I throw 4' radius nets, one is 3/8 inch holes and is mono, the other 1/4 holes and is nylon. I only use my nylon net in shallow creeks for shiners and chubs. The nylon doesn't seem to beat them up as bad and they live a lot long. I use my mono net for shad and suckers. I expect the shad to die so I dont care if they get beat up.

2 pieces of advice I will give. #1.) Don't throw your net if you don't know whats in front of you. I have been throwing a cast net for 20+ years and have lost a few nets to "blind" throwing while searching for shad on the river. #2.) Always check your catch! Don't assume they are all shad or all shiners. Once I had a net full of shad and dumped it in my bucket. There was a 3" smallmouth mixed in that I didn't see and a game warden checked my bucket. Lucky for me it was still alive and the warden knew it was an honest mistake.