# Saltwater Landing Nets (2026): Rubber vs Knotless Mesh, Handle Length and Pier Nets

> Six landing nets compared on mesh, hoop, handle reach and saltwater hardware, with NOAA's and Florida FWC's advice on nets for fish you plan to release.

- Source: https://saltprooflab.com/tools-catch/landing-nets
- Publisher: SaltProofLab (https://saltprooflab.com)
- Published: 2026-09-30
- Category: tools-catch
- Tags: landing net, rubber landing net, knotless net, catch and release, kayak fishing net, pier net
- Method: picks chosen from Amazon listings and brand specs; not hands-on tested; current Amazon prices are on the page; content checked 2026-09-30.
- Quick answer: From a boat, the Frabill Sportsman is a rubber-mesh net on a 24 to 48 in telescoping handle that Frabill calls saltwater safe; the KastKing Brutus reaches 75 in. From a kayak, the KastKing Titanet folds to fit and clips to a lanyard.

## Key takeaways

- NOAA Fisheries recommends 'wet, soft knotless mesh or a rubber landing net' because they do less damage to a fish's eyes, fins, scales and slime coat.
- Florida FWC: only target fish from bridges or piers if you have a pier net or sling to support the whole body.
- Measure your gunwale or dock height before choosing a handle; the telescoping handles here run from 32 in to 75 in fully extended.

## Products (chosen from listings, not tested)

1. **Frabill Sportsman Seamless Rubber Landing Net with Telescoping Handle** (details: https://saltprooflab.com/tools-catch/landing-nets#product-B001AMJ4K4) — Buy it if you release most of what you catch from a skiff or bay boat.
   - Pros: Rubber netting with 3/8 in mesh that Frabill says supports the fish's whole weight and does not snag hooks; 17 x 19 in hoop on a 24 to 48 in telescoping handle; Anodized aluminum handle and hoop with stainless steel hardware; Frabill labels it saltwater safe
   - Cons: Hoop is sized for inshore fish, not big pelagics
2. **Frabill Conservation Telescoping Handle Net, 23 x 26 in** (details: https://saltprooflab.com/tools-catch/landing-nets#product-B08Q7N6Z5V) — Buy it if your fish outgrow a 17 in hoop and you still release them.
   - Pros: 100% knotless micromesh with a tangle-free coating, per Frabill; Flat-bottom bag, 22 in deep, meant to support the fish's full length; Teardrop hoop 23 x 26 in; handle telescopes from 35 to 60 in
   - Cons: The listing does not call this model saltwater safe, unlike the Sportsman
3. **KastKing Brutus Fishing Landing Net with Boat Hook, PVC Mesh** (details: https://saltprooflab.com/tools-catch/landing-nets#product-B0CRZCRV8C) — Buy it if you fish from a higher boat and want a net that stows small.
   - Pros: 6063 aluminum handle with a second extension that reaches 75 in, per KastKing; Hoop folds in half and the handle retracts for storage; storage bag included; Built-in boat hook in the handle, rated by KastKing at up to 220 lb pull
   - Cons: This version has nylon-covered PVC mesh; the softer clear silicone is a separate listing
4. **UMT Telescopic Fishing Landing Net, Rubber Mesh** (details: https://saltprooflab.com/tools-catch/landing-nets#product-B0FJSQPGY7) — Buy it if you fish from a dock or seawall a few feet above the water.
   - Pros: Rubber/silicone mesh that Uncle Mo's says rinses clean after saltwater use; 17 x 19 in hoop, 21 in deep, on an aluminum handle that extends from 3.6 to 5 ft; Uncle Mo's lists shore, pier, dock and boat landings as its uses
   - Cons: 2 lb and 19 in folded; the maker itself says it is not an ultralight net
5. **KastKing Titanet Folding Fishing Landing Net, Silicone** (details: https://saltprooflab.com/tools-catch/landing-nets#product-B0DJ4R6FLL) — Buy it if you fish from a kayak and want the net clipped to you.
   - Pros: Clear silicone net that KastKing calls hook-resistant and tangle-free; Folds in half at a sliding collar; extends to 32 in; Magnetic lanyard with a carabiner and a belt clip for hands-free carry
   - Cons: KastKing sizes it for smaller species, and the listing does not say it floats
6. **Frabill Floating Trout Net, 13 x 18 in** (details: https://saltprooflab.com/tools-catch/landing-nets#product-B08KBTFZ2B) — Buy it if you land small inshore fish from a kayak and drop things.
   - Pros: Floating hoop design that keeps the net on the surface, per Frabill; Rubberized, tangle-free micromesh with a flat bottom; Built-in lanyard and carabiner on the rubber handle
   - Cons: Handle length not stated, and a 13 x 18 in hoop suits small fish only

