Fishing in Red Sea Governorate

The Red Sea Governorate in Egypt lies between the valley of the Nile on the west, the Suez Governorate in the north, and the border with Sudan in the south; it encompasses much of Egypt’s Red Sea coast. The most important economic activity in the Red Sea Governorate is tourism. Most people come here to enjoy a beach vacation and the clear, saline waters of the Red Sea, but the activities that the area offers go well beyond the beach and the cocktail bar. You can go scuba diving, sailing, snorkeling - and, of course, fishing. Hurghada, the capital and biggest city of the Governorate, is a world famous tourist destination, and one of the most important fishing harbors, although Marsa Alam, located some 275 km. to the south, is said to promise even better fishing opportunities in a largely unexplored area. The shores of the Red Sea around Hurghada are home to hundreds of species of fish, from the tiny brightly colored denizens of the coral reefs to the biggest deep sea trophy fish like sailfish and tuna. And the local tourist industry has offers to match. Dozens of fishing charter boats of all descriptions, with experienced captains and crews, are ready to take you on your Red Sea adventure. Click here to read more about fishing in the Red Sea.

The Red Sea, and the Red Sea Governorate in particular, have really spectacular coral reefs, and could be the top destination for reef fishing, if fishing near the reefs weren’t banned by local regulations. It is also illegal to break off and take out of the country pieces of coral. Therefore, most fishing opportunities in Hurghada and surroundings take place as a nearshore or offshore fishing, depending on your preferences. You can also fish rocky reefs and wrecks, and some charters offer overnight outings; spending the night in the boat under the Red Sea stars should be a special treat.

The western coast of the Red Sea, within the borders of the Red Sea Governorate, presents a wide variety of environments perfect for many species of fish, from coral and rocky reefs to sandy beaches and lagoons, and all the way down to the deepest sea bottom, where you can catch several species of tuna, including skipjack, yellowfin, and bigeye tuna, as well as dolphin (mahi-mahi), sailfish and striped marlin. Near the coast, the reefs provide shelter to such species as giant trevally and barracuda, as well as red and Goliath grouper and such local specialties as Bohar snapper, coral trout, andhamour. Amberjack, bonito, red snapper, mackerel - the list of species that you can catch in the Red Sea goes well beyond that and is really impressive. Most of the species can be not only caught, but kept and cooked - some charters offer cleaning, and even cooking facilities to treat you to your own fresh catch, or can recommend a restaurant that can do it for you. However, some protected species must be released; your captain will provide all necessary information.

Fishing charter captains in Hurghada and other locations in the Red Sea Governorate readily accommodate the skills and requirements of their clients. If all you want is a relaxing outing to break the monotony of the beach vacation, you’ll be treated to the tried-and-true trolling, handline fishing, or bottom fishing with bait, along with some swimming and snorkeling on the way. Are you a serious angler who is looking for a heavy-tackle battle with a big mahi-mahi or sailfish? That can also be arranged. Should you prefer swimming or fly-fishing, jigging or popping, you would get just that. Just make sure you make up your mind in advance, and talk it over with the captain. Beware that not all the captains of fishing boats include the use of rods and reels in the price of their trips. With some, rental is possible only at an extra price, be sure to check the terms and conditions, as well as to ask the captains if they can provide the equipment of your choice.