Qatar Beaches, Fishing and Boats

Qatar by nature is a sea loving country and offers a lot for fishing, boating and diving activities to enjoy the wonders of oceans. There is a lot to discover at sea that includes fishing reefs, holes, channels and even deep diving. The open sea offers a lot of attractions along the coasts and deep into the calm seas. In case you choose to explore open sea, you must have navigational expertise and sea worthy boat and equipment to help you through the venture. You should also be able to read maps as there are many neighboring countries having different laws, sea codes and marine regulations. Qatar government is quite sensitive about sea water pollution and does not allow oil, greases and the like to spread on waters. Similarly other items like general waste, plastic items, waste of fishing tackles, hooks, nets and other items need to be taken out of sea and sea shores for proper disposal. The government also protects sea life by taking care of turtles during egg season on sandy beaches. That is why vehicles on beaches during certain period may not be allowed for environmental safety purposes.

In case of boating, the boat should be in good condition for open seas and equipped with navigation and safety tools like GPS and fire extinguishers, mooring ropes, depth finder, anchor, life vests, navigation lights etc. Complete list is available with coastal safety people who also check boat registration and identification card at times.

Health & Safety

Summer in Qatar is really hot and there are typical deserts where summer is simply too hot for those who are in Qatar for a visit. This way dehydration and getting sun burns is a common mistake by the careless people. Recommended water storage with traveller should be close to 1.5-2.0 liters per hour per person. People should also wear sunhats and use high factor sun-screen wearing long sleeve shirts. Aged travellers and kids need special attention as they have less resistance to heat. Rule is to drink lot of water even if you need to urinate too soon. You need to watch color or your urine, dark color means you are dehydrated. You must start drinking more water as soon as possible.

Do not drink carbonated drinks; plain water is the best choice even on rare cloudy days. Plain water is easiest for your body to absorb and keeps you fit. Even when you are in a boat, try remaining in shade and avoid direct sun. Better use Polaroid glasses and keep applying high factor sun-screen for skin safety avoiding sun-burns.

Friendly Sharks

Qatar oceans have small but friendly sharks. These sharks swim fast and are a blessing for life in these oceans. Try catching them applying a new lure each time. Rather one should try new ways to catch fish but keep a log for collecting information like time, place, method used, result together with how deep you tried (surface or sub-surface or even deeper) Hamour is quite a tasty and popular among people who love fishing and people use many types of lures for this fish. Sometimes an alternate lure works better in similar fishing conditions too. Try using skirted Muppets, teasers, flashers together with live baits till you get good results. Try being versatile, do it differently each time for better fishing results at seas. Keep visiting your fishing log and you may feel better each time looking at the results. You will soon know which the best place to fish is and what is the best way to fill your bags.

Qatri Coast Guards are there to help you in case of need, when you are in trouble and want them to tow you to shores. They need to be addresses with respect and dignity if you expect a similar response. Coast Guards have instructions to cover up to 12 miles or 20 kilometers offshore. They might also ask you for booking in/out as you start and end your venture into sea. This is done to help you so they know your location when you are away. The website of Ministry of Interior has more details.

A Qatri Coast Guard vessel is permanently on high seas looking after boat movements. Coast Guard boats too, keep patrolling the area and usually they do not disturb the holiday makers but they carry out random checking for boat documents, travellers’ identity etc for law implementation purposes or for their own satisfaction. Once you are in a boat, you need to proceed with all responsibilities to restrain yourself from going into prohibited areas along the coast and onwards. Maritime offences are considered very serious and may result into boat confiscation, imprisonment or a detailed scrutiny. Therefore, one must see ocean charts and maps and mark all reefs, shallow waters together with “No Go” areas around oil installations and security points.

Where to fish?
You need to be confident and should study the area through charts, maps and your own observation to be familiar with boating lanes, your boat, deep holes in seas even in shallow waters. Watch shallow waters where the boat can be grounded and the event turns out to be very expensive at times. There are several but interesting islands around the mainland but each island has its own detailed geography too. Keep a track of your journey watching the map and identifying where exactly you reached to avoid any mishap inadvertently. There are low tides as well as high tides around the place. Data shows that these tides only range from 1.2 meters to 1.6 meters maximum.

