Not all fishing methods require any equipment. There are several types where fishermen use only their hands to catch marine life. Gathering seafood this way can range in difficulty depending on the creature you are attempting to snag.
The earliest known hand-gathering dates back to 300,000 years ago. Hominids picked up shellfish and consumed them. This practice is still common today. This shows that using your hands to catch marine life is a tried and tested method. It is an important part of our DNA.
There is also an unusual method called flounder tramping. Every year a Scottis
h village called Palnackie hosts the world championships for this type of fishing. Competitors step on flounders in order to catch them.
Noodling is another type of hand-gathering. It is predominately practised in the south of the United States. Noodlers put their hands in a catfish hole and wait for the animal to swim into their embrace. Noodlers will occasionally risk being injured by this type of fish.
A more common method is pearl diving. Harvesters free dive in order to obtain oysters. They also sometimes do this to catch lobsters and crabs.
