Urban Angling: Your guide to sports fishing in Abu Dhabi

• Ideal Time For Fishing
• Types of Fish in Abu Dhabi
• Sport Fishing Excursions in Abu Dhabi
• How to Get a Fishing Licence in Abu Dhabi?
• Top Fishing Spots in Abu Dhabi

If you love fishing, Abu Dhabi has enough catch to keep you busy! Gather your gear, choose a good spot and reel in your favourite fish from the deep blue. We’ve put together a guide for you, covering all the ins and outs of fishing in Abu Dhabi.

FISHING IN ABU DHABI

Fishing is one of the favourite past times of a lot of visitors and residents in Abu Dhabi. There are many things that contribute to a successful fishing expedition, from finding the right time to the right spot.

Without further ado, let’s go over some of the key details to keep in mind while going fishing or crabbing in the capital.

WHAT IS THE BEST TIME TO CATCH FISH IN ABU DHABI?

If you are planning to catch a fish in Abu Dhabi, you should do so between late October and late May. This is the best time for fishing in Abu Dhabi. In case, you want to find tunas and dorados in winters, hunt between November to February.

WHAT TYPES OF FISH CAN YOU CATCH IN ABU DHABI?

Off the shores of Abu Dhabi, you can catch kingfish, sailfish, queenfish, dorado and tuna. However, if you venture out into the deep sea, you can find shari, giant trevally, blue and white marlin, grouper fish, Spanish mackerel and wahoo.

TOP COMPANIES FOR SPORTFISHING EXCURSIONS IN ABU DHABI

There are many boat charters that rent out a myriad of boats so you don’t need to worry about fishing equipment. You can reach out to Alpha Fishing or Captain Tony’s to enjoy sportfishing excursions in Abu Dhabi.

ALPHA FISHING

Alpha Fishing/Fishing UAE offers private deep sea trips, starting at AED 1,500 for four hours. The tours include a private, fully-equipped boat driven by an experienced captain, sportfishing equipment, water, soft drinks and an icebox. The tour starts at 02:00 pm or 06:00 pm. Food is not included in the trip. The most common fish that you can catch on the tour include barracuda, sharrie, grouper, queen fish, king fish and sultan ibrahim.

• Contact: +971-52-899-6301

CAPTAIN TONY’S

Captain Tony’s is a charter company in Abu Dhabi that lets you charter a four-hour private fishing tour of five people in the morning or late afternoon at AED 1,600. The company also offers fishing equipment and fresh bait. Guests are allowed to bring their own refreshments on the trip. Only five passengers are allowed per trip.

• Contact: +971-50-133-2060

HOW TO GET A FISHING LICENCE IN ABU DHABI?

If you want to fish commercially in Abu Dhabi, you must be registered with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MoCCaE) and have a MoCCaE-registered fishing boat. Here are some things you must remember when applying for a licence.

• You must be at least 18 years old to get a fishing licence.
• If you are going on a fishing excursion with a company, you don’t need to worry as the company taking you will already have a commercial licence that will cover you.

You can apply for two types of fishing licences in Abu Dhabi.

• Weekly recreational fishing licence: This type of licence is issued to residents, tourists and UAE citizens interested in occasionally fishing on the Abu Dhabi beaches.
• Annual recreational fishing licence: This type of licence is also issued to the same group of people but has a one-year validity.

BEST FISHING SPOTS IN ABU DHABI

Now that we know all about obtaining a licence, let’s take a look at some of the best fishing places in Abu Dhabi where you can indulge in sport-fishing activities.

BATEEN BEACH

One of the most well-known spots for fishing in the capital is Al Bateen Beach located near Hudariyat Island. Al Bateen Beach is less crowded than other popular beaches, making it an ideal location for sport-fishing in the capital.

The beach was awarded the blue flag sustainability award by the Emirates Wildlife Authority. With a permit, you can fish for stingrays, hammour or kingfish and if you’re very lucky you could even catch a trophy-worthy sailfish at Bateen Beach.

• Bateen Beach fishing location: 24.4273° N, 54.3773° E

ICAD II

Located at the edge of Musaffah South, Icad II is another great place for fishing in the city. It is an ideal campsite for those who love to indulge in sea fishing adventures. If you are planning to go there, make sure to bring your own food and water.

