The different types of fishing explained

Coarse fishing

Coarse fishing means anything that isn't game (trout/salmon) or sea fishing — carp, roach, bream, perch, tench, barbel and pike, mostly caught in lakes, canals and rivers using float or feeder tactics. It's the most widely practised style in the UK and the one most day-ticket and club waters on this map are set up for. Coarse fishing on rivers is subject to the statutory close season (15 March-15 June); most lakes and canals stay open all year.

Game (fly) fishing

Game fishing targets trout, salmon and grayling, almost always using a fly rod and artificial flies rather than bait. It's traditionally associated with rivers and reservoirs stocked specifically for trout, and it has its own separate rod licence category on top of the standard coarse licence. Technique matters more here than in most other styles — casting, fly choice and reading the water are the core skills, not just finding the right swim.

Sea fishing

Sea fishing covers anything from beach and pier casting to boat trips, targeting species like bass, mackerel, cod, pollack and flatfish. No rod licence is needed for sea fishing in the UK, which makes it one of the more accessible ways to start. Access is generally free from public beaches, piers and rock marks, though some venues (piers, private boat charters) charge their own fee.

Predator fishing

Predator fishing specifically targets pike, perch and zander using lures, dead-bait or live-bait rather than the bread/sweetcorn/boilie approach used for most coarse species. It's really a subset of coarse fishing rather than a separate licence category, but it deserves its own mention because the handling and safety considerations are different — pike in particular need proper unhooking mats, forceps and care around their teeth, not general-purpose coarse tackle.

Carp fishing

Carp fishing has grown into its own specialist branch of coarse fishing, often involving longer sessions (day tickets through to multi-day syndicate bookings), bite alarms, boilies and purpose-built bank gear. Many of the day-ticket and syndicate lakes on this map are carp-specific waters, stocked and managed specifically around carp rather than general mixed coarse fishing.

Match fishing

Match fishing is competitive coarse fishing: anglers fish a set peg for a fixed time and the heaviest total weight wins. It's more about consistency and technique under a clock than landing one specimen fish, and it's a common route into the sport through local club leagues. The venue and species don't change, the format does.

Check your licence and the venue's own rules before you set off. The rod licence covers freshwater fishing nationally; the venue's own permit or day-ticket rules (bait restrictions, session times, keep-net policy) are separate and vary a lot between waters. See our resources page for licence and close season details.

Handle fish properly, especially predators. A wet unhooking mat, forceps and (for pike) a proper gag or forceps designed for the job protect both you and the fish. If in doubt about a species' handling needs, ask on the bank or check before you go.

Not sure what you've caught? Upload a photo and we'll help you work it out, or check our species ID guide first.