View Full Version : Saltwater fly fishing in Abu Dhabi
Just arrived in Abu Dhabi from Scotland and wondered whether there was anyone out here into saltwater flyfishing?
altenetf4
04-12-2007, 22:58
hi Dry Fly. Im in Abu Dhabi. i have no idea about flyfishing activites in here but i am interested to know about it from u if u r willing to share. BTW, how long u will be in here?
dabcatcher
06-12-2007, 13:04
welcome to the site to you both :)
there is an international forum here that might have someone who could help you.
PanamaJack
06-12-2007, 13:44
Yes, to reiterate Dabcatcher's greeting, Welcome to the site!
Not certain about Abu Dhabi itself but there certainly opportunities at Dubai. Trying clicking on this link - http://www.worldseafishing.com/forums/showthread.php?t=53817 - it might well be of use for the general area.
Dave
Hi guys, great to get such a quick response - thanks! Deep sea fishing is great but it takes a lot of time and effort to get to Oman and Dubai and I fancied something a little bit different. I think it was Billy Connolly (who's he?) floating about in a boat in the shallows in the Carribean catching fish with a fly rod that set my mind to thinking that the shallow waters around the mangrove swamps in Abu Dhabi may also be productive (apart from mudskippers!). Apparently some areas have good tidal runs at certain periods in the tides and this environment may produce fish. I have been fly fishing Scottish mountain streams for decades but wouldn't have a clue where to start on such a venture - any suggestions?
marktheshark
10-12-2007, 15:42
Ullo Dry Fly
Don't know if it's any use but if you can get to the Indian Ocean side of UAE, there is the Fujairah Salt Water Fly Fishing Academy, run out of Le Meridien hotel at Al Aqah. It's been set by by a Brit expat, Martin James, and they run skiffs inshore and offshore looking for dorado, tuna, kingfish, snappers and the usual suspects. They also run three-day courses including tuition and accommodation at Le Meridien. I don't have a website (this info is from an article in Weekend magazine, Nov 17-23 2006) but Google might.
I didn't fish with them, but did take some charters from Muttrah farther down the coast; the waters there are full of tuna, dorado etc, and I caught several small blackfin tuna on the fly, as well as dorados on conventional lures.
Hope it's of some use. Good luck and if you get out, let us know how things go.
Mark
PS: while in Oman I was scanning through some brochures and there were a number of pictures of very interesting-looking beaches near Abu Dhabi with what looked like flats, channels and sandbars ... extremely fishy-looking!
Mark,
Thanks. The stretch of coast to the south west of Abu Dhabi is protected by offshore islands between which there are some pretty fierce tidal runs and that's where I guess the fish will lie. The area appears unexplored in SWFF terms [no fly rods in shops!] and that's why I fancy learning how to go about it. I fished for brown trout for years in Scotland but this is different!
marktheshark
13-12-2007, 00:56
Oh yes ... I fish for trout too and I'd say that SWFF can be very different; a lot more brutal in approach, tackle and fight.
Just by the way, another thing that the article on Fujairah mentioned was that strong winds made fly fishing in some parts of the UAE difficult for parts of the year, and that the Indian Ocean side was much calmer ... which was true: the sea was like a mill-pond on the days I fished.
Let us know how you get on. I'd like to go back one day and places like Mussandam look extremely interesting and unexplored.
Mark
yellowsub
24-02-2008, 06:25
Hello Dry Fly,
How have you been getting on in Abu?
Including myself, I know of two other people here who SWFF.
When I first came here two years ago I waded the flats on the new corniche just past the power station. It was hard fishing but I never had any problems heading out for a few hours in the very warm water, I caught a few Golden Trevally and a few other smaller species. Access is the key and I was relying on taxis.
Things have moved on a fair bit now and we regularly catch Queenfish, Trevally and the odd Spanish Mack on the fly. The fishing can be very good at times, it's the 'peak' season now however there has been a lot on onshore winds (Shamal) and the water has been dirty and I believe at 18-19c too cold for the predators who have made themselves scarce for the last few weeks (where I fish anyway).
All my gear has to be purchased outside of the UAE. As far as I know there are no flyfishing retail outlets here. It is a pain but nice also as it just shows how new it is here. The post can be awful, I have had many a painful wait for bits of kit.
The Gulf of Oman has the reputation as the better fishing area. I am only just starting to explore out there, it's about 4hrs from Abu and worth a look. I have tried twice to make Martin James school but work has always interferred. The Meridian at Al Aqah is where he bases himself and they will be able to sort you out a boat. The Dorado are in good supply from what I've heard. We were there a week ago and there wern't many, we caught one. I think it's a bit 'cold'
Just as well your down here making fat cash?! you'll need a 10 & 12wt, floating, sinking & inter warm water lines and new sage reels and spools of course!
