Going Fishing Be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. Deuteronomy 5:32

The Facts, Please! Fishing was a big business in Palestine when Jesus was on earth. Saltwater fish were caught in the Mediterranean and freshwater fish in the Sea of Galilee and smaller bodies of water. There was a large market for fish, and the industry grew so much around the Sea of Galilee that there were cities and villages all around its shoreline.

Fish were caught by several methods. Rod- and-line fishing was done with a pole, a line, and a hook of bone or iron. Spearfishing was often done at night. A lantern was held over the prow of the boat, which would attract fish to its light, and the fish were speared. Net fishing was done with either cast or seine nets. This method was used most often. The Facts, Please!

A cast net had a fine mesh and was circular, about 15 feet in diameter. The outer edges were weighted with lead sinkers. A long piece of fishing line was attached to the center, which a fisherman held with his left hand. When he saw a school of fish in shallow water, he threw the net over it and trapped the fish inside. Then he drew up the center of the net by the fishing line and dragged the fish to shore. The Facts, Please!

A seine net was about eight feet wide and hundreds of feet long and was suspended in the water like a fence, with corks at the top and weights at the bottom. Two boats would be used, each one having one end of the net. The fishermen would draw up the bottom of the net to enclose the fish, putting them in the boats or bringing them to shore. The Facts, Please!

Bible Story: A Surprising Catch of Fish Luke 5:1-11