Fishing in Egypt
Egypt fishes four genuinely different waters: the Red Sea, the Mediterranean, the Gulf of Suez, and the freshwater of the Nile and Lake Nasser. This page covers each — the species, the seasons, the techniques and the rules — built on the 178 marks and 168 species in ReefPin.
Last reviewed:
Regions
Red Sea
70 marks · 38 species
Egypt's Red Sea coast runs from the Gulf of Suez down to the Sudanese border and offers reef, wreck and bluewater fishing out of Hurghada, El Gouna, Safaga, Marsa Alam and South Sinai.
Mediterranean coast
66 marks · 34 species
Egypt's Mediterranean coast — Alexandria, the North Coast, Marsa Matrouh, Damietta and Port Said — is the country's main shore-fishing water, with seabream, seabass, mullet and bluefish reachable from breakwaters and jetties.
Gulf of Suez
16 marks · 19 species
The Gulf of Suez is the closest saltwater fishing to Cairo, reached in about two hours via Ain Sokhna, with shore, jetty and small-boat fishing for snapper, grouper, seabream and barracuda.
The Nile
13 marks · 15 species
Nile fishing in Egypt is bank and small-boat fishing for tilapia, African catfish, bayad and Nile perch, from Cairo's corniche stretches up through Beni Suef, Minya, Luxor and Aswan.
Lake Nasser
3 marks · 4 species
Lake Nasser is the world's largest man-made lake and Egypt's premier freshwater fishery, known for giant Nile perch and tigerfish on multi-day safari trips out of Aswan.
Hurghada
15 marks · 17 species
Hurghada is Egypt's main Red Sea sportfishing base, with charters running from the marina to the Giftun reef system, offshore wrecks and bluewater for trevally, barracuda, tuna and sailfish.
El Gouna
3 marks · 9 species
El Gouna is a marina town north of Hurghada whose lagoons and channels support inshore fly and spin fishing, with charters heading offshore for tuna, sailfish and mahi-mahi.
Ain Sokhna
3 marks · 9 species
Ain Sokhna is the closest Red Sea coast to Cairo, about two hours away, offering shore, jetty and small-boat fishing for snapper, grouper, seabream, barracuda and mackerel.
the North Coast
21 marks · 20 species
Egypt's North Coast, from Alexandria west to Marsa Matrouh and the Libyan border, is clear-water Mediterranean shore fishing for seabream, seabass, bluefish and bonito.
Marsa Alam
9 marks · 15 species
Marsa Alam is the southern Red Sea: less developed than Hurghada, closer to the offshore reefs, and the base for bluewater trips to Elphinstone and the Wadi El Gemal coast.
South Sinai
17 marks · 23 species
South Sinai — Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba and Taba — is the Gulf of Aqaba side of Egypt: deep water close to shore, and the most heavily protected coast in the country.
Alexandria
23 marks · 25 species
Alexandria is Egypt's biggest shore-fishing city, where anglers fish the Eastern Harbour corniche, breakwaters, harbour walls and warm-water outlets for seabream, seabass, mullet and bluefish.
Cairo and Maadi
1 marks · 3 species
Fishing in Cairo means accessible Nile bank fishing, including the Maadi Corniche, for tilapia, catfish and carp with simple float and bottom tackle.
El Qanater El Khayreya
1 marks · 5 species
El Qanater El Khayreya is a Nile and Delta Barrage fishing area north of Cairo, with bank and small-boat access for tilapia, catfish, carp and other freshwater species.
Suez
6 marks · 8 species
Suez combines shore, harbour and boat fishing on the Gulf of Suez for seabream, grouper, barracuda, mullet and mackerel.
Port Said
2 marks · 5 species
Port Said fishing sits where the Mediterranean, the Suez Canal and Lake Manzala meet, with shore access around breakwaters, the canal mouth and estuary edges.
Damietta and Ras El Bar
6 marks · 9 species
Damietta and Ras El Bar offer Mediterranean shore, estuary and river-mouth fishing for mullet, seabream, seabass, sole and other coastal species.
Baltim
1 marks · 5 species
Baltim is a Mediterranean shore-fishing area in Kafr El Sheikh, with recorded access for mullet, seabream, seabass, sole and tilapia.
