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by The Team
Commercial fishing plays a significant role in the seafood industry. And thanks to seafood marketplaces like Manettas, we get to enjoy the ocean’s bounties at their freshest.
Whether you’re a seasoned angler or a curious beginner, understanding the language of fishing is essential for becoming a proficient fisherman (or a learned seafood lover!) and appreciating the aquatic wonders around us.
In this comprehensive glossary, we dive into the alphabet to provide easy-to-understand definitions and explanations of various fish-related terms. From A to Z, we cover everything you need to know to navigate the waters of fishing terminology with confidence.
Action fishing lure – The movement or behaviour exhibited by a fishing lure when it’s in the water. Different lures have distinct actions, such as wobbling, diving or twitching, designed to attract fish.
Action fishing rod – The responsiveness or flexibility of a fishing rod when pressure is applied. Fast action rods bend mostly at the tip, while slow action rods bend along their entire length.
Adipose fin – A small, fleshy fin located on the back of some fish, including salmon and trout. It has no known function but serves as a distinctive feature for identifying certain species.
Anal fin – Situated on the underside of a fish, the anal fin helps stabilise and steer the fish during swimming. Its size and shape can vary significantly across different species of fish.
Angler – The person engaged in the act of fishing, seeking to catch fish for sport, recreation or sustenance. Anglers can use various fishing techniques and tools.
Artificial lures – Man-made fishing baits designed to imitate the appearance and movement of natural prey. They come in various forms, such as crankbaits, soft plastics and spoons.
Aquatic plants – Plant species that live or have adapted to thrive in water environments like lakes, rivers, ponds and marshes.
Farmed in NSW, the Murray cod is a delectable catch.
Baited hook – A hook with live or dead bait attached to it, intended to entice fish to bite. The type of bait used can vary depending on the target species and fishing conditions.
Breaking strain – The maximum amount of tension or force a fishing line can endure before it breaks. Understanding the breaking strain is crucial for anglers to avoid instances wherein the fishing line breaks while battling with strong and elusive fish.
Bird’s nest – A frustrating tangle or knot that occurs in the fishing line when it’s not spooled correctly on the reel. Proper spooling and regular line maintenance can prevent this issue.
Bony fishes – A class of fish, also known as Osteichthyes, characterised by having skeletons made of bone. The vast majority of fish species belong to this class.
Casting – The act of propelling a fishing line and bait (or lure) through the air, aiming for a specific target area in the water where the fish may be located.
Continental shelf – The shallow, submerged extension of a continent that gradually slopes down from the shoreline into deeper ocean waters. The continental shelf is often rich in marine life, making it a prime fishing spot.
Caudal fin – Also known as the tail fin, the caudal fin is the primary means of propulsion for most fish. Its shape and size can vary depending on the species of fish.
Circle hook – A type of fishing hook with the point curved inwards, resembling a circle. Circle hooks are designed to reduce deep hooking and increase the chance of catching the fish in the corner of the mouth, promoting catch-and-release practices.
Coarse fish – Species of fish commonly found in freshwater bodies like ponds, lakes and rivers, often pursued by anglers for recreational purposes. Examples include carp, bream and roach.
Commercial fishing – Fishing conducted for profit, usually involving larger-scale operations with specialised equipment and vessels.
Crank bait – A type of fishing lure designed with a diving lip that causes the bait to dive and swim when retrieved, imitating the movement of prey fish and attracting predatory fish.
De-hooker – A tool used by anglers to safely remove fishing hooks from a fish’s mouth, minimising harm to the fish and facilitating catch-and-release practices.
Dorsal fin – The fin located on the back of a fish, often used for stability and manoeuvring. The size and shape of the dorsal fin can vary across species.
Dry fly – A type of artificial fly used in fly fishing, designed to float on the water’s surface. Dry flies imitate adult insects and are meant to attract fish when they rise to feed on the water’s surface.
Ebb tide – The period when the tide is receding or flowing out from the shore, creating a decrease in water level.
Eddy – A circular current or whirlpool of water that moves in the opposite direction to the main current, often found behind obstructions in rivers or streams.
Electrofishing – A fishing technique that uses an electric current to temporarily stun fish, making them easier to catch and study for scientific research or population assessment purposes.
Fingerling – A young fish that has grown beyond the larval stage and has developed finger-like proportions, typically measuring a few inches in length.
Fishfinder – An electronic device used to detect fish presence in the surrounding waters.
Fishing equipment or fishing gear – The tools and gear used for fishing, including fishing rods, reels, lines, lures, hooks and terminal tackle. Proper equipment selection is crucial for a successful fishing trip.
Fishing hook – A curved, pointed device attached to a fishing line, used to catch fish by penetrating their mouths or bodies. Hooks come in various styles and sizes.
Fishing method – The specific technique or approach used to catch fish. Methods can include trolling, jigging, casting and more.
Fishing line – The string-like material used to connect the fishing hook to the fishing rod. Fishing lines can be made from monofilament, braided or fluorocarbon materials.
Fishing lure – An artificial bait designed to attract and deceive fish into biting. Lures can imitate natural prey like insects, fish or small mammals.
Fishing reel – A mechanical device attached to a fishing rod that allows anglers to wind and release the fishing line. Fishing reels come in various types, such as spinning, baitcasting and fly reels.