• Icad II fishing location: 24.2930° N, 54.4616° E

AL RAHBA

Al Rahba fishing spot is near Al Sheleilah island north in Ras Sadr. The actual fishing spot is around 14 minutes away from Al Samha Abu Dhabi. It’s a great spot to see the tide coming in. The stream is quite strong and the area is home to a wide variety of fish.

• Al Rahba fishing location: 24°40’57.6″N, 54°39’39.6″E

AL RAHA BEACH

Al Raha fishing spot is located near Yas tunnel at the edge of Al Zeina desert. If you want to fish at Al Raha Beach, your best bet is to get a boat rental from Yas Island and travel by sea to this location.

• Al Raha Beach location: 24°27’35.8″N, 54°36’44.3″E

YAS ISLAND

Situated a few minutes away from Stasio and Rysio beach on Yas North near the Iron Bridge, Yas Island is another great fishing spot in Abu Dhabi worth visiting. During the fishing season, it’s easy to catch barracuda and queenfish here.

• Yas Island location: 24°30’25.2″N, 54°34’32.0″E

HAMEEM BEACH

If you are looking for a place that promises a satisfactory fishing experience, Hameem Beach can be your best bet. Located 21 minutes away from Musaffah South, it is a secluded haven in Abu Dhabi where you can go camping and fishing for giant mackerel!

• Hameem Beach Fishing Location: 24.2565° N, 54.3849° E

EASTERN MANGROVES

Ever wondered what it would feel like to fish on a kayak? In a calm environment, amid the cooing of birds and the magnificent mangrove trees, you can scoop up a fish from the serene waters of the lagoon at Eastern Mangrove in Abu Dhabi.

This is a perfect spot for fishing as it also offers insight into the dynamic ecosystem it harbours. You can find plenty of fish there. Make sure you take waterproof bags for your gadgets.

• Eastern Mangroves location: 24° 26′ 46.08″ N, 54° 26′ 19.53″ E

AL ARYAM ISLAND

Located off the west coast of the capital emirate, Al Aryam Island is another fishing place in Abu Dhabi worth a visit.

• Al Aryam fishing location: 24° 18′ 24.5376” N, 54° 13′ 35.6124” E

THINGS TO REMEMBER WHEN FISHING IN ABU DHABI/UAE

• As per Ministerial Decree No.43 of 2019 Regulating Shark Fishing and Trade, you are restricted and/or prohibited from fishing sharks, sawfishes, guitarfishes, wedgefishes and rays in the region.
• Make sure to check vessel engines, boat lights and the quantity of fuel before sailing.
• Keep navigational devices handy to determine the route and location of your boat.
• As per Ministerial Decree No.580 of 2015, you can catch and sell fish that have a minimum length listed in the chart.
• Recreational fishing licencing is suspended from June to October every year to maintain an adequate amount of local fish resources.

FAQs

WHAT IS THE BEST FISHING TIME IN ABU DHABI?

The ideal time to catch fish in Abu Dhabi ranges from late October to late May.

HOW TO GET A FISHING BOAT REGISTERED IN ABU DHABI?

Here is what you must remember when applying for fishing boat registration in Abu Dhabi.

• You must be a minimum of 18 years old
• You must be a UAE citizen
• You must require a security approval
• You must hold a fishing licence from a reputed authority
• You must have prior fishing experience and no previous registration with the ministry

WHICH LICENCES CAN I APPLY FOR FISHING IN ABU DHABI?

If you’re not a commercial fisher, you can apply for a weekly/annual recreational fishing licence.

WHERE TO FISH IN ABU DHABI?

Wondering, ”Where to go fishing in Abu Dhabi?” Well, there are many places, including Hameem Beach, Yas Island, ICAD II and Al Raha Beach, to name a few.

That wraps up our guide to fishing in Abu Dhabi. If you are on the lookout for other venues for fishing in the UAE, our guide to fishing in Dubai may help you.

If fishing is not something you wouldn’t want to do, head to some of these amazing beaches in Abu Dhabi to cool off.

For more exciting information from Abu Dhabi and beyond, stay tuned to MyBayut.