Abstract: An apparatus and method for fishing by trawling operation with a substantial reduction in the amount of energy needed to be used by the fishing vessel for the operation, including providing a conventional type trawl fishing net with a flexible but normally flaccid hose structure around the mouth opening, providing said structure with means for pressurization of said normally flaccid hose in order to make same rigid, and thus open the fishing net mouth to its normal open configuration, and providing a high pressure retention and release valve between the pressurization pump and the flexible hose structure for maintaining the hose in the pressurized state during the fishing operation, and permitting the release of the pressurization in order to close the net mouth opening prior to bringing the fishing net back aboard the fishing vessel.