Like you said DF, plenty of space to explore but a lot of it is closed off if your not a Sheikh. Boat is the way forward, better still one with a trailer.........
Regards
Yellowsub
Yellow Sub - great to hear from you! You sound a lot more experienced than me so thanks for the tips. My rod arrived [AFTM 8/9] two weeks ago by plane so I have only been out twice - first time to Mussafah bridge where I discovered you are not allowed to fish below the bridge - pity since I guess there must be some nice fish waiting in an around the bridge piers! Second time was today to the culvert at Marina Mall - fished a fast sinking line with a heavy leader and using a Cat's Whisker [clousers are on the way courtesy of my fishing club - Walton AC.com in Scotland!] and caught 5 Trevallys - great since nobody else was catching! Caused quite a stir and they couldn't believe I wasn't using bait! Sounds as though there are four of us now in Abu Dhabi - lets get together so I can pick your brains!!
Hi Guys,
I'm delighted to see your thread as I feared there would be no fishing at all in Abu! Is anyone fishing this saturday?
I have done some ff although no swff yet so I don't have too much experience but am a keen jerkbait fisher - no offence but I see a lot of similarities between jerk/lure fishing and flyfishing. To me it's what it is all about ;o]
Let me know if you're interested and hopefully we can catch up.
Cheers,
Pat
yellowsub
07-03-2008, 09:33
Been away, back in town. Going to be a bit windy, onshore but keen to head out.
Good work, cats whisker(no idea what that looks like) Anything that resembles small bait seems to work.
I was only joking about needing 5 rods, my mate only has a 9wt, he uses it for everything. A 5kg Queenfish will put a nice bend in it!
wilson.alasdair
13-03-2008, 12:11
Hey Guys I am coming out next wed and i want to bring my telescopic spinning rod and reel and also a couple of lures.
Due to the recent fluctuation of people being stopped at airport security i was just wondering if it would be a problem to bring them along with me in my hold luggage ?
Cheers ali
I'm slowly getting the hang of things here and have become reasonably proficient at catching jacks (trevally) near Marina Mall. Problem is what flies to use - clousers are too big for the fish which are around 1kg and I've had reasonable success with rainbow lures. They certainly pull the jacks up from the deeps but I am getting few strikes. I've been broken once or twice by larger jacks but the bite rate is low - any suggestions what I could do to encourage them to strike?
PanamaJack
21-04-2008, 20:10
I'm slowly getting the hang of things here and have become reasonably proficient at catching jacks (trevally) near Marina Mall. Problem is what flies to use - clousers are too big for the fish which are around 1kg and I've had reasonable success with rainbow lures. They certainly pull the jacks up from the deeps but I am getting few strikes. I've been broken once or twice by larger jacks but the bite rate is low - any suggestions what I could do to encourage them to strike?
If the fish are relatively small then some of the weighted Bonefish flies will work. The thing I've found though that is of paramount importance for Jacks is working the fly QUICKLY and it helps if you can combine that will surface disturbance. (Poppers can work well.) It certainly brings out their aggressive nature. Even if they strike and miss just keep stripping fast, they're adept at nailing it.
Thanks PJ - I've been stripping quite quickly but it seems really strange bearing in mind I've fly fished for brown trout all my days! What I may try is a floating line with a sink tip and a weighted fly and see what happens - I've been using a fast sinking line to get the fly well down in the water but we'll drag some flies through the surface and check the result!
PanamaJack
23-04-2008, 10:12
I've attached an image of a 13lb Black Jack that I caught off Ascension Island in the South Atlantic as an example. That took a small weighted Bonefish fly - size 6 - stripped fast to create a wake at dead of night on a dark phase of the Moon. (We were essentially there for the Marlin fishing.) We were drifting alongside an anchored tanker in 130' of water.
Like all Jacks they're incredibly strong and I was only fishing a 6lb tippet. Took nearly 30 minutes to land. Frustratingly we were fishing for (hopefully) world record-sized Horse Eye Jacks that used to shoal up with them when that took.
Dave
Dave - Great fish!! I now realise that it isn't so much the catching, as locating the fish. I recently found a small school of queenfish while fishing from the shore and caught 8 in quick succession so my technique must be improving. Also, I got a h**l of a fright when on 3 separate occasions, the queenfish I caught [around 2kg] was attacked by a large grouper! Good fun!
Hi
I'm new to the UAE. live in Mirdif in Dubai, i'm looking for guys who are serious about Fly fishing and who could show me the tricks of the trade, have my gear ready but not sure on where to go fishing will even drive to ABU for the day just to get the line wet. Whould like to meet up with you guys and do some good fishing.
have you guys gave any thought to starting a fly fishing club. i looking at joing a group or team who take their fishing seriously.
marktheshark
08-10-2008, 15:06
I think you guys should have a look at the pix from Yellowsub's Oman safari on www.flyforums.co.uk in the saltwater forum. It looks glorious, and some nice fish too.
worldcat1
18-10-2008, 04:50
Hi my name is steve, i also live in mirdiff and am into flyfishing
Good day Steve, have you done any fishing in Dubai as yet, i'm not sure of where to go, would like to meet up with you and get some line in the water, i'm new to flyfishing and would like if some one can teach me the tricks of the trade. i'm also planing a weekend trip to Oman.
