Coarse fishing is a term used in the
United Kingdom and
Ireland for
angling for
coarse fish. Coarse fish are freshwater fish that are distinguished from
game fish. Freshwater game fish are all
salmonids – most particularly
salmon,
trout and
char – so generally coarse fish are freshwater fish that are not salmonids. There is disagreement over whether
grayling should be classified as a game fish or a coarse fish.
Fly fishing is the technique usually used for freshwater game fishing, while other angling techniques are usually used for coarse fishing. The sport of coarse fishing and the techniques it uses are particularly popular in the United Kingdom and
mainland Europe, and as well as in some former British
Commonwealth countries and among British expatriates.