He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered.
Jesus called them “children” (paidon in Greek and translated as “friends” in NIV) which is a term for little or young children, corresponding to the English “lads”. It is a tender term, denoting His affection for His disciples.
The question Jesus asked is if they had any food. The word He used (prosphagion) refers to anything eaten with bread in an ordinary meal and does not necessarily mean fish, but when addressed to a group of fishermen in their boat on the lake, there is no doubt that He was asking if they had any fish. The question is asked in such a way that it is expecting a negative answer. The disciples probably thought that Jesus was a potential buyer and were disappointed that they had to answer negatively. However, Jesus was not concerned about getting food from them, but instead He was wanting to supply their need. Herein we again see the compassionate concern Jesus has for His children. This is the same concern we should have for each other.
The answer of the disciples was very short and to the point, “No.” This is only natural for they were disappointed and shouting their answer over a hundred yards of water. Note that Jesus already knew their plight and was not seeking information with His question. What He was trying to get was for them to acknowledge their need to Him. Why, do you think? Does He still do this today?