1. The catch which a particular gear or vessel takes from a given density of fish during a certain time interval. For example, larger vessels (horsepower) have a greater ability to catch more fish, thus the greater their fishing power. Also, improvements in a vessel or gear, such as fish finders, global positioning systems, etc. , can increase fishing power; 2. Of a boat, or of a fishing gear: The relative vulnerability of the stock to different boats or gears. Usually determined as the catch taken by the given apparatus, divided by the catch of a standard apparatus fishing at nearly the same time and place.