Fly Flats near Abu Dhabi

blaasoppie#1

Senior Member
Hey guys, anyone know directions to the flats in Abu Dhabi where the guys catch the Milkies, will be going there in early April.

Tied some white baitfish flies for Queenies...



 
That fly is not going to last long at all..I mean, till something jumps on it! Know nothing about the milkies in Abu Dhabi but nice tying and nice photography. What gear are you going to fish for the queenies and the milkies. Milkies are high up on my bucket list!
 

blaasoppie#1

Senior Member
Hey Dr. Halibut,

9wt G-Loomis and #9 Hatch flyreel with floating line. There are flats near Adu Dhabi that you can DIY and wade for Milkies and grunter.

Milkies are mental fish, i caught a big one in Oman in September last year on a PE 3 spinning outfit and a 5/0 milky nightmare treble fly :) and that thing pulled like nothing i have felt before.

Carried my fly rod with me every day of the trip and the day i left it behind there were loads of Milkfish!!
 

flippy

Sealiner
moving from Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi to Atlantis i was pleasantly surprised at the amount of predatory fish on the shores of this estuary and bait fish..if not mistaken was standing watching a juvenile barracuda right at my feet just hovering in the water.

this might be one place worth a try.. won't need to necessarily go through the resort itself(Atlantis) to get to the estuary but surrounding areas worth a try though i don't fly fish

cam mundy also based there and a visit to his tackle shop for some expert advice worth your time

the yellow placement on the left of photo is high rocks..i stood there watching schools of bait fish swim pass..amazing place
 

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mrupp

New member
I fished these flats you are talking about 7 odd years ago. It was amazing to see the schools of Milkies coming over the ledge from the deeper channels to feed on the flats , as the tide started to push. I didn't get any that day - the chap that had the pleasure of fishing with caught 5 or 6 lovely fish probably around the 4-7kg range awesome experience. For the life of me I cannot remember how to get there though

I suggest that you contact Ocean Active, a South African Fishing outfit. I believe that the gentlemen s name is Nic - I'm sure that he will be able to assist with the Location and directions. The Fly of choice I believe is a 'Milky Dream' a green algae imitation. Best of luck and post some pics
 

Cam Mundy

Sealiner
Milkies are like a plague on Southern Oman during parts of the season. The flats you are talking about arn't wadable Blaasoppie you'll sink till your knees in muck if you try, they do offer some great fishing though. if you like I can put you in touch with someone who lives and fly fishes there he may be able to help you out with a day on water but I can't promise anything.
 

blaasoppie#1

Senior Member
Gave an algae fly a go, tied the polar fiber and antron yarn brush style around some foam and then tied off on the hook with some calf tail...still needs some refinement.

 

Steve Warren

New member
Hi I suggest you join this group on FB, https://www.facebook.com/groups/297604590393932/
A lot of SA guys living in UAE are on it.
 

Steve Warren

New member
The only flats I know of for Milkies that guys have flyfished in Abu Dhabi is Al Aryam which is now a Nature reserve. About three years ago you could fish there with kayaks, but that is not allowed now except from the shore which is across the water from where milkies would likely be present and also grunter, etc. I think I have seen small ones right at the end chase my fly and possibly lost a small one in a very shallow area right at the end of the one side of it. I think I may have also seen a large one on a Sandbank near Al Ghurab Island which is only reachable buy boat or kayak.
 

Steve Warren

New member
The only flats I know of for Milkies that guys have flyfished in Abu Dhabi is Al Aryam which is now a Nature reserve. About three years ago you could fish there with kayaks, but that is not allowed now except from the shore which is across the water from where milkies would likely be present and also grunter, etc. I think I have seen small ones right at the end chase my fly and possibly lost a small one in a very shallow area right at the end of the one side of it. I think I may have also seen a large one on a Sandbank near Al Ghurab Island which is only reachable buy boat or kayak.
 

blaasoppie#1

Senior Member
Thanks for the info Steve, yeah the reports of Milkies on fly in that are seem to stop around 2009, when the area became an MPA.
 

Steve Warren

New member
I'll try check the sandbanks near Al Ghurab where I think I saw a large one once. You have to use a boat or kayak to get to the sandbanks there, about 14km paddle to them. The water is starting to get warmer and the queenfish, trevallies and needlefish will start to come in.
 

Steve Warren

New member
Reply to a Middle East fly fishing forum by Nick Bowles
Hi Steve, sorry for the late reply, just saw this know. This was a post I did a few years back, I used to fish Al Aryam for them with my mate Armand Flies. They are in most of the waterways around Abu Dhabi and will be coming into season in the next few weeks once the water starts heating up. Once you find them they will hang there for quite a while if they feeding on algae usually in a bit of current.
 

Steve Warren

New member
Reply to a Middle East fly fishing forum by Nick Bowles
Hi Steve, sorry for the late reply, just saw this know. This was a post I did a few years back, I used to fish Al Aryam for them with my mate Armand Flies. They are in most of the waterways around Abu Dhabi and will be coming into season in the next few weeks once the water starts heating up. Once you find them they will hang there for quite a while if they feeding on algae usually in a bit of current.
 
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