Fish of the Sea of Galilee

The fish of the Sea of Galilee are more than a menu item: they are a living connection to the Gospel story. When Jesus called his first disciples, they were fishermen on this lake. When he performed the miracle of the loaves and fishes, the fish came from these waters. And when the risen Jesus appeared to his disciples on the shore and prepared breakfast for them, “he took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish” (John 21:13).

St. Peter’s Fish (Tilapia) – Fish of the Sea of Galilee

The most famous fish in the Sea of Galilee is the tilapia, known locally as “St. Peter’s Fish” (musht in Arabic, amnon in Hebrew). The name comes from the story in Matthew where Jesus told Peter to go to the lake and catch a fish: “When you open its mouth, you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours” (Matthew 17:27). The tilapia is a mouth-brooding fish (the female carries the eggs in her mouth), and after the fry are released, she sometimes picks up a shiny object to replace them, which may explain the coin in the story. The grilled St. Peter’s Fish, served whole in restaurants around the lake, is the iconic dish of the Galilee.

Fishing Industry

In the time of Jesus, the Sea of Galilee supported a major fishing industry. Magdala (Tarichaeae in Greek, meaning “place of salted fish”) was a center for processing and exporting salted fish across the Roman Empire. The fishing boats, like the one preserved at the Ginosar museum, were designed for seine net fishing, and the techniques used by Peter, Andrew, James, and John are still practiced on the lake today.

The Decline

The fish population of the Sea of Galilee has declined dramatically in recent decades due to overfishing, falling water levels, and the introduction of non-native species. Commercial fishing has been periodically banned to allow stocks to recover, and the “St. Peter’s Fish” served in many lakeside restaurants is now farm-raised tilapia rather than wild-caught. The ecological challenge of the lake is a modern chapter in a 2,000-year story of fish, fishermen, and the waters that Jesus knew.

Visit with Hoshen Tours

Eating St. Peter’s Fish at a lakeside restaurant is a Galilee tradition. Hoshen Tours arranges lunch at the lake and tells the story of the fishermen who left their nets to follow Jesus.

Visitors exploring the Galilee often combine Galilee Fish with nearby destinations such as Sea of Galilee, Tiberias, and Capernaum, each offering its own distinctive perspective on the region’s layered history and landscape. A broader itinerary might also include Ein Nun and Tabgha, both within easy reach and rich in their own right.

Every Hoshen Tours itinerary is private and fully customizable. Contact us to begin planning your journey through the Galilee.