Snagging, also known as snag fishing, snatch fishing, or foul hooking, is a common term used to describe a method of fishing

Fishing

Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....

 that entails catching a fish using hooks without the fish having to take the bait with their mouth. This is achieved by pulling the fishing line

Fishing line

A fishing line is a cord used or made for angling. Important parameters of a fishing line are its length, material, and weight...

 out of the water very quickly as soon as any movement is felt on the line, with the intention of piercing the fish in the flesh with the hook. Weighted lures with multiple hooks are often used to increase chances of success.

Some species, such as paddlefish

Paddlefish

Paddlefish are primitive Chondrostean ray-finned fishes. The paddlefish can be distinguished by its large mouth and its elongated, spatula-like snout, called a rostrum, which is longer than the rest of the head...

, are not attracted to bait or lures as they eat plankton

Plankton

Plankton are any drifting organisms that inhabit the pelagic zone of oceans, seas, or bodies of fresh water. That is, plankton are defined by their ecological niche rather than phylogenetic or taxonomic classification...

. While these fish can be taken using nets or spears, snagging is also used.

Also a term widely used within the construction industry to describe the process of resolving defects.

United States

Snagging, like other methods of fishing, is controlled by the wildlife regulating agency of each state. A list of the legality for each state follows.

State	Status
Alabama	Prohibited with exceptions.
Alaska	Prohibited with exceptions.
Arizona	Prohibited with exceptions.
Arkansas	Prohibited with exceptions.
California	Illegal.
Colorado	Prohibited with exceptions.
Connecticut	Prohibited with exceptions.
Delaware	Prohibited with exceptions.
Florida	Unknown.
Georgia	Illegal.
Hawaii	Legal but prohibited in certain areas.
Idaho	Illegal.
Illinois	Legal for some species during certain seasons.
Indiana	Illegal.
Iowa	Prohibited with exceptions.
Kansas	Legal for Paddlefish.
Kentucky	Legal for some species.
Louisiana	Prohibited with exceptions.
Maine	Prohibited with exceptions.
Maryland	Illegal.
Massachusetts	Illegal.
Michigan	Illegal.
Minnesota	Illegal.
Mississippi	Unknown.
Missouri	Prohibited with exceptions.
Montana	Prohibited with exceptions.
Nebraska	Prohibited with exceptions.
Nevada	Prohibited with exceptions.
New Hampshire	Unknown.
New Jersey	Prohibited with exceptions.
New Mexico	Prohibited with exceptions.
New York	Prohibited with exceptions.
North Carolina	Illegal.
North Dakota	Prohibited with exceptions.
Ohio	Prohibited with exceptions.
Oklahoma	Prohibited with exceptions.
Oregon	Prohibited with exceptions.
Pennsylvania	Illegal.
Rhode Island	Illegal.
South Carolina	Unknown.
South Dakota	Prohibited with exceptions.
Tennessee	Prohibited with exceptions.
Texas	Illegal.
Utah	Illegal.
Vermont	Illegal.
Virginia	Illegal.
Washington	Illegal.
West Virginia	Permitted for certain species.
Wisconsin	Illegal.
Wyoming	Illegal.