Sharm El Sheikh

**johnp4455** · 20-02-2006, 21:55

Has anyone fished the Red sea ? I,m off to Sharm in March and was wondering if you can fish there. I think the Red sea is a national park or something !! Thanks very much.

**bushie** · 20-02-2006, 23:04

hi john.i went to sharm last year.i could'nt find any fishing over there.you got to be 20 miles off shore or something like that.its a no no from the shore.its a great place to dive.i only went snokling when i was there.the fish life on the reefs is magic.im hoping to go again soon to take my paddy.you will have a great time there it wont be as hot as we had it.it was in the 50's bloody hot.if i can help in any way please ask or PM me.

bushie

**johnp4455** · 21-02-2006, 18:08

Thanks Bushie,
I think i,ll stick to the snorkeling.

**PanamaJack** · 22-02-2006, 11:10

Over the years, but the most recent experience was 10 years ago, some of our members have experimented with reef and offshore sport fishing out of Elait and Hurgarda. They caught the usual things trolling Barracuda, small Tunas and some Snapper species over the reef. But, from memory, it wasn't terribly inspiring! Although subsequently we did see photographs of a small Blue Marlin and some Sailfish one of the skippers they'd used caught out of Eliat.

However within the last couple of months I did get a flier from an operation based in Hurgarda. Here's the url of their web site - http://g_host2004.webstrikesolutions.com/index.asp and it operates under the name of Egyptfishing.com. So just to stress I've no experience of their operation, but their web site will at least show you of what's available in that part of the Red Sea.

The issue at Sharm El Sheikh appears from the previous respondent's experience going to be getting access to a boat. As you said the snorkeling sounds good!

**marktheshark** · 24-02-2006, 01:14

Hullo John
I've not fished Sharm but I did visit Eilat a few years back and tried off the shore there. Not brilliant, I'm afraid. The locals seem to use 12-14ft continental-style poles and small hooks to hammer small coral-fish. Most of the restaurants had local grouper on the menu, but the most plentiful fish in the markets were farmed gilthead bream or Nile perch.
I tried livebait fishing around the coral reefs with no luck, but I did catch a string of small barracuda (up to 2lb) after dark on a small Bass Bullet lure spun slowly over the sand alongside a reef. I also had a couple of jacks the size of your hand on an epoxy fry using fly gear.
I must say that while snorkelling I didn't see many large fish, except for parrotfish, and very few predators. One thing that was very plentiful, and not shy of taking small livebait, was lionfish. Pliers and extreme care needed to unhook those - the spines carry a nasty venom.
Tried trolling off a boat too, but I was misled by the booking agent; it was one of the gulet-type schooners, not a fishing boat, the skipper didn't know or give a **** about fishing, and we were on a barbeque/cruise; so whatever's offshore doesn't take Rapalas, tuna heads, poppers or muppets trolled off the back of a large party boat!
Hope it's of some help. I went in November; the temperature should be higher when you go and that might liven things up.
Let us know how you do

**taff2** · 01-03-2006, 17:37

hi i have fished sharm from a boat found out later it is a no no some boats will do it the diving is brill

**MMansour** · 02-03-2006, 19:11

Hi everyone
Regarding fishing in sharm it used to be a world class fishery which is now turned into a sanctuary.So there is NO fishing there nowadays unfortunately.The other option you would have would be to go to Eltor which is about an hours drive by car or take the ferry to hurghada(2 hours) that is if you are really into trolling.Its worth the effort. As far as shore fishing i think its not worth trying. If i can be of any help send me a mail i'd be very happy to help you

**stonefish** · 02-03-2006, 20:56

I've been to Sharm, Hurghada and Taba. Five years ago in Hurghada I asked the tour rep to arrange a boat for fishing. He came up with a day tripper boat and 2 **** rods with no tip rings. We trolled on the way out to an island. The scouse bloke on the other rod (never fished before) hooked into a Spanish Mackerel (I think) about 15 lb+. He posed for a photo with the lure still in it's mouth, when it flipped and the trebles got caught in his shorts, with those sharp teeth snapping at his tackle. What a panic, those shorts came off so fast in front everybody!!
I did take a 4 piece travel rod to sharm 2 years ago. Fishing I believe is a no no, but I wasn't stopped when I tried spinning , plugs, poppers etc early morning and evening.
I fished the Ras um Sid area near the Beach Albatross Hotel. No luck but I saw loads of decent fish, trevally, barracuda, rays etc while snorkelling the same area. I reckon bottom fishing could be really productive, prawns always works with me abroad.
Check the laws first or be really careful. You could always plead ignorance.
As a guide, much of the Sharm area is serviced by floating jetties for snorkelling, this is because the first 20/30 yards or so is dead coral,about 2 ft deep, then there is a15/20 ft drop off, a coral wall to a sandy bottom interspersed with coral formations and loads of fish, some big.
Tony.

**EgyptAngler** · 04-03-2006, 09:29

Great forum! This is my first posting.

I would like to confirm that fishing in Sharm El-Sheikh is not allowed. As some postings pointed out, it's a protected national park. For those who practiced fishing there, I would say they were lucky they were not spotted by the park rangers. However, we never heard from those who have been! LOL.

I fish the Red Sea too frequently. Way too frequently, indeed! I believe that Hurghada and some spots along Suez Gulf are the best. Although El-Tur is the nearest city to Sharm El-Sheikh, I don't believe it's the best fishing spot. As a matter of fact I didn't like it much--very basic boats and no good fishing. This is my own experience after over 10 fishing trips there.

I would be honored to answer enquiries about fishing on the western bank of the Red Sea.