Saltwater fly fishing in the Gulf

Articles related by topic: Abroad, Exotic, Game/Fly Fishing, Sea, Venue

Articles related by species: Exotic

As we headed in the direction of the feeding fish I started to arealise the ten weight line ready to shoot a size 1/0 blue and white Lefty Kreh deceiver. At 150 yards I could see the water boiling, fish swirled and slashed into the sardines birds were diving and screaming, Hussain throttled back the motor, “Move upwind” I shouted. The fish were in a mad feeding frenzy, tearing into anything that moved. Dead and dying. sardines were scattered every where. Then half a dozen cormorants appeared to join in the feast. There was no escape for these sardines from the killing zone. I cast some sixty feet of line, as the fly hit the water I started to strip it back. Suddenly line was savagely pulled from my hand shooting through the guides followed by more fly line from the reel. A big fish crashed out of the water in a shower of spray then dived. I was down to the backing in seconds it changed from red to yellow. I realised over a 150 yards of backing had gone. This was a big powerful fish.The rod tip had been pulled down savagely into the water and stayed there. I piled on the pressure but the fish wouldn’t budge, I gained a few yards of line then the fish would shake its head and take all the line back. My mind went to the wire trace I had made up the night before. Would the Haywire twist hold, Were the nail knots tied properly were they going to hold. These were questions going through my mind. I looked around all the birds had gone all was silent except for the sound of waves slapping against the hull and the reel giving or taking line. On the horizon I could see the United States Aircraft Carrier Nimmitz and its escort. What was this powerful fish I hooked that could fight so long? Some twenty or thirty minutes later I had a five finger jack in the boat weighing some 15lbs. This was fishing at it’s best.Saltwater fly fishing is one of the growing branches of angling in the 1990’s. It started in the United States of America with Zane Grey and friends before World War 2. After the War Lee Wulff, Jack Sampson, Frank Woolner, Lefty Kreh, Ernest and Jack Hemingway, Joe Brooks, Ted Williams, Billy Pate and Dick Pope to name a few were casting fluff in saltwater and writing about this new branch of angling. Catching big fish on a fly like Snook, Tarpon, Bonefish, Striped Bass, Bluefish, Cobia and Barracuda to name a few was becoming popular with salmon and trout anglers. Even shark were being taken on a fly. Today anglers are fly fishing for billfish that perhaps weigh 300lbs plus. Billy Pate fishing off the Florida coast has taken tarpon to nearly 200lbs. With the ease and comfort of airline travel British and European anglers are travelling to warmer climes for their holidays and taking advantage of this exciting fishing. Saltwater fly fishing beats trout and salmon fishing hands down. Ask your wife or girlfriend if they would like to visit Scotland or Northern Canada for a fishing holiday, The answer would probably be “not really”, all those bugs, its cold and wet, there are no shops and what do I do when your fishing all day? Ask the question, would you like to go to the Bahamas, Belize, Costa Rica, Florida, The Arabian Gulf or Boca Paila the answer would probably be a prompt “Yes”. The loved one in your life would have sun, sand, shops and night time entertainment and above all she could get a sun tan. No longer would your fishing be a boring old subject that takes place beside a cold river bank or lakeside in wet weather with horrid creepy crawlies. I have just returned from a new saltwater fly fishing location in the Middle East and you thought it was all sand and camels. The United Arab Emirates situated on the Arabian and Omani Gulf coast is the ideal holiday location. Its a lovely place to take all the family for a holiday in the sun. From toddlers to grand parents. You can have the thrill of driving across dunes and through the wadis. There are golf courses, ice skating rinks, water skiing, clay shooting, horse and camel racing, sailing , wind surfing bowling. In fact something for everyone of all ages. The beaches are clean and safe, restaurants are plentiful, the local people friendly and helpful. You can pick up some wonderful bargains in the souq’s or markets. Walk the streets at night in complete safety. Taxi drivers when asked the price of the fare will often say “pay what you think the journey is worth”. There is even an Irish Pub in Dubai where you can get a pint of Guinness, or a full Irish breakfast including