Saltwater Landing Nets (2026)

A landing net decides how a fish comes out of the water: whether it lies in soft mesh or hangs by the hook, and whether a hook ends up buried in the netting while the fish waits. The choice comes down to three things: the mesh, how far the handle has to reach from where you stand, and whether the frame survives salt.

How we chose: we did not test these nets; mesh, sizes and materials come from the makers' Amazon listings, and each was sold by Amazon.com or the brand's own store and in stock on September 30, 2026.

Six landing nets side by side

Prices are Amazon's, as of the time shown, and subject to change. Details

Rubber, knotless or plain nylon

NOAA Fisheries' catch-and-release best practices list the net in the gear to have ready: "wet, soft knotless mesh or a rubber landing net," because these "cause less damage to a fish's eyes, fins, scales, and protective mucus coating." The same page says to keep air exposure under 60 seconds when a fish has to come out.

Florida's wildlife agency puts it the same way. The FWC fish handling page says "a knotless, rubber-coated landing net is ideal when handling a fish since it supports the fish's body weight."

The nets here fall into three groups. Rubber and silicone (the Frabill Sportsman, the UMT and the Titanet) are the ones both agencies name. Coated knotless nylon (the Frabill Conservation and the floating trout net) is lighter and still knotless. The Brutus in this listing has nylon-covered PVC; KastKing sells a clear silicone version separately and calls the silicone the fish-friendly choice.

We left out plain knotted nylon bags. Neither agency recommends them, and the makers of the rubber nets sell their mesh on exactly that point: Frabill says rubber netting ends "hook snags and snares."

Handle length: boat, dock, pier or kayak

Reach matters more than hoop size for most saltwater anglers.

• From a skiff or bay boat, the Frabill Sportsman's 24 to 48 in handle covers a low gunwale. A center console with high sides is where the Frabill Conservation's 60 in and the Brutus's 75 in earn their weight.
• From a dock or seawall, the UMT is the one whose maker names dock and pier landings; it extends to 5 ft and folds to 19 in.
• From a kayak, a long handle is a lever that can pull you off balance. The Titanet extends to 32 in, folds, and rides on a magnetic lanyard. Our kayak fishing accessories guide covers the rod holders and leashes that keep the rest in place.

High piers and bridges are beyond any handle. The FWC says to "only target fish from a bridges or piers if you have specialized gear (pier nets or slings) to support their entire body," because large fish "can be injured if they are dropped from the pier or not supported properly." A pier net is a hoop lowered on a rope, a different tool from the six above.

Floating handles and frames that survive salt

On a kayak, anything dropped over the side is usually gone. The Frabill Floating Trout Net is the one here whose listing says it floats: Frabill describes a "floating hoop design that keeps it on the water's surface." Neither KastKing net claims to float, so leash them.

For salt, go by what the maker states. Frabill labels the Sportsman "saltwater safe," with an anodized aluminum hoop and handle and "heavy-duty stainless steel hardware." KastKing builds both of its nets on 6063 aluminum with stainless screws at the fold. Uncle Mo's says only that the mesh "rinses clean after saltwater/freshwater use."

A freshwater rinse after each trip is the habit that keeps telescoping locks and hinges moving. Our anti-corrosion sprays guide covers what to use on the joints, and tackle rust prevention covers the hooks and lures you net fish with.

Once the fish is in the net

Keep the bag in the water while you unhook, if you can. NOAA's page says to "dehook the fish in the water whenever possible," which a rubber net makes easier because the hook is less likely to tangle.

Then a dehooker or pliers. Our fish grips and dehookers guide covers the tools and FWC's rules for holding a toothy fish, and our fishing pliers guide covers Florida's reef fish dehooker rule. A reef fish with barotrauma needs a descending device, not just a net.

Nets we left out

The EGO S2 Slider, a modular rubber-mesh net, was sold on Amazon by "The Evolved Commerce Distribution," not a store in EGO's name, so it did not meet our seller rule. Promar nets were offered only by resellers such as Hunter's Bundle when we checked. Frabill's larger Power Catch nets were mostly listed with low stock.

We found no CPSC recall of landing nets from these makers in our recall tracker.

Frequently Asked Questions

What mesh size should a saltwater landing net have?

Small enough that a fin or gill plate cannot poke through. The Frabill Sportsman lists 3/8 in rubber mesh, and Frabill calls the Conservation's micromesh tangle-free. A deeper bag holds a fish better: the UMT lists 21 in and the Conservation 22 in.

Is a landing net allowed for shrimp in Florida?

Yes, with a size limit. FWC's recreational shrimp rules allow a "landing or dip net with an opening no larger than 96 inches around the perimeter," and no more than two nets fished from a single vessel at one time.

Can I weigh a fish in the net?

You can, and it is kinder than hanging the fish by its jaw. Weigh the net empty first and subtract; NOAA's advice to keep air exposure under 60 seconds still applies.

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SaltProofLab is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Handling advice is quoted from NOAA Fisheries and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.