Most lodges in Nkhata Bay can arrange a half-day trip in a local dugout canoe (bwato) with one of the fishermen who work the bay. The boats are made from a single hollowed-out tree, sit low in the water, and require a certain trust in their slim wooden sides — but they are seaworthy enough to have done the job here for generations.
A typical outing paddles around one of the rocky headlands to a quiet beach, with snorkelling stops on the way. The fisherman who takes you out will usually explain the gear, the techniques, and the rhythm of his working week. Pay the going rate plus a tip; this is one of the few places where the tourist economy and the fishing economy actually meet, and the money goes directly to the men who do the work.