Medieval Information

Besides farming and hunting, fishing was also a major source of food for the medieval people. Consuming fish was mainly reserved for the rich, though the poor did frequently eat what was left from a good day's catch.

It was common to devise new ways to fish as much as possible in the lowest amount of time. Many discoveries were henceforth done during the Medieval Times including the rod, which had existed previously in China, but was not as advanced as during the Middle Ages.

Obviously, the most common way to fish was simply with a hook and line because of its simplicity. As time passed, nets grew in popularity until a very important percentage of fish was caught with nets. They consisted of a very simple principle in which a net was placed in a river and many men had to lift it up with as many fish as possible.

Sicily had the best fish which were widely caught. It was there where most fishing progress happened and where the use of fishing spears to catch bigger fish was more common.

Medieval castles were frequently built near a lake or river to make fishing easier for the castle's inhabitants.

Fishing as a hobby was though rare, existent. There are many records of kings sailing in a ship with the sole purpose to fish big and exotic creatures.

Medieval people were skeptical (and sometimes even scared) when fishing in the sea because it was said that enormous and deadly creatures inhabited it.