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

| Net | Mesh | Hoop | Handle | Sold by | Amazon price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Frabill Sportsman](https://saltprooflab.com/tools-catch/landing-nets#product-B001AMJ4K4) | Rubber, 3/8 in | 17 x 19 in | 24–48 in telescoping | Amazon.com | see the current Amazon price on the page |
| [Frabill Conservation 23 x 26](https://saltprooflab.com/tools-catch/landing-nets#product-B08Q7N6Z5V) | Knotless coated micromesh | 23 x 26 in teardrop | 35–60 in telescoping | Amazon.com | see the current Amazon price on the page |
| [KastKing Brutus with boat hook](https://saltprooflab.com/tools-catch/landing-nets#product-B0CRZCRV8C) | Nylon-covered PVC | Folding U-shape | To 75 in | KastKing USA | see the current Amazon price on the page |
| [UMT Telescopic](https://saltprooflab.com/tools-catch/landing-nets#product-B0FJSQPGY7) | Rubber/silicone | 17 x 19 in | 3.6–5 ft | Uncle Mo's Tackle | see the current Amazon price on the page |
| [KastKing Titanet](https://saltprooflab.com/tools-catch/landing-nets#product-B0DJ4R6FLL) | Clear silicone | Folding | To 32 in | KastKing USA | see the current Amazon price on the page |
| [Frabill Floating Trout Net](https://saltprooflab.com/tools-catch/landing-nets#product-B08KBTFZ2B) | Rubberized micromesh | 13 x 18 in | Not stated | Amazon.com | see the current Amazon price on the page |

## Rubber, knotless or plain nylon

NOAA Fisheries' [catch-and-release best practices](https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/resources-fishing/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](https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/fish-handling/) 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](https://saltprooflab.com/kayak-paddle/kayak-fishing-accessories) covers the rod holders and leashes that keep the rest in place.

**High piers and bridges** are beyond any handle. The [FWC](https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/fish-handling/) 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](https://saltprooflab.com/gear-care/anti-corrosion-sprays) covers what to use on the joints, and [tackle rust prevention](https://saltprooflab.com/gear-care/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](https://saltprooflab.com/tools-catch/fish-grips-and-dehookers) covers the tools and FWC's rules for holding a toothy fish, and our [fishing pliers guide](https://saltprooflab.com/tools-catch/corrosion-resistant-fishing-pliers) covers Florida's reef fish dehooker rule. A reef fish with barotrauma needs a [descending device](https://saltprooflab.com/tools-catch/descending-devices-descend-act), 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](https://saltprooflab.com/recalls).

## 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](https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/shrimp/) 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.*

## Sources

- NOAA Fisheries: [Catch and release best practices](https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/resources-fishing/catch-and-release-best-practices)
- myfwc.com: [FWC fish handling page](https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/fish-handling)
- myfwc.com: [Recreational shrimp rules](https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/shrimp)

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Last updated: 2026-09-30
Canonical URL: https://saltprooflab.com/tools-catch/landing-nets
How to cite: "Saltwater Landing Nets (2026): Rubber vs Knotless Mesh, Handle Length and Pier Nets", SaltProofLab, https://saltprooflab.com/tools-catch/landing-nets (checked 2026-09-30).
Disclosure: as an Amazon Associate SaltProofLab earns from qualifying purchases. Safety information summarizes public guidance and is not medical advice.