Bag nets are literally bags made of net (or nets peiced together) that came in several forms and sizes. Each made to catch a certain type of fish or size of fishes.

Nae Kuku Bag Net is made from pieces of nae netting with a .25 inch mesh. Rectangular in shape they were joined by a marginal cord woven through the joining mesh. One end was closed by a cord to form an open bag. Another strong cord was threaded along the opening that when pulled together would close the opening. This net was used to catch mullet fry to be pickled or dried for eating or to stock the fishponds. It was also used to catch other small fishes such as nehu, piha and 'i'iao. The nets were used to sweep through shoals of fry and then reducing to the opening of the bag which would drive the fishes further into the net.

'Ohua Bag Net is used to catch 'ohua, a highly prized small fish by ancient Hawaiians. The net was made with a large opening one end and tapered to a small opening on the other end. The method of use is similar to that of the nae kuku and in some cases done on a much larger scale.

Papa Bag Net is similar to the ohua bag net in shape but more cylindrical with a 1.5 inch mesh and larger in size. A large group was needed to manage and set up this net and the ti-leaf flagged ropes called lau that measured 300 to 400 fathoms in length. The fishermen would go about three miles from shore in two double-hull canoes and approximately 60 to 80 single hull canoes would follow them out to the selected location. Two lead canoe canoes with very strong paddler would each take an end of the rope and net and form a wide semicircle will heading towards the shoreline. All the canoes worked together to haul in the net towards the shoreline.

Kolo Bag Net is a huge bag net that was anywhere from 16 to 24 fathoms in depth. One end was extremely narrow and the other end had a wide flaring mouth.

Malolo Bag Net is a stretch of open netting around 32 feet in length with additional tubular shaped portion that measured another 9 feet.