Idk if this is possible with your net or your setup, but as opposed to scooping it up, once it's in the net try to hand over hand lift the handle upwards while the handle is pretty much vertical. This way it doesn't put all the weight in the middle of the handle, like you're not leveraging it but using the length to get closer to the bottom of it. Hard to describe, i do this fishing off a 12 foot peir all the time, you kind of pull it like you would a rope instead of lifting it. Once you get your hands past half way, maybe 2/3, then I would complete the "scoop" because what happens if you hold the net vertically the fish gets caught up in a downwards "pouch" due to gravity, which is no problem when netting a slender fish like a trout, but i imagine it would almost be like trying to fold a ray in half lol, and we don't want that. Noone probably had any idea what I'm babbling about lol, guess what I want to say is avoid lifting like a lever and pull upwards on the handle more once fish is in there.
You can also unscrew/macgiver the actual net off and replace it with a thicker wooden broom handle and some good bolts if that gives you more peace of mind. My current net is a frankestein of 3 nets, rubber cuz it's better on this fish, and this is because I am netting 5-8 lb rainbow trout off a pier while caught on 6lb line. Same thing I just put them in the net, hold the handle vertical and hand over hand lift 12 feet of it until it's on the pier. If I scooped it and tried to lift it till horizontal it would break the first time I tried.
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