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Started By
Message
Boat Trawl
Posted on 12/28/18 at 2:50 pm
Posted on 12/28/18 at 2:50 pm
My son is 12 and for the last two years the main thing he wants for Christmas is a boat trawl. I know it’s different.
What is the smallest trawl you can buy and where would you buy it from. Around Leeville/ golden meadow I usually fish out of a 16 ft aluminum flat boat with a 40hp mercury 4 stroke. I don’t know if that boat is big enough but I do have access to a 18 ft bay boat with a 90hp
What is the smallest trawl you can buy and where would you buy it from. Around Leeville/ golden meadow I usually fish out of a 16 ft aluminum flat boat with a 40hp mercury 4 stroke. I don’t know if that boat is big enough but I do have access to a 18 ft bay boat with a 90hp
8
Posted on 12/28/18 at 3:40 pm to Higgysmalls
its not just something you tow behind any boat
the boat needs to be set up for and have the room to trawl in as well as enough power to pull it.
you "can" trawl with a flatboat but its not easy to do and will be a real PITA to do it
after trawling for a good 15 years straight it became clear that i rarely saved money or broke even by doing it and buying my shrimp was less work and cheaper. there is nothing cheap or easy about trawling and you work your arse off to "maybe" catch shrimp for the same money you could have bought them for and went fishing instead.
to answer your question, a 25ft trawl is the biggest you can do with a recreational license and the smallest i would ever use to even have a chance at making it worth doing
the boat needs to be set up for and have the room to trawl in as well as enough power to pull it.
you "can" trawl with a flatboat but its not easy to do and will be a real PITA to do it
after trawling for a good 15 years straight it became clear that i rarely saved money or broke even by doing it and buying my shrimp was less work and cheaper. there is nothing cheap or easy about trawling and you work your arse off to "maybe" catch shrimp for the same money you could have bought them for and went fishing instead.
to answer your question, a 25ft trawl is the biggest you can do with a recreational license and the smallest i would ever use to even have a chance at making it worth doing
This post was edited on 12/28/18 at 3:43 pm
Posted on 12/28/18 at 3:52 pm to Higgysmalls
Are you looking to stock up on shrimp or just doing it for fun? It can be a great pass time, but it is also plenty of work. Before you invest money in a net, ropes, boards, and box see if you can go with some first. Learn what it takes, and then see if you and your boy are into it. Probably the bayboat would be your best option.
Posted on 12/28/18 at 4:36 pm to commode
OP, if you are looking to just play, just buy a 12' test trawl. 
Posted on 12/28/18 at 9:37 pm to Higgysmalls
I know you said Around Leeville/ golden meadow but,
Gus' Tackle & Nets in Slidell will have trawl net sets with boards and lines.
Me and my father would use his 14ft flat with a 55hp to pull a 16ft trawl down the dike canal.
Gus' Tackle & Nets in Slidell will have trawl net sets with boards and lines.
Me and my father would use his 14ft flat with a 55hp to pull a 16ft trawl down the dike canal.
Posted on 12/28/18 at 9:40 pm to Higgysmalls
Not sure where we got it but we used to pull an 8’ test trawl for live croaker in the morning G’s before heading out to fish. It was tiny and got into a rubber maid container
Posted on 12/29/18 at 8:31 am to hogdaddy
quote:
14ft flat with a 55hp to
Did you mean 15hp?
Posted on 12/29/18 at 11:59 am to baldona
Nope, 1974 55hp Evinrude on a Cajun Special.
Posted on 12/29/18 at 1:45 pm to hogdaddy
I’ve used a 16 trawl on a 16ft Carolina skiff with a 25hp. It did the job. I think that’s the largest you can pull with a recreational license.
Posted on 12/29/18 at 1:53 pm to Elusiveporpi
quote:
I think that’s the largest you can pull with a recreational license.
Used to be way back in my days. Have no idea now. Hell, used to drag a 16' behind a 10' flat with a 3hp.
Was about 13-14 years old at the time. 
