Recreational Versus Commercial Fishing

The fishing world can be as simple and as complex as one wants it to be. From freshwaters to saltwater, the ins and outs of fishing are continuous like the rivers and vast like the oceans. Fishing has been a practice since yore’s days, and its main purpose is for consumption. Many people teach beginners how to fish, but the experience will always be the best teacher. And if you are a beginner and would like to learn some fishing tips, you should first know the two primary types of fishing: recreational and commercial.

Recreational Fishing

Recreational fishing is done mainly for self-satisfaction, pleasure, occasional consumption, or competition. It may also be referred to as angling or sportfishing, and people who engage in recreational fishing may be called anglers or sport fishers. Experienced people who pursue competitive fishing and participate in tournaments can be called professional anglers. The thrill and fun in the recreational fishery come from the fulfillment that anglers get from catching a good game fish, particularly big or trophy ones, after patiently waiting for a bite and trying out different gear, rigs, and techniques. The most common recreational fishing is done using a rod, a reel, a line, a hook, and bait or lure.

Gear used in recreational fishing plays a big role in the game of fishing. They are used to create different bait presentations for specific fish species. Rigs differ from one water body to another and for a targeted game species. Some devices used to change bait presentations in rigs include floats, weights, swivels, lures, and cage or method feeders.

Some anglers relate to recreational fishing as a hobby and take time making their gear, Do-It-Yourself rod holders, customized rods, or personalized attachments.

Many techniques can be used for recreational fishing, such as baitcasting, bottom fishing, bowfishing, deep sea fishing, drift fishing, fly fishing, handline fishing, heavy tackle fishing, ice fishing, jigging, kite fishing, light tackle, popping, spearfishing, spinning, surf casting, trolling. Some forms of targeted recreational fishing include flounder gigging, trout tickling, and catfish noodling. Techniques used in fishing trips will vary depending on the location, waterbody type, terrain, and fish species.

Popular Forms of Recreational Fishing

1. Catch and Release

Catch and release is a type of sportfishing where anglers release a caught fish after taking its measurements or taking a photo with the species. This type of fishing uses many techniques mentioned above, and anglers delight in discovering many other methods. One of the most recent fishing innovations using technology is drone fishing, a technique that uses drones to scout the area, look for fish, cast a line, and drop the bait. Anglers also love experimenting with different types of bait and rigs. All of these are done to get a bite and successfully remove the fish from the water after a good fight.

2. Catch and Consume

Catch-and-consume is recreational fishing for fishers that set out to catch games for consumption. This is usually done occasionally by catch-and-release anglers. Techniques used in this type of fishing are the same as mentioned, but also change in rigs and presentation. Some fish enthusiasts that love to feed on freshly caught fish are the primary catch-and-consume anglers. However, another purpose of this type of fishing can be for survival, which in most cases uses natural materials for a makeshift spear or bow. This survival type of activity can also be called subsistence fishing.

Commercial Fishing

Commercial fishing is the mass collection of fish, seafood, or other aquatic resources from the oceans, rivers, or lakes. This activity is for marketing, buying, and selling fish for commercial profit. This large-scale fishing is also known as industrial or profit-oriented professional fishing. Collective people in companies who engage in this type of fishing are often called commercial fishers.

Commercial fishing targets large amounts of a specific type of fish, often scouting schools of fish depending on the season and activity. With this type of fishing, the chance of catching an unwanted or different kind of fish from the pack is inevitable. When this happens, the odd one out is called bycatch.

Common Commercial Fishing Methods:

1. Net Fishing

This method is usually done in a boat by dragging the net behind to scoop fish, also known as trawling.

2. Harvest Fishing

Harvest fishing, like dredging, often involves collecting shellfish from the bottom of the sea by dragging metal rake-like devices. Traps and Pots are other harvest fishing forms that target crabs, lobsters, and other invertebrates.

3. Line Fishing

This type of commercial fishing uses very long fishing lines with several hooks in a few feet intervals. These lines can run for many miles. Line fishing can also be referred to as longlines or longlining.

4. Dive Fishing

The process of dive fishing for commercial purposes often involves sea urchin, geoduck, sea cucumber, and other aquatic species or even plants. 

Primary Differences

1. Quantity

The main difference between recreational and commercial fishing is the quantity of fish taken from the waterbodies. Commercial fishing is large-scale, while recreational fishing is small-scale.

2. Purpose

While commercial fishing is an activity to profit by selling mass-harvested fish, recreational fishing is done mainly for self-satisfaction.

3. Regulations

The world’s waters are primary sources of people’s needs. This is why lawful regulations are made to protect, conserve, and nurture natural resources for future generations to come. Whether recreational or commercial fishing, every state in America has regulations for anglers to comply with responsibly. These two types of fishing differ in coverage and scope of limitations, and rules to follow. All anglers must be updated and adhere to these regulations to avoid penalties and other corresponding consequences. Regulations in every American state are mostly available on their websites, or you may call their wildlife and fisheries department for details:

• Alabama (334) 242-3465
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