Fishing in the Red Sea
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.
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What the fishing is like
The Red Sea is Egypt's best-known sportfishing water. The coast is fringed by coral reef almost continuously, so most marks are either a reef edge, a drop-off, a wreck, or the blue water beyond them. Access is overwhelmingly by boat: charters run out of the marinas at Hurghada, El Gouna, Safaga, Marsa Alam and Sharm El Sheikh, while shore and jetty fishing is possible around harbours, corniches and resort breakwaters.
Two things make the Red Sea different from the Mediterranean side. First, the water is clear and warm year-round, so the season never fully closes — it shifts, rather than stops. Second, a large share of the coast sits inside declared marine protected areas (Ras Mohammed, the Giftun islands, Wadi El Gemal, the offshore parks at The Brothers, Daedalus and Elphinstone) where fishing is prohibited year-round.
Red Sea fishing is governed by overlapping rules. Decisions issued in 2024 imposed multi-year restrictions on specific fishing activities, while separate seasonal closures and protected-area boundaries also apply. Confirm the current written rules with the fisheries authority, marina, coastguard or a licensed operator before planning a trip.
Species in Red Sea
Species recorded as targets across ReefPin's Red Sea marks. Tap any for the full guide.
Which fish, when, and how
Red Sea species with a full record in the fish guide. Season and method come from each species' own entry.
| Species | Best months | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Bluefin TrevallyFaras Azraq / Bayad Azraq | Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr | Popping, Spinning, Jigging |
| Dogtooth TunaTuna / Abu Sanan | Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr | Jigging |
| DugongAroos el-bahr (bride of the sea) | Year-round | — |
| Garfish (Needlefish)Khorman | Apr, May, Jun, Jul | Float, Spinning |
| Giant TrevallyBayad / GT | Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr | Popping, Jigging, Trolling |
| Greater AmberjackAmberjack | Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr | Jigging, Bottom |
| Longtail TunaTuna | Apr, May, Jun, Oct, Nov, Dec | Jigging, Spinning, Trolling |
| Mahi-Mahi (Common Dolphinfish)Dorado | Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct | Trolling, Spinning, Popping |
| Narrow-barred Spanish Mackerel (Kingfish)Derak / Kanaad | Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Nov | Trolling, Spinning, Jigging |
| Spinner DolphinDolfin dawwar | May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep | — |
| Talang QueenfishQueenfish | Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct | Spinning, Popping, Fly |
| Yellowfin TunaTuna Asfar | Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar | Trolling, Jigging, Popping |
Showing 12 of 34 species. Full fish guide
Seasons
Red Sea fishes year-round — every month is covered by at least one mark, so the season changes what you catch rather than whether you fish.
Techniques
Shore or boat
Both work in Red Sea: the recorded marks include shore-accessible ground and boat-only water.
Common questions
When is the best time to fish in Red Sea?
Red Sea fishes across the full calendar in ReefPin's data — all twelve months are covered by at least one mark, though what you catch shifts with the season.
What fish can you catch in Red Sea?
ReefPin records 34 species as targets in Red Sea. The most widely listed are Barracuda, Batfish, Bluefin Trevally, Coral, Coral Trout, Dogtooth Tuna, Dugong, Emperor.
Is fishing allowed in Red Sea?
Red Sea has restrictions that vary by fishing method, season, governorate, and protected-area boundary. Do not rely on a blanket open or closed label. Confirm the current decision with the competent authority or a licensed operator before planning.
Can you fish from shore in Red Sea, or do you need a boat?
Both. ReefPin's Red Sea marks include shore-accessible spots and boat-only ground.
Other regions
70 Red Sea marks inside ReefPin
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