megkapás

Megkapás is a term used in Hungarian fishing jargon to describe the moment when a fish takes the bait and the line begins to move or tighten, signaling the start of the fight and the potential catch. It refers to the bite or strike that prompts the angler to react and begin reeling, rather than to the final landing of the fish.

Etymology and meaning: The word combines kapás, meaning a catch or bite, with the prefix meg-, which in this context emphasizes the occurrence of the event. The term foregrounds the moment of contact between bait and fish rather than the subsequent effort to land the fish.

Usage: Megkapás is common in recreational and sport fishing in Hungary. It can denote a single bite event within a session or, in plural form megkapások, the frequency of bites during a period of fishing. It is often contrasted with fogás (the actual catch) and fárasztás (the process of tiring and playing the fish).

Context: The sensation and visibility of a megkapás depend on gear, bait, fish species, and water conditions. In various fishing styles, such as carp or feeder fishing, megkapás can be indicated by line movement, a change in tension, or a rod tip action, and it normally leads to setting the hook and attempting to land the fish.

See also: fishing terminology, bite, hook set, sports fishing.