fishing

620 1.0

Catching fish for fun or as a job

noun
/ˈfɪʃɪŋ/

: pesca

The Moroccan coast is a rich fishing ground, and a lot of people make their living from the sea.
commercial fishing
fishing industry
recreational fishing

Yeah, I want to do a spear fishing class.

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Examples

Floyd Anderson, Jr., and his son, Will, check out possible fishing holes in Thighman Lake.

Academic text (1999)
On sunny weekends, I enjoy fishing at the lake with my father.
This is like my best day of fishing ever.
Maybe if you love fishing, sell fishing stuff.
Hell of a fishing trip!

Lethal Weapon 4 (1998)
He used to take me fishing every Sunday.

Absolution (2024)
For years, experts have been calling for safer commercial fishing boats and better emergency training for crewmembers.

Academic text (2011)
Japan prefers to have its vessels apply for fishing permits as needed on an individual basis.

Academic text (1990)
It was just outside of Belize, and I was on a fishing boat two klicks away.

The Gorge (2025)
In Wildwood, Stephen worked on a fishing boat, a deep-sea charter named The Pied Piper.

Fiction book (1990)

Synonyms

fly-fishing

vsfishing

11 3.7

To fish with a rod and line using small fake flies as bait

is the general activity using any technique rather than that specific method

angling

vsfishing

4 3.4

A form of fishing with a rod and line, usually using a hook

is the broader activity that includes all methods of catching fish

sportfishing

vsfishing

2 3.7

Fishing for fun or competition instead of for food and money

also covers catching fish as a job or for commercial purpose

spearfishing

vsfishing

1 3.8

Catching fish underwater using a spear or long pointed stick

is the general activity using many tools and methods, not only spears

surf fishing

vsfishing

Specialized

1 5.0

Fishing from the beach by throwing bait or lures into the sea where waves break

includes all locations and methods, not only casting from the shoreline

catfishing

vsfishing

1 3.4

Fishing for catfish in rivers and lakes for food or sport

is broader and applies to catching any fish species for work or pleasure

Idioms

gone fishing

Informal

1 8.1

Not paying attention because you are thinking about something else

to fishing in troubled waters

Informal

8.4

To try to gain from a difficult situation by using other people's confusion

Compounds

fishing boat

32 1.1

A boat used for catching fish that often has a space to keep the fish alive

fishing pole

12 1.4

A long thin rod used to catch fish by holding a line and throwing it into the water

fly-fishing

11 3.7

To fish with a rod and line using small fake flies as bait

fishing line

11 2.0

A strong thin string used to catch fish with a hook

fishing rod

9 1.3

A long, thin pole used to catch fish

fishing expedition

Informal

9 6.5

An investigation done to find damaging information with little or no evidence

fishing gear

8 1.7

Equipment that people use to catch fish, like rods, nets, lines and hooks

fishing industry

6 1.9

Businesses that catch, prepare, and sell animals from the sea

fishing vessel

Specialized

6 3.2

A boat or ship used to catch fish, often with tanks to keep the fish alive

fishing net

5 1.4

A net people pull through water to catch fish

fishing license

Formal

4 2.4

A permit that lets you fish legally

fishing tackle

3 2.5

Tools used for catching fish, like lines and hooks

fishing season

Formal

2 2.2

A time of year when it is allowed to catch fish in a place

fishing rig

1 3.0

A set of tools such as a rod, line, hook, and reel used to catch fish

surf fishing

Specialized

1 5.0

Fishing from the beach by throwing bait or lures into the sea where waves break

fishing eagle

7.0

A large bird that catches fish from rivers or lakes

fishing permit

Formal

3.1

An official document that lets you fish in a certain area for a set time

fishing smack

7.0

A boat used to catch fish that has a tank to keep the catch alive

fishing worm

2.5

A worm that people use as bait to catch fish

How Serious

fishing industry

6 1.9

fishing

620 1.0

Surface Forms

fishing singular

fishings plural

Morphology

fishing = fish (transparent) = fish + ing

A straightforward gerund/nominalization of the verb 'fish' denoting the activity of catching fish.

Etymology

Fishing comes from the simple word fish plus the ending -ing, which turns it into a word for an action. So fishing literally means 'the activity of catching fish', whether for fun or as a job.