Coarse fishing is a type of angling that involves fishing for freshwater fish species that are traditionally considered undesirable as a food or game fish. The term "coarse" originated in the United Kingdom in the early 19th century when recreational fishing was a sport of the gentry, who angled for salmon and trout and called them game fish. Other fish were disdained as coarse fish because they were not considered as good for eating. Coarse fish have scales that are generally larger than the scales of game fish, and they tend to inhabit warmer and stiller waters.

The main differences between coarse fishing and game fishing are that game fish can usually be taken home and eaten, whereas when you coarse fish, it is on a catch and release basis. Game fish can be fished for on trout fishing lakes and prolific rivers across the UK, and there is usually a certain size or a limited amount of the trout or salmon which you can take home. Coarse fishing is usually done with a waggler (float fishing) set up or a ledger/feeder fishing set up. Coarse fish can also be fished for in a "Match fishing" environment, using poles and different tactics to catch large numbers of coarse fish in a specific period of time.

Coarse fishing employs the lightest tackle in the market to achieve a successful catch. Some other terminal tackles you need include small split shots, hooks, and floats. Coarse fishing is popular in the UK and Ireland, and it is a relaxing and enjoyable pastime for many anglers.