you.

The next hazard to consider is ChironexFleckeri, more commonly referred to as the box jellyfish. These are a big issue during the stinger season (each year between October to April), so if going in the water make sure you've got long pants and a bottle of vinegar handy. Over the years I've been stung plenty of times and it is never pleasant. Most stings come from broken off tentacles left in the net as you reload so always check your net between casts.

While theabove-mentioned hazards are the most likely to be encountered, any land-based thrower (and even those working around Darwin's foreshore) needs to always be on the lookout for crocs as only one encounter might mean it's your last. Remember no mullet is worth your life!