Trawling vs Trolling: What’s the Difference?

If you hear someone say they are trolling for fish, they are not necessarily talking about internet arguments. And if someone mentions trawling, they are talking about a completely different fishing technique.

The difference between trawling vs trolling mainly comes down to the fishing gear being used. Trawling involves pulling a net through the water, while trolling involves dragging baited lines or lures behind a moving boat.

The two words sound almost identical, which explains why trolling or trawling is such a common source of confusion. Let’s break down the difference in simple terms.

Trawling vs Trolling: The Quick Difference

The easiest way to remember the distinction is:

• Trawling = a net
• Trolling = a line with bait or a lure

In trawling, a boat tows a specially designed net through the water. Depending on the type of trawl, the net may operate near the seafloor or higher in the water column.

In trolling, a boat moves through the water while pulling one or more fishing lines equipped with bait or artificial lures. NOAA describes trolling as a surface or subsurface fishing method in which lines are dragged behind a vessel.

What Is Trawling?

Trawling is a fishing technique in which a net is towed through the water by one or more vessels.

The net is generally funnel- or cone-shaped. Fish and other organisms encountered by the moving net are directed toward its closed rear section, called the codend, where the catch accumulates.

Trawling isn’t limited to one part of the ocean. Two important forms are bottom trawling and midwater trawling.

Bottom Trawling

Bottom trawling involves towing a net along or close to the ocean floor. The gear is designed to keep the net open while it moves across the bottom and captures species living there or nearby.

Common target species can include:

• Groundfish
• Flatfish
• Shrimp
• Skates
• Some species of squid

The exact equipment and operation depend on the fishery and target species.

Midwater Trawling

Midwater trawling is different because the net is towed through the water column rather than directly along the seafloor.

NOAA notes that midwater trawls are designed to capture target species in the water column, with examples including herring, pollock and squid.

So, the word trawling does not automatically mean “dragging a net across the ocean floor.” The net can operate at different depths.

What Is Trolling in Fishing?

Trolling is a fishing method in which bait or artificial lures are pulled through the water behind a moving vessel.

Instead of a large net, the fisherman uses one or more lines with hooks, bait or lures. The movement of the boat makes the bait or lure appear like potential prey to fish.

Trolling is commonly associated with pelagic fish such as:

• Tuna
• Salmon
• Mackerel
• Other fast-swimming or open-water species

The number of lines can vary considerably. Some fishing vessels use multiple lines, sometimes separating them with outriggers or trolling booms.

How Does Trolling Work?

A simplified trolling setup looks like this:

1. A fishing line is attached to a rod, reel or other fishing equipment.
2. A hook is fitted with natural bait or an artificial lure.
3. The line is released behind the boat.
4. The boat moves at a controlled speed.
5. Fish encounter the bait or lure and may strike it.
6. The angler or crew retrieves the line after a fish is hooked.

The exact speed depends on the target species, gear and fishing conditions. NOAA’s glossary gives a general trolling range of about 2 to 10 knots, while specific fisheries may operate within narrower ranges.

Trawl vs Troll: The Key Difference

If you’re wondering about trawl vs troll, the simplest distinction is that these words describe different fishing gear and techniques.

Trawl

A trawl is the net used for trawling. It is typically a cone-shaped net with an opening at the front and a closed collection section at the back.

Example:

The fishing vessel deployed a trawl to catch shrimp.

Troll

As a fishing term, troll means to drag bait or an artificial lure through the water, usually from a moving vessel.

Example:

The crew planned to troll for tuna offshore.

So:

Trawl → net

Troll → bait or lure on a line

That small distinction makes the two terms much easier to remember.

Trolling or Trawling: Which One Should You Use?

The correct word depends on what you’re describing.

Use trolling when someone is fishing by pulling baited lines or lures behind a moving boat.

We spent the morning trolling for salmon.

Use trawling when a fishing vessel is pulling a trawl net through the water.

The vessel was trawling for groundfish.

A useful memory trick is:

TROLL = LINE

TRAWL = NET

Once you connect each word with its gear, the spelling becomes much easier.

Trolling vs Trawling in Commercial Fishing

Both methods can be used commercially, so it would be inaccurate to say that trolling is always recreational while trawling is always commercial.

NOAA, for example, documents commercial troll fisheries in which vessels tow multiple baited lines or lures.

Trawling is also widely used in commercial fisheries. Depending on the gear and fishery, trawlers can target species ranging from shrimp and squid to groundfish and other marine organisms.

The more important distinction is therefore the gear and method, not simply whether the fishing is commercial or recreational.

Why the Difference Matters

The difference between trolling vs trawling isn’t just a spelling lesson. The two techniques can have very different effects on the way fish are caught.

Trolling uses hooks attached to individual lines, allowing fishermen to target fish attracted to particular baits or lures. Trawling, on the other hand, involves moving a net through an area of water, and its selectivity depends on factors such as mesh size, gear design, target species and how the gear is operated.

Trawling can also involve bycatch—the capture of animals that were not the intended target. Fisheries therefore use various gear modifications and management measures to reduce unwanted catches.

This is one reason it’s useful to distinguish the two methods rather than treating them as interchangeable terms.

Trawl vs Troll: Easy Examples

Here are some examples that make the difference clearer.

Examples of Trawling

• “The vessel was trawling along the seafloor.”
• “The fishermen used a trawl net to catch shrimp.”
• “The research team used trawling to sample marine organisms.”

Examples of Trolling

• “The crew was trolling for tuna.”
• “They dragged several lures behind the boat.”
• “The captain slowed the vessel while trolling for salmon.”

Notice the equipment in each example.

Net → trawling

Line and lure → trolling

Trawling vs Trolling: A Simple Memory Trick

Still mixing them up?

Think about the extra “aw” in trawling.

A trawl is a large net that sweeps through the water.

Meanwhile, trolling is associated with a line and lure being pulled behind a boat.

You can remember it as:

Trawl = net. Troll = lure.

It’s not a scientific rule or linguistic formula, but it’s a handy way to keep the two fishing terms separate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is trawling the same as trolling?

No. Trawling and trolling are different fishing methods. Trawling uses a net that is towed through the water, while trolling uses baited lines or artificial lures pulled behind a moving vessel.

What is the difference between a trawl and a troll?

A trawl is a type of fishing net used for trawling. A troll, when used as a fishing verb, refers to pulling bait or lures through the water to catch fish.

Is trolling or trawling better?

Neither is universally “better.” They are designed for different fishing situations and target species. The appropriate method depends on the fishery, location, regulations, target species and desired fishing technique.

Is trawling always done on the ocean floor?

No. Bottom trawling occurs along or near the seafloor, but midwater trawling takes place higher in the water column.

Is trolling only for recreational fishing?

No. Trolling can also be used commercially. NOAA documents commercial troll fisheries that use baited lines and lures to target pelagic fish.

What does trawling mean in simple terms?

Trawling means pulling a fishing net through the water to catch marine animals. The net may be operated near the bottom or in the middle of the water column.

What does trolling mean in fishing?

Fishing trolling means pulling one or more baited lines or artificial lures through the water, typically behind a moving boat.

Conclusion: Trawling vs Trolling Explained

The difference between trawling vs trolling becomes simple once you focus on the equipment.

Trawling uses a net. Trolling uses bait or lures attached to lines.

Trawling can involve bottom or midwater nets and is widely used in commercial fishing and scientific sampling. Trolling, meanwhile, involves dragging lines through the water and is used in both recreational and commercial fisheries.

So, when you’re deciding between trawling or trolling, trawl vs troll, or trolling vs trawling, remember the simplest rule: net = trawl; lure and line = troll.