Trawl Door Spread | Seafish
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Trawl Door Spread

Alternative names

  • Door spread
  • Gear spread
  • Trawl doors



The distance between the trawl doors is an important piece of information for any trawler skipper to know at all times. From this the skipper will be able to estimate if their trawl gear is opening to its optimum for the fish species he is targeting. Many larger vessels have electronics with acoustic sensors on the gear to display the door spread and other parameters in the wheel house.

An illustration of a trawl door spread showing the towing point on a trawler
An illustration of the towing point on a trawler

The information sheet below gives details of how vessels without electronics with acoustic sensors on the gear can estimate the distance between their trawl doors (door spread).

By using dimensions in conjunction with other known gear parameters the skipper can estimate the opening for their net or nets (Wing End Spread) and an estimation of the angle of their sweeps to the direction of travel (Sweep angle or Bridle Angle). 

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