Stilt Fishing in Koggala, Sri Lanka

The Sri Lankan coastal village of Koggala is nearly an island within the larger island, framed by the Indian Ocean on one side, and Koggala Lake inland. With all that water nearby, fishing has long been an important part of daily life for the people who call this town home.

When visitors began taking advantage of the fishing spots on the cliffs and beaches in Koggala, the locals were crowded out – temporarily. Now many Koggalans head out into the surf, about chest-deep, and climb up onto poles they’ve secured in the surf. A little seat provides a perch to sit on, and voila! Instant fishing spot. The practice has become such a part of the local scenery that many tourists who visit Koggala stop to take photos of the stilt fishers as they wait for a bite.