A fisherman uses various types of fishing equipment and techniques to catch fish and marine life to be sold for food or used as bait. In this role, you use nets of all sizes, traps, and fishing lines to catch the fish, and then use complex machinery to hoist fish loads onto a boat. Some fishermen may dive into the water to fish with spears or rake through kelp or other vegetation. However, the commercial fishing industry primarily takes place on boats. You must also handle fish and know how to look for illness. Depending on the area and your employer, you may work on a large, deep sea boat with a big crew or with a smaller team working close to shore.