black pudding. There is live entertainment every night and all the staff are Irish. Dubai is a tax free haven and probably the cheapest place in the world for gold, electrical goods and camera’s above all its nice and warm with plenty of sunshine. The time to visit is October through to March when the weather is perfect and the fishing is at its best. Dubai has just a few days rain a year.From Manchester or Heathrow its a direct flight to Dubai by Emirates Airlines lasting some 71/2 hours. All Emirates U.K. / Dubai flights from Manchester use the comfortable wide-bodied Airbus A300-600R, From Heathrow you fly by the latest Boeing 777’s Emirates were the first airline in the world to have every seat fitted with personal television screen, you can select from 24 hours of video entertainment in all three classes from first to economy, the food and service were very good, drinks were available free of charge As a British subject you don’t need a visa, you can drive on your British licence, English is spoken in most places. It’s one of the few places in the world where we Brits are made very welcome. When you are in the ‘souqs’ battering for that special present to take back home it can be good fun with a bit of Arabic, English and sign language. The exchange rate is very good and you can often get a better exchange rate from the shop keepers in the ‘souqs.’ I had gone to the Gulf to spend some time with my daughter Sharon, celebrate my 60th birthday and catch some big fish on a fly rod. Fly fishing is very new in this area of the world where I was probably one of the few who started the sport of saltwater fly fishing in this area. A sport that is becoming popular with the European holiday angler The ex pats and the Arabs.My base was at Jebel Ali situated a few miles up the coast from Dubai on the Abu Dabi road. Jebel Ali has a fine hotel with a magnificent marina. When your out fishing, Your partner if she doesn’t fish can lay under the palm trees, read a book, take a swim in the warm sea or one of three swimming pools, or just soak up the sun and the drinks cart will be doing its rounds to keep her happy with plenty of long cool drinks. I can recommend the PimmsThe Jebel Ali Hotel telephone 009714-8048608 or fax 009714-835543 has excellent fishing boats, one “Bartram 31” This is for those who wish to troll. For fly fishing there is the “Crayfish 28” and the “Grey Ghost 28” they are competitively priced and fully equipped with modern safety equipment, also spotlessly clean. I fished with three Guides Anthony, Bennet and Hussain all three are also excellent seaman and know the Gulf region in the Jebel Ali area like the back of their hand. Most important of all they seem to know where to find the fish under any given set of weather conditions. Many of the world’s game fish are to be found in the Arabian Gulf off Dubai. As a visiting angler you may expect to catch the following Dorado, Cobia, Kingfish, Queen fish, Jacks, Bonito, Barracuda, shark (various). Wahoo November, December, January you will have the chance to catch sailfish where the average is 70 to 80 lbs Trolling artificial and dead baits were the methods of catching these saltwater game fish. That is until I went equipped with salt water fly fishing tackle. I used two rods for chucking flies when boat fishing, don’t try to save money on saltwater tackle it has to be the best. I use the Greys of Alnwick 4 piece 10 and 12 weight Oceanic’s. Matched with good quality American made fly reels especially designed for saltwater work. I also carry a range of Ryobi Masterline fly lines from floaters to fast sinkers. You will need some spools of nylon line forty pounds bs down to fifteen pounds for trace making. Some good swivels for attaching wire to nylon leader. The wire I use 20 and 30 lb tide cheater again from from Ryobi Masterline it’s the best. My fly box contained an assortment of flies the number one being the all-round Lefty Kreh Deceivers dozens of them in sizes from 2’s to 2/0’s white and blue, white and green, white and orange and white and red. Able Anchovies, Needle fish, Mylar Minnow, Blanton Whistler Popovics Surf Candy, Popovics Candy Eel, and Clouser Minnow. These were tied up on hooks from 2’s through to 2/0’s for carrying all my gear including the rods I use Nomad holdall with rods tube through the centre. Its perfect for the travelling angler and can be taken as hand luggage. My best fish was a jack crevale of 25lb 12 ounces. Should you be interested in this branch of angling feel free to give me a call on 01200-441276 or E-mail martin@martingreysrods1.demon.co.ukMartin James

— Martin James