1. to search for something by feeling around with the hands, especially underwater or in mud
Usage: regional; Southern U.S.
2. to catch fish or other aquatic animals by hand, especially catfish in their holes
Usage: regional; Southern U.S.; also called noodling

Examples

• He spent the afternoon grabbling for catfish in the muddy riverbank.
• The old fisherman taught his grandson the art of grabbling.
• She was grabbling around in the murky water looking for her lost keys.
• Grabbling requires patience and a willingness to get very muddy.
• They went grabbling in the creek behind their house.
• The technique of grabbling has been passed down through generations.