Hi guys - I fly fish in Abu Dhabi every Saturday from about 2pm till 5pm at the culvert under the main road to Marina Mall. Happy to chat to anyone who pitches up and show them what I've learnt. The trick is to find the fish - probably queenfish, jacks or barracuda - then you have great fun. I would like to know if anyone has found any other "hot spots" in the capital!
Hi,
looking for some advice here :) Im heading of to dubai with my family on the 29th of Dec, i am hoping to do some flyfishing during that week. Any advice on who to contact for some guided fishing on a boat? Also what types of fish am i expecting i have heard of people catching Queenfish in large quantities but any others like cudas? I am also wondering what type of reel should i bring?
Hi All
I have recently been bitten by the fly fishing bug and really enjoying it. As mentioned in previous post there is no existence of fly shop’s in the UAE. I have found a company that do fly fishing charters and sell equipment www.oceanactive.com But most of my saltwater fly’s are bought in the states and shipped in via Aramex. I will be taking part in the Fujairah fly fishing academy in December but you vcan also try Ras Al khaimeh loads of new coves
Hi Steve
I live in mirdiff as well, just recently got myself a rubber duck to fly fish from let me know if you wana come along for a bit of fly fishing. newbe to it so learning as I go
Saw Yellowsub's photos of his Oman trip - how did he get all that time off? and did he take his boat? OK IFLY what's a rubber duck and how did you get on at Fujairah? SWFF's been quiet in Abu Dhabi with my catch rate dropping - I thought the winter was supposed to be good!! Summer, although really hot, was far better - still no fly on the water means no fish so I keep trying!
............just as an update I went out this afternoon and caught a nice jack of around 1kg with a cat's whisker (an old rainbow trout fly) while the clouser (blue and white ) did nothing. Maybe that's the problem!
amblefisher
15-12-2008, 03:11
alrite fella's. il be visiting abu dhabi for a few days soon over the festive period and was hoping to do a little flyfishing. i fished dubai a while bak with little success apart from one runner that i didnt see which succeeded in snapping me! i was wondering if any of u will be about fishing to show me the ropes or give some advice. iv read through previous threads and have learnt alot already! is this time of year good for us fly fishers? many thanx for any replies!
fish_widow
15-12-2008, 19:31
Hey Chaps - hoping to buy my chap some fishing kit for Xmas including Rod and Reel - anyone know of any shops etc in Abu Dhabi?
Thanks
Simplest place is in Carrefour hypermarket at Marina Mall off the Corniche. Should be able to get him a reasonably priced little outfit quite cheaply. Quality isn't great but good enough! Tight lines. PS no flyfishing gear unfortunately!
Hi Dryfly and all you SWFF's out there in Adu Dhabi.
I live in North Yorkshire, over the years been FF for trout mostly at Swinsty and Fewston reservoirs but not for much longer as come Jan 09 im moving out to Abu and its great to discover that like minded souls are going to be in the locality, hopefully preventing me from getting lost on some sandbank whilst suffering severe heat stroke!
I’d like to keep in touch with you lot and if anyone does indeed start up a SWFF club I’d appreciate the details and also if any of you have time a list of what flies are catching so I can gather up the appropriate supplies prior to departure.
Many Thanks
Hope you got my message and look forward to meeting up. Welcome to the marvellous world of trevally, queenfish and barracuda on a flyline!!
Hello.
I´ll be staying at the Interconti on the 15th and 16th, have both days off and thinking about things to do.
I could bring some light/medium spinning gear as well as a 5wt and a 8wt rod. (albeit I´ll be rather rusty with the ff gear).
What are the current conditions like?
Is anyone going fishing on Sunday or Monday?
Any suggestions where to go?
What about the licence?
Thanks for your time.
Cheers from dreary and rainy Germany.
Hi Tommya - can't meet up at present due to personal commitments but travel to Marina Mall from the Intercontinental and you'll cross over a bridge just before the traffic lights at Marina Mall. Try spininng either side and you may be lucky and get some small barracuda, jacks or queenfish. Worth a try.
Hi Dry Fly,
thanks for the reply. I was thinking about that spot, too.
Went there early Sunday afternoon without gear to check it out - low tide and even hotter than expected. Didn´t go back that day.
Went back again yesterday around 4 p.m..
