There are many different type of fishing for the sports enthusiast to choose from. These include fishing line fishing, hand fishing, bow fishing, dredging, kite fishing, and ice fishing.

Fishing line fishing, also referred to as angling, is the most common form of fishing for hobbyists in the United States. In this type of fishing, the fisherman uses a fishing rod, which holds a fishing line with a hook on the end. The fisherman attempts to get the fish to bite the hook by placing lures near the hook or by placing live bait on the hook.

Trolling is a form of fishing line fishing that involves drawing the fishing lure through the water in order to attract fish. This method is often used when fishing for big game fish such as marlin and tuna. Another variation is long line fishing, which includes hundreds or thousands of baited hooks on one fishing line. This technique is most commonly used in commercial fishing.

Hand fishing is a form of fishing that involves using the hands, although hand line fishing also falls under this category. With hand line fishing, a fishing line containing weights and a lure may also be used. True hand fishing is typically used in lobster diving and pearl diving. When hand fishing is used to fish for catfish in the United States, it is referred to as noodling. When used to catch trout in the British Isles, it is called trout tickling.

Bow fishing involves using a bow and standing above the water to shoot the fish. It is similar to a more primitive form of fishing, which involves spearing the fish from above. Ancient spears were powered entirely by hand, but modern fishermen sometimes use spear guns to help power the spear, making it move more quickly and work more efficiently.

With dredging, the fisherman tows a chain mesh behind a fishing boat in order to scoop up sea life from the seabed. This form of fishing is typically used to catch oysters and scallops. Kite fishing, on the other hand, involves attaching the fishing line to a kite in order to catch fish. This method is used by fishermen without boats who wish to fish in waters they cannot otherwise reach. It can also be used to fish in areas where a boat cannot safely navigate.

Ice fishing involves cutting a circle or a square in thick ice. The fishermen than places the fishing line in the hole in order to catch fish living beneath the frozen water.