What is he trying to catch with it? In North Carolina it could be a variety of baitfish.....if he's wanting to catch big bunker/menhaden or mullet then something with 3/4 or 1 inch mesh is the ticket...you don't have to have as much weight but you still need a big net. A 1.25 per foot 9ft net with 3/4 inch mesh will sink like a rock.

3/8 - 1/2 in mesh like is so common around here in North Texas has limited uses at the coast and would primarily only be used for light inshore bait like shrimp and mud minnows and small mullet, etc. If that is what he's after then a 7ft net with 1 lb per foot and 1/4 or 3/8 mesh is preferred....most of the time you are throwing in a couple feet of water anyway so a fast sink rate doesn't matter but the smaller mesh will catch more bait of the right size without gilling them.