Dawn with Benaulim's fishermen
Benaulim was a fishing village long before the resorts came, and it still is. Each morning in season, small boats return to the beach after a night or early morning at sea, and families haul in shore nets by hand. Mackerel, sardines, prawns and the occasional kingfish are sorted and sold on the spot, much of it to the village's restaurants and to traders from Margao.
Your guide, from a Benaulim fishing family, explains the boats and nets, the seasons for different fish, the monsoon ban on fishing that lets stocks recover, and how the village has changed with tourism. It is a chance to see the coast as Goans live on it.
We walk inland to the village's church of St John the Baptist on its small hill, then finish with breakfast at a beach café: fresh fish fried in rava, poee and tea, or something lighter.
Questions travellers ask
Good to know
Can you see fishermen at work on Goa's beaches?
Yes, on south Goa's beaches such as Benaulim, Colva and Betul, boats come in at dawn from October to May and shore nets are hauled in by hand. Fishing stops during the monsoon ban, roughly June to July. Check current status before you travel.
Can I buy fish from the boats in Benaulim?
Yes, fish is sold on the beach as the boats come in. If your villa has a cook, your guide can help you choose the morning's catch for lunch. Resort kitchens cannot usually cook fish brought in by guests.
Is the dawn fishing walk suitable for children?
Yes. Children enjoy watching the boats land and the nets hauled in, and the walk is flat and easy. It is early, so it suits families who are already waking at sunrise.
Also in Benaulim, Varca and Cavelossim
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