In Jesus’ time, fishing took place mostly on Lake Galilee, because the Jewish people could not use many of the harbors along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, since these harbors often were controlled by unfriendly neighbors. The two most common fish in  Lake of Galilee were carp and catfish. The Law of Moses allowed people to eat any fish with fins and scales, but since catfish lack scales (as do eels and sharks) they were not to be eaten (Lev 11:9-12). Fish were also probably brought from Tyre and Sidon, where they were dried or salted.

The creation story tells how God ordered the waters of the earth to bring forth fish along with all kinds of creatures that live in the water (Gen 1:20-22). God has given human beings control over the creation, including fish (Gen 1:28; Ps 8:6-8), but people are forbidden to make or worship an image of any created thing, including fish (Deut 4:15-18). When God renews the creation, the salty Dead Sea will become fresh water and will be filled with fish (Ezek 47:7-10).

Fishing was an important source of jobs and income in Galilee, and several of his followers were fishermen. Jesus tells them that they are going to bring in people instead of fish (Luke 5:10). When Jesus fed a hungry crowd that followed him out of town, the food he provided was bread and fish (Luke 9:10-17). Jesus used fishing to show his disciples the amazing results they could expect from having faith in him and sharing the good news with others. The net the disciples threw into the lake became so full of fish that their nets began ripping apart (Luke 5:6).

Among early Christians, the fish was a favorite image for Jesus, because the Greek word for fish (ichthus) consists of the first letters of the Greek words that tell who Jesus is: Ihsous/CHristos/THeou/Uios/Swthr (Jesus/Christ/of God/the Son/Savior).