It is a
thrilling sight when driving along the coast to come upon a group of them
perched on poles and flicking their rods
in and out of the surf.
The
remarkable thing about the stilt fishermen is that they don’t use any bait. A
tenacious local fish like a small herring, or a sardine, bites on a bare hook
and is whipped up and dropped into a bag: the best fishermen can catch as many
as fifty in an hour.
Stilt
positions are passed down from father to son and good sites are highly coveted.
Jammed into the reef, the poles protrude about ten feet at low water when the
men wade out and climb up to fish the incoming tide.
Their only
equipment is the cane rod and a hook
tied on a length of line. Being
constantly drenched by spray means that dress is also minimalist - a
turban, a g-string and the odd T-shirt donated by a tourist who was grateful
for the picturesque photo opportunity.
Photos:
Dominic Sansoni and Christine Osborne
Another delightful cameo of culture and tradition to tempt the senses and pave the way to 'Travels with My Hat' can't wait for it to be published so I can hold a copy in my own hands and read with my own eye to tales of your Magic Carpet ride.
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