Start to recognise fish and equipment used to catch them? (4)
I believe the answer is:
reel
'equipment used to catch them?' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.
'start to recognise fish' is the wordplay.
'start to' suggests taking the first letters.
'fish' becomes 'eel' (eel is a kind of fish).
The first letter of 'recognise' is 'r'.
'r'+'eel'='REEL'
'and' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for reel that I've seen before include "Wind" , "Something to fish with" , "unwind?" , "Winding spool on a fishing rod" , "Revolving spool" .)