AS you go around Qatar, there are various islands and channels making it a perfect place for fish growth and those places are worth visiting for fishing and to explore quality fish. Two of the islands are Al Aaliya and Al Safliya located towards east of main Doha. These both are good places for fishing and going around the place. The Government has reclaimed some of the islands developing man-made structures. By all means these are interesting places to be explored. Check out some Best deals of doha

Rubble Rocks or Rubble Tower

This is a light house among shallow waters called RUQQ QURAYNAYN  locally called Halat Umm al Khayfan. The light house has beautiful drop off areas around it inviting good sport fish having lot many visitors. Do watch for Hawar islands towards West of Qatar. This is the island having a dispute with Bahrain. So better avoid going there or you might invite trouble ruining your holidays.

The underdevelopment Banana Island is near the airport coast. The island used to be a good place for fishing but now with increased traffic and construction disturbance, the environment might be different. During the season and off-season fishing might be different for the main channel fishing depending on weather and the season. In all cases a seasoned fishing person will reap good results. Do watch for the large sea birds looking for fish baits but must watch reefs and deep holes or underwater structure that can hinder your activity or lure you to trouble. Studying ocean charts in detail will be really helpful and useful to plan the trip

There are marked channels that link various bays, islands and marinas. These channels are usually few meters deep and a good place to fish. You can choose to anchor up in a calm area having no or low traffic to enjoy the time. In case you choose to fish in the main channel between Doha SSE and Doha Buoy, water is over 12 meters deep which is good for sport fish. Then as you head towards Al-Wakra, sea deepens up to 30 meters while going to the SE the sea.

Some wrecks under sea are good fishing places as and when wrecks are located. Ocean charts have marked wrecks too and many divers keep attempting the place. The divers leave a divers’ flag on surface. Avoid the place in case of divers’ flag to avoid possible accident.

As you go away to the sea, spend time in tranquility and later returning back to shore feels awesome. There are important rules that make life easy:

1. As you reach back to marina, slow down your speed to DEAD SLOW. This enhances control and safety together creating minimum wake.

2. Prepare for docking by throwing out your fenders

3. Larger vessels have priority, give them way as you should observe the traffic in general.

4. Put fuel in your boat

5. While entering the berth, keep at low speed for lesser bumps avoiding damage to boat.

6. Make sure that your boat is kept all secure

7. Washing boat, flushing engines and refilling water tanks is important

8. Clean fish wells and pack up loose fish tackles

9. Where needed, have the boat repaired

10. Keep a log for your engine hours for servicing and oil change if needed.

11. Checking of bilge pump is critical, weather protection covers to be removed, rods and stow cushions

12. All trash needs be removed from the jetty

13. Take your catch along with you with your fishing log etc

14. Before leaving the area, do call Coast Guard reporting your arrival back and make a note for your own record for future reference if needed be.

Doha’s Main Navigation Channel is used by heavy sea traffic including naval activities. Large vessels have their effects on small boats. Keep yourself away as early as possible avoiding possible time miscalculation. Water turbulence behind these big vessels can toss the small boats. Sail boats get priority over engine boats as a general rule so need to behave accordingly.

Beach or Shore Fishing in Qatar

Qatar is known for its sea based activities and fishing on beach or shores is one of many attractions. There is a wide choice to choose from the spectacular Qatri beaches enjoying days and nights both for leisure. This is equally good in all seasons but each season has its demands. The fishing people try getting common breeds like Hamour, Barracuda, Queen Fish, Sheris or Silver Bream. There are several popular fishing spots along Qatri coasts. Some locals and expats enjoy catching fish with 3.5m beach-casters.

Experienced fish catchers use 4-5 oz of chicken as bait slinging it fairly far away in waters and they usually bring results. Use of snoods, squid rings and clams is also quite common too. The only time to be more careful is turtle breeding season on sandy shores.

Alternate way is a flowing trace then main line to swivel and then a trace of 1.5m length with 2 to 3 baited hooks placed with a 3oz lead. There is really no need of grappling weights, it does not get rough enough dislodging your gear when it is cast out. You need to set your clutches and keep watching the rods. As a result the bigger fish will be taking off with a rod in case the clutch could not be set properly. If this happens, it brings embarrassment.

Qatar's Inland Sea has all biodiversity

Qatar by default is love for sea even with friends and family. Preferred items to take along are fishing rods and some light camp carrying plenty of drinking water. You need to reach for drop offs and use simple strips of fish even on small hooks will get you good quantity of fish. Keep your feet safe from occasional jellyfish, sharp rocks or coral that might hurt the bare feet. Qatar has fresh air to enjoy on beaches and there are plenty of places to reach and enjoy along the sea and even into the sea. Have fun while seeing Qatar places all around.

Source: watersportsqatar.blogspot.com/