There are many fishing techniques as well as methods for catching fish. The term may also be applied to a way of doing something for catching other aquatic animals such as molluscs shellfish, squid, octopus and edible marine invertebrates.

Recreational along with sport fishing describe fishing for pleasure and competition. Recreational fishing has conventions, rules, licensing restrictions as well as laws which limit the way in which fish may be caught; typically, these command against the use of nets as well as the catching of fish with hooks not in the mouth.

The most common form of recreational fishing is done with a rod, reel, line, hooks as well as any one of a huge range of baits and artificial lures such as spinners. The practice of catching or make an effort to catch fish with a hook, which is generally known as angling. In angling, it is sometimes expected and required which fish be returned to the water .

Big-game fishing describes fishing from boats to catch large open-water species such as tuna, sharks as well as marlin. Sport fishing describes recreational fishing where the primary reward is the challenge of finding and catching the fish rather than the culinary or financial value of the fish's flesh. Fish sought after include marlin, tuna, tarpon, sailfish, shark and mackerel although the list is endless.