A cast net is the cheapest way to catch bait in Kuwait, and the most frustrating thing to learn. The net itself is simple: a cone of mesh with weights along the bottom edge, thrown so that it opens into a circle and sinks over the fish. Ten minutes of practice in the shallows teaches more than an hour of video.
Thrown correctly, the weighted edge lands first and the net drops like a dome. Fish inside are trapped by the mesh as it settles. This is bait gear, not commercial gear: it works on schools of small fish in shallow water, and it works best when you can see the fish.
The two numbers that matter are mesh size and radius.
Mesh is the opening between knots. Small mesh holds small bait, but it also catches undersized fish and takes longer to clear. Bigger mesh is faster to work but lets the smallest bait slip through.
Lay the net out clean and untangled. Gather it by the horn, then work down the mesh in loose folds rather than tight coils, keeping the weighted edge free. Hold the horn in one hand and a section of the lead line in the other. A net loaded in a hurry will always open badly.
Stand with your feet apart and your body turned slightly. Swing the net back and forward a couple of times to build rhythm, then release as your arm comes forward, letting go of the lead line at the last moment. Aim flat and low, because a high throw lands folded.
Follow through toward the water and keep your wrist loose. If the net lands as a rope, you released too early or gripped too long; if it lands short, you are throwing with the arm only.
Shallow sandy shore is the easiest place to learn, because a bad throw costs you nothing but a walk. Jetties and breakwaters concentrate bait and give you a clean platform, but never throw over anyone in the water. Rocky reef tears the net, so keep off it.
Tide decides where the fish sit: on the rising tide bait pushes toward structure, while at low water the flats open up. Check tide times for Shuwaikh and Shuaiba ports in the Bahr app before you pick a spot, and check sea state before a breakwater trip.
Stay out of protected areas and reserves, do not keep undersized fish, and follow local rules on net use. Take what you need for bait and release the rest quickly.
After every session, rinse the net in fresh water, hang it in the shade to dry, and store it out of direct sun, because UV rots mesh faster than use does. Check for tears before you fold it.
The common mistakes are timing: throwing too hard, loading the net too tight, using one too big for your strength, and dragging it over rocks. Slow down and the circle opens. The Bahr app keeps tide times, sea state and your catch log in one place, free on Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.q8dm.b7r