<p>Informal services remain the main source of finance for fisherwomen in coastal Karnataka, as access to regulated financial institutions is still difficult, with the social and structural barriers present. This research attempts to investigate the major informal financial sources that are chosen by women engaged in fishing-allied activities in coastal Karnataka and identify factors determining these choices among them. With the sample size of 631 collected through structured interview method, the study employs mixed logit regression. Findings of the study present that family, and friends were the major sources of informal finance on which the respondents were largely dependent, and community groups and neighbors were less opted for the financial needs. These choices were significantly influenced by the socioeconomic attributes of the respondents, as well as institutional barriers such as documentation requirements, collateral issues, and a lack of financial literacy. The study recommends localized and inclusive strategies that can integrate the formal and existing informal networks at the grassroots level. It is also essential to strengthen the financial literacy among the respondents and align institutional services with community needs.</p>