Charles Ellicott Commentary John 21:8

"But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from the land, but about two hundred cubits off), dragging the net [full] of fishes." — John 21:8 (ASV)

And the other disciples came in a little ship.—Better: in the boat. The two words “ship” and “boat” (πλοῖον and πλοιάριον) are interchanged here, as in John 6:17 and following.

For they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits.—That is, about 100 English yards. The shortness of the distance explains how they were able to drag the net in tow. The Greek preposition used with “cubits” (literally, “two hundred cubits off”) is used for distance only by Saint John (John 11:18 and Revelation 14:20).

Dragging the net with fishes.—Compare the note on John 21:6. The Greek is more exact: with the (literally, of the) fishes—that is, those with which the net had been filled (John 21:6).