Different types of fishing – Which one is for you?

There are many different fishing styles, but finding the right fishing method for you isn’t easy. Many fishermen practice multiple different types of fishing before finding their favorite, whereas some pick multiple different types of fishing to continue practicing.

In this article, you’ll learn what the different types of fishing are, and what the main differences are between them. We’ll also go into why it’s so popular as well as some of the advantages and disadvantages.

In short: The different types of fishing

There are two main types of fishing, mainly freshwater fishing, and saltwater fishing. Within each of these types, there are many different methods that are practiced, like ice fishing, fly fishing, and bait fishing. In this article, we’re going to dive deeper into the different types of fishing, as well as the different methods.

Saltwater fishing

Saltwater fishing is all fishing done in saltwater. This includes the ocean, but also seas and channels that contain saltwater. Saltwater contains a huge variety of fish species and it’s also where most of the largest fish in the world live. Sharks, marlin, and various other large ocean-dwelling fish are seen as prized catches.

Saltwater fishing is especially popular due to the fact you never know what you’re going to catch, as well as the size of some of the fish are in seas and oceans. You may catch nothing more than a few tiny fish one day and get caught on the other end of a shark the next. The excitement and apparent randomness is something that makes saltwater fishing so incredible. 

Saltwater fishing can be split up into two main types, namely onshore saltwater fishing and off-shore saltwater fishing. Both have their advantages and disadvantages as well as their own variations, so we’ll go into each one below.

On-shore saltwater fishing

Saltwater shore fishing is basically any saltwater fishing you do with your feet planted firmly on land. Shore casting, meaning casting a line from the shore into the ocean is common, but there are also other varieties like pier fishing and, very rarely, ice fishing. All of these styles of on-shore saltwater fishing have their pros and cons, the main difference being that you don’t need access to a boat to get started.

On-shore saltwater fishing gives you most of the same benefits of off-shore saltwater fishing, but with a different range of fish species you can catch. Most of the prized saltwater catches are deep sea fish, so you may have a hard time catching these on-shore. However, there is a nice range of fish you can catch off a pier or from the beach, especially considering you don’t need to get your hands on a baot to do it. Panfish, sandtrout, redfish and flounder are some of the fish you may encounter when fishing a beach or pier. That being said, the range of different fish you can catch form the beach or a pier is huge, so it is impossible to list them all.

Check which fish live in the shallows off the beaches in your country to get an idea what kinds of fish you might catch.

Off-shore saltwater fishing

Off-shore saltwater fishing is the creme de la creme of saltwater fishing as it allows you to go after the big game fish. Marlin, tuna, and even various shark species are encountered when fishing saltwater off-shore. The big downside to offshore saltwater fishing is, of course, the fact that you need a boat to do it. You can either charter a boat or get one yourself, whichever floats your boat!

There are various different types of off-shore fishing, like fishing from a kayak or fishing deeper waters in a real boat. The equipment you need for deepwater fishing is more robust and needs to be able to withstand more force. Big game fish put up quite a fight and they can cause very dangerous situations to inexperienced fishermen. When fishing for game fish, make sure you have the manpower to reel the fish in and release it properly. This often means going with multiple people to ensure a safe trip.

Off-shore saltwater fishing can get very exciting, with a huge array of different species that can be caught. Below are some of the most prized saltwater catches.

Prized saltwater fish

Saltwater fishing is a type of fishing that’s turned into a true sport, with many different prized catches ranging from smaller rare fish to large behemoths that ensure thrilling catches. Below is a short overview of some of the most prized saltwater catches:

Blue Marlin

Blue marlin are large sea creatures with long pointed snouts. Although they are classed as endangered, they are still allowed to be fished as long as they are released back into the ocean. They’re one of the most prized saltwater catches due to their impressive size, unique appearance, and legendary fighting attitude.

Sailfish

Sailfish look very similar to marlins but with some small but important differences. They’re one of the fastest saltwater fish around and are difficult to catch which has given them a legendary status amongst saltwater fishermen.

