Trawling vs. Trolling – What’s the Difference?


If you love fishing, then you need to know the difference between trawling and trolling. When fishing by pulling a net through the water to trap fish, are you trolling or trawling? And when using bait, will you use the same word? These are important terms you need to differentiate with ease as a fishing enthusiast.

The fishing terms trolling and trawling mean nearly the same thing. Both involve dragging a fishing tool through the water while on a moving vessel. However, trawling refers to the act of dragging a fishing net, while trolling refers to the act of dragging fishing lines and other implements.

Both trolling and trawling have overlapping meanings in multiple contexts. However, in some situations, using one word over the other becomes a better choice. So, if you need to understand the difference between these two confusing words, consider reading this article to the end as we answer the question; trawling vs. trolling: what’s the difference?

What is the meaning of trawl?

So, first things first, what is the meaning of trawl? This is a verb, and it incorporates two meanings;

· Fishing by dragging a net through the water.

· Search for something.

For instance;

  • John Snow and Ned Stark went trawling for Catfish on Long Lake but only caught weed.
  • Ellen went to trawl through newspaper files in a library in search of historical evidence of her project.

In fishing, a trawl involves fishing with a large cone-shaped net while dragging it through the water.

What is trolling in terms of fishing?

Like trawling, trolling also has two meanings which makes it relatively easy to confuse with trawling. However, trolling means;

  • To search for information.
  • To drag something through the water like fishing with a lure.

Therefore, when fishing with a lure, you will be trolling; on the other hand, you will be trawling if you are fishing with a large cone-shaped net. For instance;

  • Escobar and Salvador went trolling for steelhead in Escobar’s new fishing boat.
  • While writing her thesis, Courtney trolled through the internet for peer-reviewed articles.

In addition to the two meanings, a troll can mean various other things, such as singing loudly and bothering someone on purpose. Fortunately, none of these two meanings can be confused with trawling.

As a noun, troll means an ugly mythical creature perceived as either very big or relatively small.

Usually, there are two cases where trawl and troll have overlapping meanings; to drag something through the water and search for something. Regarding the second case, the differences between the two are significantly contextual. Whenever you search for something on the internet, most individuals use the term troll. However, either word can be used in this case.

When you refer to fishing, the term trawling will involve the use of a net. On the other hand, trolling will involve the use of a fishing line. To remember the difference, you might consider using the letter L in troll. The troll has double L, and the lure starts with the letter L; this makes it easy to remember that trolling pulls a lure through water and not a net.

What does ‘trawl through’ mean?

Unlike trawling, trawl through means going through a large number of similar things. This means that you go through them looking for something you need or want and suitable for a particular purpose. Therefore, when looking through lots of things, trawling through will be the best word of choice.

Why is understanding the difference between trawling and trolling vital as a fishing enthusiast?

The answer to this question is pretty much straightforward; it is because of the Navigation Rules, which apply to meeting trolling or trawling vessels. A fishing boat with a net or trawls restricting maneuverability is a fishing vessel under Navigation Rule 3C.

On the other hand, a fishing boat with trolling lines on its sides is not considered a fishing vessel under the Navigation Rules. A fishing vessel has the right of way before an over-sailing vessel, seaplanes, and power-driven vessels.

You will need to take a closer look to see whether or not a fishing boat is equipped with nets or other fishing gears on its side or over a stern, both when extending into the water or coming out of the water. If present, the vessel is considered trawling.

On the other hand, when you see fishing poles with fishing lines in the water, the vessel is considered trolling for the purpose of the Navigation rule definition (this means even when an actual trolling is not taking place).

Private and charter boats fitted with fishers on board at times expect to be given a right of way like any other fishing vessel. This is because they have approximately 25 individuals fishing and harvesting in that location like crazy. Therefore, although they are power drive boats, a considerate sailboat has to give them a significantly wide berth even if your sailboat has the right of way.

Trawling vs. Trolling in fishing

In fishing, trawling is a fishing method that involves dragging a fishing net through waters behind one or multiple boats. Additionally, trawl is a net used in trawling. Trawling principle involves using netting bags that are dragged or pulled through waters to catch fish or, at the time, a targeted species of fish. In some cases, trawls are referred to as dragged or towed gear.

Draggers or trawlers are boats used in trolling. Usually, trawlers differ in size from small open boats with a small engine capacity of about 30 horsepower or 22 kW to significantly big trawlers with a big engine capacity of about 10,000 horsepower or 7.5 MW. Thus, you can perform trawling with one or two boats.

Trawling is often used in survey methods or scientific sampling. In trolling, speed is of great essence; however, this is never the case when it comes to trawling. In trawling, the net structure is vital as it helps in determining the number of fish you will catch. Two boats can be used in spreading a trawling net; however, single-boat trawling is the most common method. To effectively catch fish while using the trawling method, you will need to spread your trawling net horizontal. The net’s cone shape helps them contact the sea bottom with the utmost ease and maintain that position while being trawled.

However, in most cases, trawling is contrasted with trolling. Unlike trawling, trolling is a fishing method that involves fishing using one or more fishing lines that are baited with baitfish or lures.

Like trawling, trolling involves dragging something through water; however, trawl uses fishing nets while trolling uses fishing lines. The process might involve moving your boat slowly through the water or by winding your fishing line slowly from a static position or at times swiping the fishing line from side to side.

Unlike trawling, trolling is often used in catching pelagic fish like mackerel, salmon as well as kingfish. Additionally, trawling is used for commercial and recreational fishing, while trawling is used in commercial fishing and carrying out scientific studies.

When trolling from a boat, you will need to move slowly through the water. You can accomplish this by incorporating a special trolling motor. Several lines are used, and an outrigger can also be used to spread your fishing lines far wide to reduce or minimize the chances of tangling. You will also need to use downriggers to help you keep your bait or lures trailing at the required depth.

In trolling, speed is of great essence. You will need to troll your lures and baits at a speed of 9 knots. However, 15 knots can also be used. 15-knots are said to be ideal for use when the trolling boats are traveling to a different fishing area. Usually, the speed at which lures are pulled through the water has a significant impact on your fishing trip’s success.

Moreover, the optimum speed of trolling differs significantly depending on targeted fish species, weather, and the time of the year you go fishing. For instance, Chinook salmon is trolled successfully at high speed as opposed to more docile lake trout. As a result, you will require a device that will help in tracking speed accurately. A trolling motor is said to calibrate speed more accurately than a large outboard motor.

To slow down the speed of your boat to the desired rate, you will need to use large motors. However, anglers tend to experience mixed results with plates. At relatively slow speed, trolling can be very effective. A kayak equipped with a deck-mounted bracket for holding rods can be used for trolling if you are on the lookout for salmon.

Conclusion

Is it trolling or trawling? Trawl and troll are both verbs with overlapping meanings. They can both mean to search or look for something or fishing by dragging something through the water. Trolling means fishing using a lure or a bait, while trawling refers to fishing using a net. Although the two have significant overlaps, troll and trawl are very effective when used carefully in their correct contexts.

Therefore, understanding the difference between these two words is crucial for both a fishing enthusiast and a non-fishing enthusiast. As we conclude, we hope you have found this article beneficial and that the question Trawling Vs. Trolling: What’s the Difference? has been answered accordingly.

Nicholas Finn

I've been the captain of a fishing boat for over 20 years, and I created Pirateering to share my knowledge of and interest in seafaring.

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