a bottom troll is a type of fishing net that's pulled along the sea floor fishermen commonly use bottom trolls to catch shrimp and bottom dwelling fish like halet and soul in addition to these Target fish however the Nets also catch a variety of ocean life that's usually thrown back dead or dying dragging heavy gear across the seabed can also damage Dage sensitive seafloor habitat reducing the harmful effects of bottom trolling requires either modifying the fishing gear or limiting the areas where trolling is allowed to protect sensitive bottom dwelling organisms and their habitat