This article examines the dynamics of social stratification and mobility among fishing communities in Tegal, Central Java, focusing on how patron-client relations structure access to capital, labour, and markets. Drawing on fieldwork conducted in 2024 in Muarareja (involving small-scale fishing operations) and in Tegalsari (with larger vessels), the study employs a qualitative approach combining in-depth interviews, participant observation, and documentation. The analysis identifies three major strata: boat owners, skippers, and crew whose positions are determined by access to financial resources and fishing assets. Evidence shows upward mobility when crews or skippers accumulate savings or secure bank loans using land or house certificates, while downward mobility occurs when boat owners lose assets due to debt, poor catches, or mismanagement. Patron–client networks with banks and middlemen regulate capital flows and fish trade but also entrench dependency. Beyond economics, cultural meanings, boat ownership as prestige, auction halls as arenas of negotiation, and beliefs in mystical practices shape mobility trajectories. By integrating structural and cultural perspectives, the article contributes to understanding stratification and mobility in Indonesian fisheries and underscores the need for safer credit systems and transparent market mechanisms.

Coastal livelihoodsdebt and dependencysocial mobilitypathwayscultural economy