Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible (1898)
FISH'-HOOKS. Am 4:2; comp. Jer 16:16. The method of taking fish with hooks was doubtless known in the early ages of the world. Job 41:1. The spear was also used. Job 41:7. The usual way, however, was by a net — either a casting-net, Eze 26:5; Eze 47:10; Hab 1:15; Matt 4:20-21; Mark 1:18-19; Luke 5:2; John 21:6 ff., or a drag-net. Isa 19:8; Hab 1:15; Matt 13:47. In the latter case a boat was necessarily used. Such fishing was done, by
preference, at night. Luke 5:5. Angling was a favorite recreation in ancient Egypt. The reference in Job 41:2 is to the custom of putting a ring through the gill of a fish, and then by a line attaching it to a stake, the object being to keep it alive in the water until required for use. Besides amateur there were professional fishermen. Such were many of the apostles.