Tide was much higher, hot (I knew that), but my spoons (Tobies) and other wiggly stuff didn´t attract any hits, despite working both sides of the bridge. Guess they were to big ans/or wrong shape.
Saw a big puffer, a ray and some smaller Jacks (?).
Not much action also according to the Fillipinos.
Stopped by at the Marina Cafe on the way back and was thinking about whinging a Toby at the j@rks on their jetskis and producing some action that way...
The area definitely has good (fishing-)potential nevertheless, inshallah.
Cheers.
Sorry I missed you and yes the jet skis are a problem but once you get into a fish you forget them!
Weather not yet hot - I can stand fishing for 4 hours at this time of the year but only 2 hours in the summer when temperatures are 45-50 Centigrade.
Out for the first time for a while on Saturday - can't wait!
Hi all
I am based in Abu Dhabi and fly fish every weekend, Fridays and Saturdays. Most species caught are queen fish, milk fish(yes, the famous milk fish..!), trevally, nagroor, sea bream and needle fish.
I run a guiding service if anyone is visiting Abu Dhabi and i have all the tackle you will need plus refreshments and transportation to and from the fishing spots.
www.fishinguae.wordpress.com
Tight lines.
Adam
Adam,
Great to see there are others in AD keen on SWFFing. Call round to Marina Mall bridge some Saturday pm for a chat - you'll soon find me since I'm the only one SWFFing!
Thanks,I will have to pass by there to meet you one day. Any decent sized fish round there?
There are small barracuda, jacks and queenfish up to around 1.5kg although one of the guys caught a 1.2m long barracuda while spinning. Cobia and the odd hammour are also around with small rays floating around. Its not easy to SWFF with all the traffic and public about but no complaints so far! Drop by and we'll have a chat.
There are small barracuda, jacks and queenfish up to around 1.5kg although one of the guys caught a 1.2m long barracuda while spinning. Cobia and the odd hammour are also around with small rays floating around. Its not easy to SWFF with all the traffic and public about but no complaints so far! Drop by and we'll have a chat.
Hello Dryfly,
I have recently started fishing here in Abu Dhabi and waana know more about fish lures I can use here on corniche for catching fish....
Shani
Hi Dryfly,
I have started fishing recently in Abu Dhabi , I am interested to know more about fish lures I can use on corniche for fishing, I am using sinker with spinning reel....
Shani
Shani - sorry but I know nothing about lures - only flies!
Danoooch
28-06-2009, 05:20
Hi Dry fly , hope you are well , i have recently moved to Abu Dhabi about 3 months ago from england where i fly fished for trout, salmon , greyling and even pike. I have been fishing over here using spinning rods but its not the same as fly fishing and was wondering if you could give me some tips as to where to go and what methods to use over here. I have found a spot with milk fish (Relative of the bone fish) and they rise every morning , its amazing to see but they are not interested in baits as they are vegeterians !! But reading up about them apparently the most successful method to catch them is on the fly (Algae or pupa). Anyway hope to hear back from you.
Thanks
Danoooch,
Nice to hear from you! I too am a flyfisher and if you go to the start of this thread you'll see I arrived in Abu Dhabi in September 2007 not having a clue how to start. I brought out my old 9 foot 6 inch rod I used for fishing for fishing on lochs in Scotland - AFTM 8/9 - plus a fast sinking line, about 12 foot of leader, tied on a Cat's Whisker and to my amazement caught a small jack (trevally)! I have been trying bits and pieces since then but the only change I have needed to make is to use clouser flies - they sink better into the water column. I haven't yet caught anything big enough to warrant fancy saltwater reels and that's after fishing every weekend for nearly two years! However, I rarely go out on boats and I know you do get big queenfish which would trash my reel big style! I fish at the bridge just as you get on to the island at Marina Mall - jet ski's can sometimes be a pest and you need to be careful with the back cast but all in all I usually catch one or two decent fish in a two hour stint. You can expect to catch queenfish (excellent fighters), jcaks (also good) and small barracuda (boring). Tight lines. DF - (tried to upload a pic of a queenfish I caught yesterday around 1.5kg but file too large!)
Just returned from a bit of a break in the UK but, just for the record, just before I left I caught a hamour (grouper) on the fly. It was small (0.5kg) but a surprise just the same! Needless to say it went back!
I confess to getting fed up with fast stripping for jacks, queenfish and barracuda using clousers. Anyone any suggestions for an alternative - I had a look at the saltwater flyfishing, plugs and lures forum but it has little on SWFFing? Any suggestions would be welcome.
Well, its time to return to Scotland after 3 years in AD. I've learnt a lot about SWFFing and may try it again in Bonnie Scotland! However, it's no comparison to the joy of placing a dry fly on the surface of a cold mountain stream or loch just to see it gobbled up by a hungry trout!! Tight lines and I hope someone carries on SWFFing in Abu Dhabi!!
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