一张民族文化的独特名片——高跷钓鱼

A unique business card of national culture-stilt fishing

如果查看全球旅游目的地排行的话，斯里兰卡肯定不是热门国家。而且由于爆发于1983年7月，结束于2009年5月长达近26年的国内战乱，使斯里兰卡的政局一直处在动荡之中。随着内战的结束、社会的逐渐稳定以及经济的较快发展，世界的目光开始关注这个国度，旅游业也随之得到恢复并快速增长，成为该国经济的重要组成部分。人们开始更多地了解“印度洋上的明珠”这个美丽的热带岛国。

In global tourist destination rankings, Sri Lanka is not a top hot spot. Its nearly 26-year civil war (July 1983 – May 2009) caused long-term political unrest. After the war, social stability and fast economic growth drew global attention. Tourism recovered and expanded quickly as a key sector of its economy. More people learned about this tropical island, the "Pearl of the Indian Ocean".

记得曾经在央视9套看过纪录片《野性斯里兰卡》，这可能成为我和夫人前往这个国度的一个重要原因。斯里兰卡气候温润，自然资源丰富，由于旅游业恢复较晚，加上仍然落后的工业，许多地区都还处在原生状态，植物茂盛、动物众多，让人更能体验回归自然的感觉。趁着旅游业还没达到发达阶段，及早感受这片尚存野性的土地，应该也算是明智的选择。

I remember watching the documentary "Wild Sri Lanka" on CCTV 9, which may have become an important reason why my wife and I went to this country. Sri Lanka has mild weather and rich natural resources. Delayed tourism recovery and backward industry keep many areas pristine with dense plants and diverse wildlife for people to get close to nature. Visiting this wild land before its tourism matures can be a sensible decision.

在众多的斯里兰卡旅游产品中，我特意关注了高跷钓鱼的内容。因为，这种原始而神奇的捕鱼方式引起我很大的兴趣。

Among Sri Lanka’s various tourism products, I focused on stilt fishing. This primitive and fascinating fishing technique greatly attracted me.

高跷钓鱼历史悠久，是斯里兰卡西南海岸独特的人文景观，这种当地传统的捕鱼方法被戏称为“世界上最牛钓鱼方式”，也成为具有斯里兰卡民族文化标志性特征的画面之一。

Stilt fishing has a long history and is a unique cultural landscape on Sri Lanka's southwest coast. Nicknamed "the world’s greatest fishing method", it is one of the symbolic scenes of Sri Lankan culture.

斯里兰卡高跷钓鱼主要集中在南部海滨的浅海区，目标就是游弋在浅海区的沙丁鱼。我们这次也被安排在一个名叫科格勒的海滨小镇。据说以前当地人是因为买不起渔船出海打鱼，才成就了这种海钓方式。

Sri Lankan stilt fishing is mainly concentrated in the shallow seas of the southern coast, targeting sardines that swim in the shallow seas. Our itinerary brought us to the coastal town of Koggala. Locals invented this fishing style as they could not afford fishing boats for offshore fishing.

高跷钓鱼依托的是一个木制（或竹制）座架。座架由一根木柱（或竹竿）和两根木条（或竹条）组成。先将两根木条（或竹条）呈三角形捆绑在木柱（或竹竿）上，然后木柱（竹竿）插入海滩深处固定。钓鱼时，渔民们涉水爬上浸泡在海水中座架。坐在三角架上，基本上就是一手甩杆，一手扶住木柱（或竹竿），考验一个人的平衡能力和心理承受能力。这些人基本上光脚，扎上头巾，光着上身（难得有人或着一件短袖），穿一条短裤。

Stilt fishing uses wooden or bamboo frames, made of one main pole and two strips. The strips are tied to the pole to form a triangle, and the pole is planted deep into the sand. Fishermen wade to climb the submerged frame. Sitting on the tripod, they cast the rod with one hand and grip the pole with the other, testing balance and mental stability. Most are barefoot, with headscarves, bare chests (few wear tees) and shorts.

高跷钓鱼只有鱼竿、鱼钩，无需鱼饵，应验了“姜太公钓鱼愿者上钩”这话。据当地人介绍，运气好的时候，咬钩的沙丁鱼会接踵而至，令钓者应接不暇。

Stilt fishing requires only rods and hooks, no bait, just like the saying “Jiang Taigong fishes for willing takers”. Locals say that with good luck, sardines bite continuously and overwhelm the angler.

不过，时下高跷钓鱼已不再成为渔民们的主要谋生手段，而是逐渐成为一项观光旅游项目保存下来供游客观览。也许随着岁月变迁，若干年以后，我们可能再也看不到这一神奇的亮丽风景。我心中默默祈祷，别让高跷钓鱼在斯里兰卡消失……

Nowadays, however, stilt fishing is no longer fishermen’s primary livelihood. It has gradually been maintained as a tourist spectacle. As time goes by, this amazing scene may disappear someday. A silent prayer in my heart, don't let stilt fishing disappear in Sri Lanka...