Carpenter is to go in without fish (5)
I believe the answer is:
enter
'fish' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both related to competing as well as being verbs in their base form.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'carpenter is to go in without' is the wordplay.
'ENTER' is hidden within the letters.
But, I am not sure how this is indicated.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for enter that I've seen before include "Come or go in" , "Get in" , "put in for a race" , "A key on the right" , "Record (in a log)" .)