Fishing isn’t one-size-fits-all. From quiet afternoons on the canal to surf casting into rolling waves, the sport has something for everyone. This page is here to break down the main types of fishing in the UK, so you can find the one (or few!) that suit your vibe, location, and goals.
1. Coarse Fishing
The most popular form of freshwater fishing in the UK, coarse fishing targets species that aren’t classed as game fish—like carp, roach, bream, tench, perch, and pike.
- Where: Stillwaters, canals, rivers
- Tactics: Float fishing, feeder fishing, ledgering
- Why it’s great: Accessible, beginner-friendly, loads of venues
2. Game Fishing
Game fishing traditionally means targeting trout and salmon, often using artificial flies.
- Where: Rivers, streams, reservoirs
- Tactics: Fly fishing, spinning, bait fishing (for salmon)
- Why it’s great: Challenging, elegant, and often in beautiful locations
3. Carp Fishing
Carp fishing has almost become its own category, with dedicated gear, tactics, and even culture around it.
- Where: Stillwaters, commercial fisheries, gravel pits
- Tactics: Hair rigs, boilies, bite alarms, long sessions
- Why it’s great: Big fish, strategic thinking, and patience rewarded
4. Predator Fishing
This is all about targeting toothy or aggressive species like pike, perch, and zander.
- Where: Lakes, rivers, canals
- Tactics: Lure fishing, deadbaiting, livebaiting
- Why it’s great: Exciting takes, active style, lighter tackle thrills
5. Match Fishing
Competitive fishing where anglers aim to catch the most weight or number of fish within a time limit.
- Where: Commercial fisheries, canals, club waters
- Tactics: Precision, speed, efficiency
- Why it’s great: Sharpens your skills, fun social side, prize potential
6. Sea Fishing (Shore-Based)
Casting from beaches, piers, harbours, and rocky marks into saltwater for species like bass, mackerel, flatfish, and pollack.
- Where: Coastlines across the UK
- Tactics: Beachcasting, spinning, float fishing
- Why it’s great: No licence needed, loads of variety, always changing
7. Boat Fishing (Sea)
Head offshore or around inshore waters to target deeper-dwelling species like cod, conger eel, tope, and smoothhound.
- Where: Sea charters, private boats
- Tactics: Bottom fishing, jigging, drifting
- Why it’s great: Bigger fish, deeper water, adventure vibes
8. Fly Fishing
A specialised form of angling where you cast a lightweight fly using a weighted line.
- Where: Rivers, reservoirs, stillwaters
- Targets: Trout, salmon, grayling (and increasingly, coarse fish)
- Why it’s great: Skill-based, graceful, very rewarding
9. Lure Fishing
Using artificial lures to mimic prey and provoke a strike. It’s fast, visual, and mobile.
- Where: Freshwater and saltwater
- Targets: Perch, pike, bass, pollack, zander
- Why it’s great: Active, no bait to deal with, minimal kit needed
10. Urban Fishing
Fishing in canals, rivers, docks, and park lakes right in the middle of towns and cities.
- Where: Anywhere from Manchester to London to Glasgow
- Tactics: Stealthy, light gear, early starts
- Why it’s great: Close to home, often overlooked, surprisingly productive