Fishing gear | fishing tackle | fishing apparatus | fishing equipment

In fisheries, 'gear' often remains gear in plural. 

CLASSIFICATION OF FISHING GEAR

Fishing gear are grouped in major categories, which are themselves sub-grouped into secondary groups depending on their material makeup, effect on prey, etc. Based on prominent authors such the International Standard Statistical classification of Fishing Gear (ISSCFG), the FAO, etc., below are the major fishing gear categories.

I. FALLING GEARS AND LIFTING GEARS:

I.1. Falling gears are gears cast from above the water surface, such as from a boat, to fall into the water and enclose the fish beneath. These gears are mostly used in shallow waters. Example of falling gear is a cast nets. For more information on read our article on falling gears.

I.2. Lifting gear: these are fishing gears that consist of a horizontal netting panel or a bag shaped like a parallelepiped, pyramid or cone with the opening facing upwards. After being submerged at the required depth, fish are attracted using baits or lures, and at an appropriate timing, the gears are quickly lifted/hauled by hand or a boat to retain the fish above them. An example of lifting gear is the lift net. Read our article on falling gears.

II. PASSIVE AND ACTIVE GEARS

II.1. Passive gears / static gears: fishing gears, which do not move in water for harvesting of fish. Examples of passive gears are gillnets, traps, long-line, etc.

II.2. Active gears: fishing gears casted into or dragged through the water by human, animal or engine power. They are designed to be dragged or towed. E.g. trawl nets, seine nets (beach seine, purse seine), dredges etc.

III. CLASSIFICATION BASED ON MATERIAL AND USAGE

1. Net gears:

These are gears partly or fully made of netting. This gear group is one of the most popular set of gears and incorporates fishing implements or equipment that are made of string, thread or wire twisted or tied together (netting) or interwoven rope, wire, etc. under this major category of fishing gear are sub categories like:

• surrounding nets;
• seine nets;
• trawl nets;
• dredges;
• lift nets;
• cast nets;
• gillnets and entangling nets.

For more information on net gears, read our article on net gears.

2. Fishing traps / trapping gears

As the name may tell, trapping gears, simply called traps are passive fishing gear having the form of a basket, pot, box, or cage, which are often placed at the bottom of water and used to trap fish, crabs, and other aquatic resources. Fishing traps include:

• Stationary Uncovered Pound Nets
• Pots
• Fyke Nets
• Stow Nets
• Barriers, Fences, Weirs, Corrals, etc.
• Aerial Traps

For more information on net gears, read our article on fishing traps

3. Hooks and lines

With these gears, the fish are attracted by a natural or artificial bait (lure) placed on a hook or series of hooks fixed to the end of a line or snood, on which they are caught. Hooks or metallic points (jigs) are also used to catch fish by ripping them when they pass near. This is in particular the case with the jigging lines for squids, which are provided with artificial lures with multiple hooks. The line is often given a jerky up-and-down movement, which attracts the squid to the jig on which it is caught. These category includes:

• Handlines and Pole-Lines (Hand Operated)
• Handlines and Pole-Lines (Mechanized)
• Set Longlines
• Drifting Longlines
• Longlines (Not Specified)
• Trolling Lines

4. Grappling and wounding gears

These are gears for killing aquatic preys by wound or grappling them. Some are harpoon, spear, prong, arrows, etc.

5. Harvesting gear

These are equipment used to harvest living aquatic resources. Examples include: fishing pumps.

6. Miscellaneous

This category includes all other gears that are not mentioned above notably:

• - scoop nets and landing nets (with fixed or variable opening, operated in shallow waters or from boats);
• - poisons and explosives (prohibited in general);
•  - trained animals;
• - drive-in-nets (not specified elsewhere);
• - hand implements (with or without diving equipment);