Shore fishing in Egypt: a Red Sea spots guide from Ain Sokhna south

Egypt · Red Sea coast

Shore fishing is one of the finest ways to fish — casting, popping, shore jigging and float fishing, all from rock and sand with no boat needed. Egypt's Red Sea coast is full of excellent spots if you know where to go and what to bring. This guide walks the coast from Ain Sokhna south, with the spots, the target species, the bait and the permits.

Before you go: permits and safety first

• Permit and licence: carry your fishing permit and licence — essential for the border guard along the whole coast, especially the open southern stretches.
• Car and kit: most spots are remote and exposed, so a car is almost essential; bring water, food, shade and a first-aid kit.
• Restricted zones: much of the coast is oil-company or military land — only enter where it's allowed, and ask if you're unsure.
• Reefs are protected: mind the coral, and never leave line or plastic in the sea.

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Getting to Ain Sokhna

• Suez road: from the Ring Road heading toward Suez, stay on the Suez road past the checkpoint, then turn right onto the Adabiya port road and keep going until you reach Sokhna.
• Katameya–Sokhna road: from the Ring Road after Tagamoa you'll see the Sokhna turn-off onto the Katameya road; follow it past the toll gate to the end.

Heads-up: don't take the Galala road on your way to Sokhna — it leads to Zafarana. Use a maps app on your phone if you don't know the way.

Ain Sokhna spots

Once you're in Sokhna, these are the best-known shore spots:

• The footbridge at Porto Sokhna.
• Marina Wadi El Doum.
• The Sokhna "malaffat" stretch (squid, khorman, haffara).
• The last bend before El Fangary beach — a good rough patch.
• Galala village, Ramada, Waha El Hijaz, George Rock, Waha Mina and Ard El Saaqa.
• El Gabal El Maqtou' by the wind turbines, about 15 km past Porto Sokhna — one of the best areas. Bring a spread of bait: squid, sardine or salted mackerel, and don't forget squid strips.

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From Zafarana to Gabal El Zeit and Ras El Esh

• Zafarana: open spots all along the road, easy to see.
• Ras Gharib: go into the town near the boat marina.
• Ras Shukheir & the oil fields: hard, company land — needs local knowledge; never enter restricted areas.
• Gabal El Zeit: good open shore spots.
• Ras El Esh: one of the finest shore spots, and you can camp freely.
• Wadi Dar: open spots just past the fish stall.

Safaga and Qoseir

• Safaga: open spots by the aluminium marina; past the marina it's all reef — cast or pop.
• About 10 km past Safaga there are good spots before the new Qoseir road.
• Past Qoseir on the old coast road, before km 30, there are superb spots — with live bait, size up your hook and cast wide.

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Abu Dabab and Marsa Alam

• Abu Dabab before Marsa Alam: open spots, all drop-offs and reef — cast and float-fish them.
• Marsa Alam by the marina: excellent spots with concrete blocks (like Alexandria's shore) you can stand on and work — best on a high tide.

The south: Wadi El Gemal, Sharm El Louli and Hamata

• Heading up to Hamata past Wadi El Gemal: Sharm El Louli is a superb fishing-and-camping area (border-guard permit needed). Big fish come to the shore here — shore-jig or pop.
• By Hamata marina there are shore spots, and past the marina more excellent open spots you'll spot for yourself.

Bait and species

Bait: squid is the staple — whole or as strips — plus sardine, salted mackerel and cut bait. For bottom species, a strip of kosher/emperor or a piece of seabream works well.

Common shore catches here: squid, and a range of Red Sea reef and bottom fish known locally as haffar, bangar, bayad, harid, shaour, kosher, denis (seabream), zarqan, bagha, dereni and more. What you catch depends on the bottom — sand, rock or reef.

Note: these spots and species are field knowledge that shifts with time, season and each site's condition — treat it as a starting point, and always check your permit, the site and the security situation before every trip. Safety first.