Buddy Dortch of the Box Full said that if you have the right bait net and understand where the baitfish will be, you can save a lot of money by netting your own bait. A cast net is a hand-held net that is cast or thrown into the water. When thrown correctly, it opens up and forms a round shape like a pancake. The weights around the outside edge cause it to sink quickly, trapping the fish. When the hand line is pulled, it draws up the brail lines and forms a pocket which traps the baitfish.
Cast nets are one of the oldest documented fishing methods.
The Bible describes Jesus instructing fishermen to cast their nets on the right side of the ship. Whelk and conch shells used by early Florida Indians for cast net weights have been carbon dated to almost 6,000 years ago. Early nets had no hand lines or brail lines. They were simply a round net weighted on the outer edges. The net was thrown over the fish and pinned them.