Fishing rig – A specific arrangement of fishing tackle and bait used to target particular species of fish or fishing conditions.
Freshwater eels – A group of elongated fish species that live in freshwater and estuarine environments. Eels are known for their slippery and snake-like appearance.
Want some grilled eel delivered to your home? This and other seafood options are available online at Manettas.
Fly fishing – A specialised fishing technique that involves using a lightweight artificial fly to lure fish. This method requires skill in casting and presenting the fly accurately.
Fly line – A specialised type of fishing line used in fly fishing, designed to cast lightweight artificial flies with precision and control.
Game fish – Species of fish pursued for sport and recreation due to their size, strength and fighting abilities. Examples include marlin, tuna and sailfish.
Hooked fish – A fish that has taken the bait and has the hook embedded in its mouth or body. Hooking a fish is the initial step in catching it.
Hook bait – The bait or lure attached to the fishing hook, enticing fish to bite. Choosing the right hook baits is essential for attracting the target fish species and increasing the chances of a successful catch.
Hook link – A short length of fishing line tied between the mainline and the fishing hook, allowing for greater flexibility and natural presentation of bait or lure.
Inshore fishing – The practice of fishing in the coastal or nearshore waters, typically within sight of the shoreline, targeting species of fish that inhabit these shallower areas.
Jerk bait – A fishing lure designed to be twitched or jerked erratically during retrieval, imitating wounded prey fish and enticing predatory fish to strike.
Jigging – A fishing technique that involves vertically lifting and dropping a weighted lure or jig in the water to imitate natural movement, attracting the attention of fish and enticing them to bite.
Lateral line – A sensory organ found in fish and some other aquatic animals. It runs along the sides of the fish’s body and detects changes in water pressure, helping the fish detect movement and vibrations in the water.
Largemouth bass – A popular freshwater game fish, native to North America, known for its large mouth and aggressive feeding behaviour. Largemouth bass are a favourite target for many anglers.
Like the largemouth bass, the big eye perch has a large mouth, too—along with a delicate flavour great for poaching or baking.
Live bait – Live organisms, such as minnows, worms or insects, used as bait to attract fish.
Livewell – A container or compartment on a fishing boat designed to hold fish alive while in the water, typically equipped with pumps or aerators to provide oxygen and keep the fish healthy until they are released or taken for weigh-in.
Main fishing line – The primary line on a fishing reel that connects to the fishing rod. The main line can be made from various materials, including monofilament and braided lines.
Neap tide – A type of tide with minimal variation between high and low water levels, occurring during the first and third quarters of the lunar month.
Outrigger – A device, typically a horizontal pole or arm, extending from a boat to the side. It is used to spread fishing lines away from the boat, helping to prevent tangles and provide better control over multiple lines while trolling or fishing.
Pectoral fin – Located on the sides of a fish, the pectoral fins aid in balance and steering while swimming. The size and shape of the pectoral fins can vary among fish species.
Pelagic fish – Fish that inhabit the open water column, away from the bottom of the body of water. Examples include tuna, mackerel and sharks.
Blue mackerel is easy on the eyes as it is delightful on the taste buds.
Pelvic fin – Situated on the underside of a fish, the pelvic fins provide stability and control during swimming.
Predatory fish – Species of fish that primarily feed on other fish or smaller aquatic animals. These types of fish are often at the top of the food chain in their ecosystems.
Rod tip – The top end of a fishing rod, where the line is usually attached and movements are most easily detected during fishing.
Run – The sudden and strong movement of a fish taking the bait or lure, indicating that it has bitten and is attempting to escape. It’s often used in the context of catching multiple fish of the same species in quick succession.
Shoal – A large group of fish swimming together, typically of the same species, often found in shallow waters or near the surface.
Soft plastic lure – A type of artificial lure made of soft, flexible material that resembles various types of baitfish, insects and worms.
Spinning reel – A type of fishing reel that allows the fishing line to unwind freely from the spool, making it ideal for casting and retrieving lures.
Tail fin – Another name for the caudal fin—the primary means of propulsion for most fish.
Terminal tackle – The components attached to the end of the fishing line, including hooks, swivels and weights. Terminal tackle aids in presenting the bait or lure effectively.
Treble hook – A fishing hook with three barbed points, designed to increase the chances of hooking a fish.
Trolling – A fishing method that involves dragging baited lines or lures through the water from a moving boat, enticing fish to bite.
Salmon is unmistakably one of the ocean’s finest bounties. There’s a reason the Tasmanian salmon is a true Australian favourite.
Walking the dog – A fishing technique used with topwater lures, where the angler imparts a side-to-side zigzag motion to the lure resembling the movement of a walking dog. This action is often used to entice predatory fish to strike.
Water column – The vertical extent of water in a body of water, from the surface to the bottom. Different species of fish occupy different parts of the water column.
Water depth – The distance from the water’s surface to the bottom. Understanding water depth is crucial in determining where fish are likely to be located.
Yearling – A young fish that is one year old or in its second year of life.
Zooplankton – Tiny, often microscopic, aquatic organisms that drift in water bodies, serving as a primary food source for many small fish and aquatic creatures.
Understanding fish terminology is essential for every angler, and we hope this comprehensive glossary has equipped you with the necessary vocabulary to enhance your fishing adventures. Keep in mind that more than catching fish, fishing is about connecting with nature and enjoying the serenity of the sea. Happy fishing!
