Casting the net – Stories by Sea of Galilee boat Captain Judah
Here is my story about the the Sea of Galilee fisherman casting nets: At the time of the tribes of Israel, Naftali tribe controlled the area of the Sea of Galilee and among this tribe there were a lot of fishermen. Most of the fishermen used to live in the Northside of the Sea of Galilee by the shores, because this area was rich with fish and the waters stayed warm during the winter time.
The Sea of Galilee Tilapia fish is usually found at the north side of the Galilee because it is a tropical fish and the fish needs warm water – the fishermen knew this area and that was the place where they cast their nets.
Here are two types of fishing during the time of Jesus: The rich fishermen could afford to build a wooden boat and they went fishing with a long net that spread around the boat and reach the bottom of the sea of Galilee. After casting the net the fishermen used to make a lot of noise inside the boat to trick the fish into the fishing nets.
The poor fishermen used to walk on the shore line about 2-3 feet deep standing inside the shallow water while holding the net with their right hand. The nets they used had small holes with weights and a rope to pull it back from the water. After casting the net the fishermen pulled the rope and the cast used to close. The fish they used to catch from the shores were usually small Tilapia, Sardines and catfish fish – which is not Kosher so the fishermen used to throw it back into the water.
Jesus usually went to cast the net with the poor fishermen and sometimes went on the boats with the rich fishermen. The fishermen used to fish only at nights, because the Galilee Tilapia usually can see the net during the day. To keep the fish fresh and ready for sale in Magdala or Capernaum market the fishermen used to build a fish box from bamboo and put it inside the water with the fish inside.
Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish (John 21)
1Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. a It happened this way: 2Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus b ), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3“I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
5He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”
“No,” they answered.
6He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
7Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. c 9When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.
10Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Click here to read Juda’s story about the Galilee Tilapia fish
Great story!!! may god bless you all.
Hey very nice blog!