fished

Fished is the past tense and past participle of the verb fish. It most often refers to the act of catching fish, typically with a rod, net, or line, or with other fishing gear. It can also be used in phrases meaning to search for something by trial and error or by feeling.

Etymology: The verb fish comes from Old English fiscian, with cognates in other Germanic languages; the -ed form is a standard regular English past tense formed by adding -ed. The word has extended use beyond literal fishing to describe searching or seeking in various contexts.

Usage: In addition to literal fishing, fished is used in idiomatic expressions such as fished around for information or items. Examples: He fished for trout at dawn. They fished around the desk drawers for the missing key. The past participle form also appears in perfect tenses, as in “They have fished the river for hours.”

Ecology and culture: In environmental and policy discussions, the term fished appears in connection with fisheries management, catch limits, and sustainability efforts. The phrase fished out is used to describe a population or resource that has been exhausted or depleted. These contexts reflect concerns about biodiversity, ecosystem balance, and the long-term viability of fishing industries.

See also: fishing, fish, fisheries, overfishing.