Seine net assembly having buoyant seine net purse rings and method of seine fishing using same

A method of purse seine net fishing comprising:

• a) providing a seine net system comprising:
• i) a seine net extending from a floatline end to a leadline end;
• ii) a float line;
• iii) a plurality of floats coupled to the float line;
• wherein the float line is configured to float the floatline end of the seine net in a body of water;
• iv) a leadline having a specific gravity greater than 1.5 and configured to sink the leadline end of the net in water;
• wherein said net extends between the float line and the leadline;
• v) a plurality of purse rings, each coupled to the net by a bridle and each having a ring wall extending around a purse ring aperture;
• vi) a purseline extending through the purse ring aperture of the plurality of purse rings;
• and
• wherein each of the plurality of purse rings are buoyant in water and has a specific gravity of between 0.90 to 0.96;
• wherein the leadline sinks the leadline end of the net below the plurality of purse rings and wherein the plurality of purse rings are not so buoyant that they cause the leadline end of the net to float;
• b) placing the seine net system in the water with the purseline coupled to a marine vessel;
• c) allowing the leadline end of the seine net to sink in said body of water, wherein the plurality of floats retain the float line proximal to a surface of said body of water;
• d) extending the seine net to form an enclosure;
• e) cinching the leadline end of the net by pulling the purseline through the purse rings, wherein the purseline is extended up above the leadline by the plurality of purse rings;
• and
• f) retracting the seine net to the marine vessel.