Bluefin tuna

Bluefin tuna are tough fish to catch and can put up one hell of a fight. These humongous fish can grow in excess of 400 kg and have the reputation of fighting for a long time after they’ve been hooked.

Swordfish

With a similar appearance to both Sailfin and Marlin, the swordfish is known for its long sword at the end of its head. They are hard to find and extremely difficult to reel in. A special setup is needed if you want to catch one of these giants due to their fast speed and immense power.

Tarpon

Tarpon is particularly challenging to catch since they’re not just elusive but can jump out of the water which can cause the hook to fall out. 

Wahoo

Wahoo are one of the fastest fish in the sea so expect hot reels and quite a struggle when trying to hook one of these monsters. Not only are they very fast and elusive, they’re also difficult to keep on the line once hooked.

Freshwater fishing

There are different types of bodies of water you can fish, each of which harboring its own types of fish and requiring its own style. Freshwater fishing is very diverse, with a huge range of locations, scenery, and fish to choose from. 

The first two types of freshwater fishing to distinguish between are natural waters and man-made waters. There are many fishing ponds where fish have been released so fishermen can catch fish. These are great places to catch fish and can be a good place if you want to ensure a catch, but don’t provide the same experience as you might get fishing natural rivers or lakes. Since man-made fishing ponds don’t require as much explanation, we’re going to focus on natural waters in this article.

There are two main types of freshwater, these are lakes/ponds and rivers. Both have their advantages and both can harbor freshwater giants depending on where you’re located. Below are some popular freshwater fish to go after are:

• Freshwater bass (rainbow bass, striped bass, largemouth bass etc)

Bass species are very popular amongst freshwater fishermen and there are a lot of different varieties that can be caught.

• Alligator gar

Growing to up to 3 meters long, this scary-looking fish is a prized catch and looks very impressive.

• Muskie

Muskies are a prized catch due to how difficult they are to catch. Finding them is challenging enough, but reeling them in isn’t an easy feat either which means that when you do, it’s all the more impressive.

• Carp

Carp are very popular freshwater fish, with various different species being caught all around the world. 

• Salmon

Salmon is, of course, a popular fish to catch due to them being so well known. They’re a prized catch and are commonly fished during the salmon run. Fishing is controlled in most parts of the world due to dwindling populations, however.

• Crappie

Crappie fishing is growing in popularity and they are a prized catch amongst many freshwater fishermen.

• Catfish

There are various catfish species around the world, many of which grow to immense sizes and are prized catches.

• Sturgeon

Stugeon can be extremely large for freshwater fish and they’re very popular catches, especially when they’re large.

Which type of fishing is right for me?

Many hobbyists don’t just pick one, and you’ll often see a clearer divide between freshwater and saltwater fishing than between the different kinds of freshwater fishing or saltwater fishing. That being said, the method that’s used is often a bigger factor than the “type” of fishing.

There are a few different methods of fishing, with many sub-methods for each. Since we’re not going to cover net fishing or spear fishing, we’re just going to focus on fishing done with a line/rod in this post.

One thing I will say is that handfishing is growing in popularity and can be used to catch species of catfish. It’s an interesting technique, though it’s not for the faint of hearted. If it interests you, take a look at our article on the topic.

Fly fishing and angling are amongst the most popular fishing methods. Angling uses a rod, line and hook to catch fish, and uses bait to lure the fish. Fly fishing uses artificial lures to attract fish, which is the main difference.

Both methods target different fish species and require different skills to master. Each of these methods has many different “sub-methods” which are used in various situations. The exact method you prefer will have a lot to do with what you enjoy doing, as well as the type of fish you’re going after.

Conclusion

There are two main kinds of fishing, namely freshwater fishing and saltwater fishing. There are also many different methods, with angling and fly fishing being the two most popular ones. To find the right type of fishing for you, you need to experiment and give different types of fishing a try. Although some recreational fishing enthusiasts might specify, many love trying different methods and varying the type of fishing they partake in.