Shallow reefs, quiet channels and sandbank edges, all reachable on a Sea-Doo Fish Pro. Gear, bait and GPS waypoints included, or take a local captain who knows exactly where they bite.
Take a Sea-Doo Fish Pro out on your own. Built for anglers, with rod holders, live well, GPS and fish finder.
A local captain rides out with you to the productive spots and coaches technique the whole way. Ideal if it is your first time fishing these waters.
Most visitors have no idea. The warm, shallow waters off Abu Dhabi, fed by mangrove nurseries, reef systems and deep channels, hold serious game fish all year. This is not a one-species fishery. It is one of the richest inshore fisheries in the Gulf, and it starts minutes from the launch.
The captain picks the day's spots based on tide charts and ten years of local knowledge. We follow local size and bag limits, and release juveniles. Fishing licenses are arranged for you before the trip.
Orange-spotted grouper
The UAE's most famous fish, found over rocky seabeds, reefs and around jetties. A reef bruiser that dives straight for structure the moment it feels the hook. The prize of every bottom-fishing trip, and unbeatable on the grill.
King mackerel · Kanaad
The premier winter trolling target, best November to March. Blistering first runs that test every knot you tied, from a fish that can push past a meter long.
The reef thug
Smashes lures with shocking violence, then tries to cut you off on the nearest rock. Pure adrenaline on medium tackle along reef edges and channel drop-offs.
Inshore speedster · Abu Shwaika
Leaps and tail-walks across the surface when hooked. Targeted jigging near bridges, channels and sandbank edges in the cooler months. Light-tackle chaos, often in sight of the skyline.
Spangled emperor · Shaari
A pink-skinned bottom fish caught year-round over rocky and coral structure. One of the best eating fish in the Gulf, and just as welcome in the cooler box as hamour.
Arabian and red snapper
Common over local reefs and inshore channels. Hard-fighting bottom fish, and excellent on the grill next to hamour.
The silver torpedo
A fast, aggressive predator with serious teeth. Targeted trolling coastal drop-offs and on light tackle. Explosive strikes and relentless runs.
The lone hunter · Sikena
A strong-fighting offshore game fish that patrols buoys, markers and channel edges on its own. Few fish pull harder pound for pound. When one shows up, it becomes the story of the trip.
Fish photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors, CC BY / CC BY-SA.
November to March is the prime window, especially for kingfish (kanaad). Reef species like hamour, sheri and trevally bite all year.
Abu Dhabi gives you completely different fisheries within a short ride of each other. Tell the captain what excites you and he builds the day around it.
The quiet channels behind the islands are a nursery for everything that swims here. Light tackle, surface lures, queenfish crashing bait in inches of water. Big boats cannot get in here. A shallow-draft boat slips through silently.
Bottom fishing over natural structure and reef edges for hamour, sheri and trevally. Drop a bait, hold on, and keep the fish out of the rocks. This is where dinner comes from.
Tow lures behind the ski across current lines and drop-offs where kingfish and barracuda hunt. Cover miles of water, watch the rod double over, and hang on for the first run.
For bigger groups, longer days or further offshore marks, we run private boat fishing charters with full gear, shade and deck space. Custom quote based on group size and hours.
Get a charter quoteEvery boat below is one Sam runs charters on. From shallow-water skiffs to full charter yachts, you book the boat that fits your group and your kind of fishing.
Captain Sam ChartersCenter console rigged for trolling and bottom fishing. The workhorse of the fleet.
Captain Sam ChartersBeaches on sandbars and slips into the skinny backwater the big boats cannot reach.
Captain Sam ChartersFlybridge visibility for spotting birds and bait balls, with the skyline behind you.
Captain Sam ChartersShade, seating and deck space. Built for groups, families and full-day comfort.
Captain Sam ChartersA stable twin-hull platform for long days on open Gulf water.
Recent catchGuests with a cooler of reef fish. This is what a morning with Sam looks like.
Our fishing charters run on purpose-built Sea-Doo FishPro watercraft: rod holders, fish finder and GPS, livewell options and a stable casting platform that reaches the spots big boats cannot.
See the fleet