Posted on 12/29/18 at 2:36 pm to Higgysmalls
When I was a kid my dad and I would pull a 16ft trawl behind a 16ft jon boat with a 9.8 hp Merc. I would rather pull with an aluminum boat instead of a fiberglass bay boat because of the potential to damage the gelcoat with the boards and lead line and the mess. Your shrimp will cost you more than if you bought them at the market, but the experience for him will be worth every penny. Kids need to learn where their food comes from and what it takes to get it. Makes them appreciate things more and teaches them life lessons. For instance, slow trawling for an hour before picking up the net taught me patience....lol.
Posted on 12/29/18 at 2:55 pm to Higgysmalls
You could also get him a seine to pull on the beach with you or a friend. A friend has one in grand isle and catches all kinds of crap
Posted on 12/29/18 at 3:06 pm to Higgysmalls
Go to Alario brothers and get a 12' trawl. Your boat is plenty big enough to pull that. Throw together a picking box and you good to go.
ETA; Have you ever been trawling?
When I was a kid used to go one of my dads podnas camp. They had a flat boat about 16-18' with a 9.9 that they pulled a 20' trawl with in the bayou, they wouldn't venture out into the lakes with it
ETA; Have you ever been trawling?
When I was a kid used to go one of my dads podnas camp. They had a flat boat about 16-18' with a 9.9 that they pulled a 20' trawl with in the bayou, they wouldn't venture out into the lakes with it
This post was edited on 12/29/18 at 3:12 pm
Posted on 12/29/18 at 3:39 pm to Elusiveporpi
$25 license for up to 16’ then $50 for up to $25’. 25’ trawl is a man handler due to the size of the boards. IMO 16’ is a good recreational size and doesn’t take allot of power to pull.
Posted on 12/29/18 at 7:00 pm to Higgysmalls
It is easy as pie to pull a 12 foot trawl by yourself (maybe not the kid) Your catch will double with the 16 foot trawl but on a long day you are going to need some help or you will not want to do it long. As for the boat, it will pull either but you need to set it up right. Especially on a smaller boat, you have to have you pull point well ahead of the prop or you are going to have a hell of a time turning it especially in the wind. You could always set it up on a bridle that way you can turn the boat anyway you want without the net causing you issues.
Nets around Grand Isle - Chine's Net Shop in Golden Meadow. I have never seen one of his nets that did not pull true out of the box.
Last year was an excellent brown shrimp season. I stocked my freezer with 3 pulls, gave away a many of ice chest and sold a few trawl charters. White shrimp season sucked for someone pulling a bottom trawl. I'm always looking for help if you want to try before you buy.
Nets around Grand Isle - Chine's Net Shop in Golden Meadow. I have never seen one of his nets that did not pull true out of the box.
Last year was an excellent brown shrimp season. I stocked my freezer with 3 pulls, gave away a many of ice chest and sold a few trawl charters. White shrimp season sucked for someone pulling a bottom trawl. I'm always looking for help if you want to try before you buy.
Posted on 12/29/18 at 8:45 pm to Reelscreamers
quote:
Especially on a smaller boat, you have to have you pull point well ahead of the prop or you are going to have a hell of a time turning it especially in the wind.
Good advice. We usually tied to the bow hook, and then hookedthe Rope mid boat so it couldn’t go under the boat.
Posted on 12/29/18 at 11:52 pm to CHEDBALLZ
quote:
Go to Alario brothers and get a 12' trawl. Your boat is plenty big enough to pull that. Throw together a picking box and you good to go.
My father in law bought a 16ft trawl from them in the late 1980's. I still have that trawl. Pity it hasn't been used in over 5 years.
Posted on 12/30/18 at 7:52 am to keakar
quote:
the boat needs to be set up for and have the room to trawl in as well as enough power to pull it.
you "can" trawl with a flatboat but its not easy to do and will be a real PITA to do it
I pull a 16 foot behind my 17 foot with a 50. Its not really hard to do
Posted on 12/31/18 at 2:09 pm to maisweh
Thanks for all the replys. It’s something he wants to do for fun, and catch a few things in the process. Will check Alario brothers. Gotta buy some new crawfish nets anyway
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