Paddleboarding and jetskiing might hog the watersports limelight, but have you tried fishing? Caroline McEneaney falls hook, line and sinker.
Fishing might not be quite as popular as other watersports, but it’s gathered quite a following in the Emirates. So what are the options for fishing in the capital?
Angling is a popular method of fishing in the UAE. This is where a fisher uses an angled fish hook attached to a reel, as opposed to other methods such as spear fishing.
A major community of anglers in the UAE has developed through online social media. The Facebook group Abu Dhabi Xtreme Fishing Anglers formed in February 2013. Founding members Michael Terrano, Louie Maqueses, Renato Santos and Irwin Ryan began fishing every weekend and decided to take to Facebook to see if others around the city shared their passion.
Now, just over a year later, Abu Dhabi Xtreme Fishing Anglers has more than 500 members. Irwin says, ‘The group aims to promote fishing not only as a hobby, but as a responsible activity both socially and environmentally.’ The group encourages every member to get a fishing licence and use proper equipment such as poles and tackle. Moreover, the group helps protect the environment by urging its members to clean the fishing site before and after the activity.
In addition to serving as a forum for fishing enthusiasts, the group hosts a quarterly fishing tournament where members compete for prizes based on the largest weight of a specific species caught in a certain amount of time.
Living up to its name, Abu Dhabi Xtreme Fishing Anglers has a particular interest in catching big fish such as hamour, barracuda and trevally, which is a large fish often identified by its steep facial profile. These kinds of fish are abundant in the UAE because of the warm weather and the connection of the Arabian Gulf to the Indian Ocean.
While the Gulf is full of various types of fish, the capital is careful to restrict where people are allowed to cast their lines. In Abu Dhabi, fishing is prohibited in sanctuaries, beaches where swimming is permitted, shipping areas and private areas of water. Some good places to fish, however, are the Al Raha Corniche, next to the Musaffah Bridge in Khor Al Maqta, the Armed Forces Officers Club in Al Maqta’a, and next to Marina Mall.
According to the Emirates Fishing website (www.emiratesfishing.com), the best time to fish is 30 minutes after sunrise, sunset, moonrise and moonset.
Find out more about fishing and connect with fellow fishers on Abu Dhabi Xtreme Fishing Anglers’ Facebook page.
Go fish
Abu Dhabi Xtreme Fishing Anglers welcomes new members and invites participants to post pictures of their catches and trips and share comments, questions and advice. But for Abu Dhabi residents who would prefer some face-to-face assistance, there are several venues across the capital where you can rent or charter a boat for a fishing experience. Three popular choices include:
Beach Rotana Abu Dhabi
Charter a boat for fishing and you’ll be taken out with all the necessary equipment. You can even take home the fish to cook yourself.
From Dhs900 for three hours; maximum five people. Al Zahiyah, www.rotana.com (02 697 9000).
Arabian Divers & Sportfishing Charters
For more serious fishermen who want a hassle-free day of big games sportfishing. All of the fishing is catch-and-release.
Call Greg Heinricks for details. Khor Al Bateen, www.fishabudhabi.com (050 614 6931).
Captain Tony’s
Charter a four-hour private fishing tour for five people in the early morning or late afternoon. Charters include water, soft drinks, sandwiches, fishing equipment and fresh bait.
Yas Marina, Yas Island, www.captaintonys.ae (02 650 7175).
