Fishing for indigenous sporting fish in Sri Lanka is free. With a shoreline of 1,140 miles and a continental shelf of 10,000 square miles, the seas around Ceylon have an unlimited fishing potential hardly exploited.

Trolling over the continental shelf yields catches of tuna ranging from the 2-3ft skipjack to the 6ft yellowfin and bluefin, the acrobatic dolphin, swordfish and marlin which attain a size to provide a challenge to the best big game fishermen of any country. The broadbill swordfish found in deeper waters reach a length of 15ft and a weight of well over 1,000lb. Though reaching only 10ft and 250lb, the sailfish compensate for their smaller size by their remarkable agility.

The monsoons regulate the fishing in Sri Lanka Seas. The western and southern coasts are favoured during the North-East monsoon (from October to April) and the east coast during the South-West monsoon (from May to September).

The best season for sport fishing in Sri Lanka in Western and South Eastern Coast is from August to May when the seas are calm. The popular bait are artificial lures but live bait is also used frequently. The bottom water bait such as Ropala, Big Mack, Sisco Kid are popular and many other deep runners can be used successfully, with the Sail Fish and Grouper. The other top water bait are Squid Skirts.

The outfalls of 103 major river basins and hundreds of other estuaries, lagoons and coastal lakes all round the island are the most popular spots frequented by local surf casters as well as bait fishermen. Many varieties of game fish of the Carangid family, locally called paraw and know elsewhere as trevally, horse mackerel, etc, are taken. These swift and powerful carnivorous fish attain a length of 5ft and a weight of 150lb. The schooling habits of the caranx, their keen eyesight and some built-in sensory mechanism make them congregate in estuaries immediately after monsoons and rains.

Next in popularity among surf-casters come the barracuda and Spanish mackerel. Both these species of voracious predatory fish attain lengths of 6ft as do other species known locally as `giant perch', `threadfins' and `tassel fish' which frequent the estuaries.

Sri Lanka is much admired for its abundance of sub-aquatic life. Its unspoiled seas and fishing zones hold an abundance of game fish for the keen angler. Species of Marlin, Sail Fish, Wahoo, Spanish Mackerel, Giant Trevallie, Benito, Queen Fish (the world record is held in Sri Lanka. Barracuda, Grouper, Cobia and Tuna make this beautiful island second to none when it comes to sea angling

The South west Breakwater of the Colombo Harbour is another popular venue for fishing. A licence has to be obtained from the Colombo Port Authorities on a monthly basis for fishing at the breakwater. Anglers have very big catches at this fishing site.

Inland trout fishing
Nuwara Eliya is the best centre for trout fishing. As it is above the 6,000ft level, the climate is temperate. There is good hotel accommodation. The fishing is, with few exceptions, restricted to fly only and most common patterns of wet fly are successful. Dry fly is rarely used, there being little natural fly. There is no statutory close season. Size limits vary from 8in to 15in.

The main waters are: Nuwara Eliya stream (flows through the golf course and park); Ambawela stream (8m from Nuwara Eliya; jungle and grassland); Bulu Ella stream (21/2m jungle); Portswood Dam (4m; tea estate); Agra Oya and Gorge Valley rivers (10-15m; tea estates), and the magnificently spectacular Horton Plains stream (30m; jungle and grassland, Nature reserve). Motor transport can be hired. On any of these waters it is possible to maintain an average of 1lb and several fish over 3lb are caught.

Trout fishing is now controlled by the Nuwara Eliya District Fishing Club. Stocking has so far been carried out in Portswood Dam, the Horton Plains, Agra Oya and Gorge Valley. For licences application should be made to the Honorary Secretary, Nuwara Eliya District Fishing Club, Court Lodge Estate, Kandapola. Visitors are advised to bring their tackle as fly tackle is scarce in Sri Lanka.

The two main species of indigenous sporting fish in Sri Lanka are the mahseer and the walaya (freshwater shark), found in the jungle rivers of the Low Country, particularly the Mahaweli river, the upper reaches of the Kelani river and the Amban Ganga (river). Ceylon mahseer, though small compared with those in some Indian rivers, provide good sport, but fishing for them can be somewhat difficult.

Things to bring
Patience- and lots of it. Angling requires oodles of patience, and the ability to keep still and quiet for hours on end- and then the skill to battle it out with a heavyweight fish of up to 200 kg for the next hour or more.

And now to the more mundane. The basic fishing equipment required includes rods, lines, hooks, reel, flies, spinners, spoons and bait- in the form of worms, paste or other lure. Light, waterproof clothing- brown or green in colour- is essential, as are waterproof shoes or light sandals which can easily be slipped off to drain out sand or water. Sunscreen, a light hat and dark glasses are necessary, and if in cooler climes make sure you're well clad with sufficient woollens and a macintosh.

High quality angling equipment for angling is not widely available for hire in Sri Lanka, although some outfits are available in Colombo and in popular areas

Accommodation and other facilities
In most cases, finding suitable accommodation shouldn't be too much bother, as many of Sri Lanka's biggest cities and towns lie along rivers. Even if there's not much fishing within an urban area, fishing beats will usually be close enough for you to stay in a town and drive out in the morning to the beat you've chosen. In cases where beats lie far from urban areas, there are generally hotels and guest houses in close proximity. These won't be the height of luxury, but you can depend upon them for basic necessities. In rare cases you might need to take along a tent and pitch camp.

In an attempt to encourage game fishing in Sri Lanka, the Sri Lanka Tourist Board have started providing leaflets and brochures on areas where fishing is possible. These leaflets usually contain fairly accurate and detailed information on where to go, what are the facilities available in the area, where angling equipment can be hired.. Some travel agencies and tour operators in Sri Lanka cater to anglers and will provide everything from equipment and experienced guides to boarding, lodging and transportation. Major cities and those close to angling and sport-fishing grounds often have such travel agents; further information and assistance can always be obtained from the local wildlife, forests or fisheries department