Fishing with the locals in Vodarevu

Thanks to IM member Steven_ber I have my itinerary planned and I plan on spending a bit of time in Vodarevu. I was wondering if anyone here has experience with going out on day trips with the local fishermen? I don't mean tourist sport fishing. I mean getting friendly with the locals and getting an opportunity to do some real Indian net fishing.

I haven't tried personally, but if they have boats that can accommodate an extra person, I am sure they will agree in exchange for a fee. You may try and get a school kid to translate for you.

I believe member vonkla has been to Vodarevu recently.
http://www.indiamike.com/india-image...e/tag/vodarevu

Oh yes. Thank you. I have seen these and his commentary that went along with the pics. I will try to contact him.

This is what I found. Really great comments on his pics. At the beach of Vodarevu

The boats are as expected, most of them without outboard motors.

On second thought...it looks a bit dangerous! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqYhltpgraA

Skeeter, have you done this before? It could prove a little more romantically optimistic than might seem.

Years ago, on my first India trip and as an enthusiastic young man and traveling solo, after some weeks or months of traipsing around the interior, I ended up in Thalassery & all elated at my first glimpse of the sea again. So I ran up to the beach, and got chatting to some local fishermen in whatever languages we didn't share among us, asking them if they could take me out to sea the next day. Sure, was no problem, and I guess they found it as much of a funny and interesting proposition as I did, even. (For a little more context, this place back then at least would have seen few white visitors indeed. I must have been the only one there at that time. Well, come to think of it, maybe I met one other foreign tourist couple.) I noticed one of them was a little overly interested in the silverwear I was wearing, all simple stuff and nothing fancy, nor is that telling you much, could just be the usual curiosity as to this exotic firang, but, well.

Next day, I chickened out and thinking better of it, thinking what would my poor mom say if I just disappear here. I had considered informing my budget hotel of my plans, and leaving my valuables with them, but then of course you'd need to trust them with it.

A few years ago, in Daman I was informed that with a small fee for both a necessary police permit and to those fishermen, it should in fact be possible to be taken out to sea there with them. But with a few hours of trying and not speaking the language, I just couldn't figure it out. And so it never happened. I would have done it (and of course that permit alone ought to be something of a decent safety measure), if only I'd so much as gotten someone to understand what I was talking about, and so to take me along.

I'm not saying you can't do it and perhaps being a little more intrepid than I am, but...

This was several years ago but we did go out some distance, to a point where we could not see the shore anymore, on a small trawler. We were taken to the trawler on a small boat without a motor as narendra.d mentions.

Yes, you do have to keep in mind safety issues, definitely not designed for the casual tourist. Vodarevu is definitely off the beaten track.

Thanks. Yes, I do understand the dangers and precautions I need to take. I spent 6 months camping and riding a one speed bike around India. Of course that was over 30 years ago so I am going back basically a newbie. I am very cautious. I just thought it would be a bit of fun to get a little input. Thanks for your warnings. Much appreciated.

Other than keeping in mind the safety involved in going fishing with the locals, I would say that it could be one of your most unforgettable experiences. Sitting on a deserted beach , beer and freshly caught seafood.

The Chirala meat market has the best selection anywhere of dry fish and prawn. Definitely not recommended for carrying aboard a passenger jetliner.

As I wrote in my report we liked our stay there and it was great experience.
During preparation time I was also dreaming of taking a boat trip but when I discovered how they fix a vessel I waked up.

"As I wrote in my report we liked our stay there and it was great experience.
During preparation time I was also dreaming of taking a boat trip but when I discovered how they fix a vessel I waked up."

Haha. Yes. I had second thoughts after I found that video I posted above. It looks quite dangerous.
When I was in Goa years ago, long before the tourists hung out at Miramar, it was a fishing village, we'd go down to the beach and watch the fishermen bring in their nets. Somehow I ended up in the middle of their catch. I have no idea how that happened, it's all a blur and it happened so fast. I had fish jumping all around me and to my horror these huge thick black sea snakes. It was awful. I stayed well back after that.

If you want to quote a post you can simply use the 'quote' button.

Yes. Thanks vonkla. I realized that but didn't know whether to fill the page with quotes. I know better now. On another note...I am thinking going to the east coast and perhaps inland in March/April. Do you think that is wise due to the heat?