Fishermen perched on wooden poles in the surf are one of the most famous sights in Sri Lanka. Here is how to see them properly: where to go, when to come, what is fair to pay, and how to meet the families who still keep the tradition alive.
A stilt fisherman sits on a small crossbar tied to a single wooden pole planted in the shallow sea, a few metres from the shore. From there he fishes with a simple rod and line, keeping his catch in a bag tied to his waist or the pole. The method is called ritipanna in Sinhala. It needs no boat and no net, only balance, patience and a deep knowledge of the sea.
Every tool is handmade: the Rita stilt pole, the Kitul Piththa rod cut from a kitul palm, and the Bilikatuwa hook, cast from lead in a cuttlebone mould and shaped like a small fish so it catches without bait.
The catch is mostly small fish such as sardines and mackerel, which swim close to the reef in the surf. For the families who still do it, it is a way of life handed down from father to son.
Many travel guides say stilt fishing began around the Second World War, but that is not true: it is a much older tradition. Fishing families say it was already practised in British colonial times, when fish were plentiful along the coast from Galle to Matara. It has been kept by only a few family lines, passed from father to son for generations, and only two or three families knew the secret of making the Bilikatuwa hook. Ritipanna also appears in the books of great Sinhala writers, old wood carvings of stilt fishermen still decorate old houses, and the verses of the ancient Devol Madu ritual, held to bring the fish, mention it. Read Is stilt fishing real or fake? for more. The fishing spots themselves are family inheritances: each fisherman has a recognised spot, recorded by the local Divisional Secretariat. The 2004 tsunami changed the coastline and the fishing grounds, and today only a small number of fishermen remain. Read more on our History page and meet the people behind it on our Fishermen page.
Stilt fishing happens on Sri Lanka’s south coast, along the Galle–Matara road:
The most photographed roadside spots can be busy. With a local family you can see the fishing calmly, hear the stories and take photos without the crowd.
Time of day: come early in the morning, around sunrise, or in the late afternoon until sunset. The light is soft and golden, the heat is lower and the fishermen are most likely to be out.
Time of year: the south coast is driest and calmest from about December to April, which is the main travel season. From around May to September the southwest monsoon brings rougher seas and showers. Visits still happen then, but plans can change with the weather, so it is best to message us a day ahead.
Is the fishing on? Real stilt fishing depends on the fish, not the calendar. In the past the fish came every season, but today, because of environmental change and the loss of breeding places, real ritipanna happens only once every few years. On most visits you will see the tradition demonstrated by real fishing families. Message us before you come and we will tell you honestly whether the fish are in. See also our best time to visit page.
Stilt fishing earns very little today, and many fishermen depend on visitors. Near the beach you will see photo stilts, set up in shallow water so visitors can climb up and take pictures safely. They are not fishing stilts, and that is why some visitors wrongly think the tradition is fake. Real fishing happens only at the spots on the reef where the fish come. Read Is stilt fishing real or fake? for the full story. A few simple rules keep things fair for everyone:
We are a stilt fishing family in Koggala. Watch the fishing up close, hear the stories, take your photos and, when the sea allows, try sitting on a stilt yourself.
Book on WhatsApp See experiences and pricesSend us your hotel name on WhatsApp and we will tell you the easiest way to reach us. Full directions are on our Getting to Koggala page, and prices on our visit cost guide.
More ideas: things to do in Koggala and the traditional crafts of Koggala.
On the south coast between Galle and Weligama. The best-known spots are Koggala, Ahangama and Weligama, all on the main Galle–Matara coast road.
Early morning, from around sunrise, and late afternoon into sunset. The light is soft, the sea is often calmer and the fishermen are most likely to be out.
Many fishermen ask for a small payment for photos, especially at the busiest roadside spots. It is fair to agree an amount before you start. Booking a visit with a local family means your money goes directly to the fishermen.
Yes. Families still fish from stilts, mostly for small fish such as sardines and mackerel. The stilts close to the beach are photo stilts for visitors to try safely. Real fishing happens only at traditional spots on the reef where the fish come, such as Maraduwawala in Koggala.
Koggala is a short drive east of Galle along the coast road, usually around half an hour by tuk-tuk or car depending on traffic.
Often yes, when the sea is calm and with a fisherman's help. Ask us when you book and we will arrange it if conditions are safe.