El Alamein
2 marks · 6 species
El Alamein is a North Coast Mediterranean shore-fishing area with ReefPin records for seabass and seabream from shore and jetty access.
Popular Egypt fishing guides
The regions compared
| Region | Water | Marks | Species | Season | Access | Legal status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Sea | Red Sea | 70 | 38 | Year-round | Shore & boat | Restrictions and closures, check current rules |
| Mediterranean coast | Mediterranean | 66 | 34 | Year-round | Shore & boat | Normal and seasonal rules |
| Gulf of Suez | Gulf of Suez | 16 | 19 | 8 months | Shore & boat | Restrictions and closures, check current rules |
| The Nile | Freshwater | 13 | 15 | 9 months | Shore & boat | Normal and seasonal rules |
| Lake Nasser | Freshwater | 3 | 4 | 9 months | Boat | Normal and seasonal rules |
| Hurghada | Red Sea | 15 | 17 | 10 months | Shore & boat | Restrictions and closures, check current rules |
| El Gouna | Red Sea | 3 | 9 | 6 months | Shore & boat | Restrictions and closures, check current rules |
| Ain Sokhna | Gulf of Suez | 3 | 9 | 6 months | Shore & boat | Restrictions and closures, check current rules |
| the North Coast | Mediterranean | 21 | 20 | 7 months | Shore & boat | Normal and seasonal rules |
| Marsa Alam | Red Sea | 9 | 15 | 6 months | Shore & boat | Restrictions and closures, check current rules |
| South Sinai | Red Sea | 17 | 23 | 6 months | Shore & boat | Restrictions and closures, check current rules |
| Alexandria | Mediterranean | 23 | 25 | Year-round | Shore & boat | Normal and seasonal rules |
| Cairo and Maadi | Freshwater | 1 | 3 | 0 months | Shore | Normal and seasonal rules |
| El Qanater El Khayreya | Freshwater | 1 | 5 | 6 months | Shore & boat | Normal and seasonal rules |
| Suez | Gulf of Suez | 6 | 8 | 5 months | Shore & boat | Restrictions and closures, check current rules |
| Port Said | Mediterranean | 2 | 5 | 5 months | Shore | Normal and seasonal rules |
| Damietta and Ras El Bar | Mediterranean | 6 | 9 | 9 months | Shore & boat | Normal and seasonal rules |
| Baltim | Mediterranean | 1 | 5 | 6 months | Shore | Normal and seasonal rules |
| El Alamein | Mediterranean | 2 | 6 | 5 months | Shore & boat | Normal and seasonal rules |
Common questions
Is fishing allowed in Egypt?
It depends on the exact water, date, fishing method, and zone. The Red Sea, Gulf of Suez, and Gulf of Aqaba have overlapping restrictions on specific activities, annual closures, and protected-area rules. The Mediterranean and freshwater have separate rules and seasons. Check the current decision before every trip.
Where are the best fishing spots in Egypt?
ReefPin records 178 marks across Egypt: 71 on the Red Sea, 68 on the Mediterranean, 14 on the Gulf of Suez and 25 in freshwater. Alexandria holds the largest concentration of shore marks; Hurghada is the main boat-based sportfishing base.
Where can you fish near Cairo?
The closest options are Nile banks, islands, canal mouths and barrages around Greater Cairo, or the Gulf of Suez and Ain Sokhna for saltwater. ReefPin's Nile guide explains species, seasons and methods without publishing anglers' private locations.
What fish can you catch in Egypt?
ReefPin's guide covers 168 species found in Egyptian waters — tuna, trevally and sailfish in the Red Sea; seabream, seabass and mullet on the Mediterranean; tilapia, catfish and Nile perch in the Nile and Lake Nasser.
Can you fish from shore in Egypt?
Yes. The Mediterranean coast, and Alexandria in particular, is Egypt's strongest shore fishery. The Red Sea is predominantly boat fishing, though harbours, jetties and resort breakwaters offer shore access.
What is the best fishing app for Egypt?
ReefPin is built specifically for Egyptian waters: mapped fishing spots and legality, seven-day fishing weather and fish activity, local species and bait, AI Fish ID, a catch logbook, trips, and an angler community in English and Egyptian Arabic.