Demand fish? That's provocation! (8)

I believe the answer is:

needling

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'that's provocation' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'demand fish?' is the wordplay.
'demand' becomes 'need' (synonyms).
'fish?' becomes 'ling' (ling is a kind of fish).
'need'+'ling'='NEEDLING'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for needling that I've seen before include "Goading or provoking" , "Aggravating" , "irksome" , "Doing embroidery" , "Provoking or annoying by continual criticism" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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