Coarse fishing in the context of Chalk stream

Groundbait is a fishing bait that is either thrown or "balled" into the water as an "appetizer" in order to olfactorily attract more fish to a designated area (i.e. fishing ground) for more efficient catching via angling, netting, trapping, or even spearing and shooting. Groundbaits are typically scattered separately from the hook and usually before even casting any rod or net, although in bottom fishing they can be deployed synchronously with hookbaits while contained inside a gradual-release device also attached to the fishing line known as a method feeder.

Groundbaits are often used in freshwater coarse fishing (where the target fish are commonly omnivorous or algivorous and might not be easily drawn to the hookbait), and can be custom-made personally by the angler or bulk-purchased from dedicated manufacturers. There are many different recipes of groundbaits that can be used to target specific species of fish. Groundbait can differ by the sizes of the crumbs, type of seed, colour and smell. The angler can also mix additives to the groundbait to alter its firmness in order to control the rate of bait release or breakdown once in the water.

Bycatch (or by-catch), in the fishing industry, is a fish or other marine species that is caught unintentionally while fishing for specific species or sizes of wildlife. Bycatch is either the wrong species, the wrong sex, or is undersized or juveniles of the target species. The term "bycatch" is also sometimes used for untargeted catch in other forms of animal harvesting or collecting. Non-marine species (freshwater fish not saltwater fish) that are caught (either intentionally or unintentionally) but regarded as generally "undesirable" are referred to as rough fish (mainly US) or coarse fish (mainly UK).

In 1997, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) defined bycatch as "total fishing mortality, excluding that accounted directly by the retained catch of target species". Bycatch contributes to fishery decline and is a mechanism of overfishing for unintentional catch.

Catch and release is a practice within recreational fishing where after capture the fish is unhooked and returned live to the water. Originally adopted in the United Kingdom by coarse fishermen to preserve fish populations, it has since become a widely used technique to permit people to fish recreationally while ensuring sustainability in the face of growing human populations, mounting ecological pressure, increasingly effective fishing tackle and techniques, inadequate fishing regulations and enforcement, and habitat degradation.

Between 18 and 20% of fish released die from injuries and stress, although the rate varies by species. Among those that survive, their injuries may significantly reduce their ability to feed and grow. During tournaments, inadequate holding and weighing procedures may further increase mortality. With deep sea fishing in particular, fish are typically unable to adjust their physiology to the sudden pressure change. Scientific and philosophical debates over whether fish feel pain in a way similar to humans are unresolved. In the 21st century, there is a greater emphasis on developing techniques which increase the likelihood that released fish will survive, such as using barbless hooks. Catch and release is banned in Switzerland and Germany, while Canada requires barbless hooks in some cases.

Fly fishing is an angling technique that uses an ultra-lightweight lure called an artificial fly, which typically mimics small invertebrates such as flying and aquatic insects to attract and catch fish. Because the mass of the fly lure is insufficient to overcome air resistance, it cannot be launched far using conventional gears and techniques, so specialized tackles are used instead and the casting techniques are significantly different from other forms of angling. It is also very common for the angler to wear waders, carry a hand net, and stand in the water when fishing.

Fly fishing primarily targets predatory fish that have a significant amount of very small-sized prey in their diet, and can be done in fresh or saltwater. North Americans usually distinguish freshwater fishing between cold-water species (trout, salmon) and warm-water species (notably black bass). In Britain, where natural water temperatures vary less, the distinction is between game fishing for trout and salmon versus coarse fishing for other species. Techniques for fly fishing differ with habitat (lakes and ponds, small streams, large rivers, bays and estuaries, and open ocean.)