The Nubian flats of Sudan have proved themselves over several seasons and still throw some piscatorial surprises at us. Without a shadow of a doubt it has claimed the prize as the top triggerfish destination but it also offers the chance of some giant and bluefin trevally and has surprised us with the odd fish on the flats over a metre. It is by no means a focused GT destination and anyone going there should consider them a bonus, although there have been few occurrences where they have not been encountered.
This coastline is for the most part deserted as it is the Nubian Desert inhabited by nomadic populations of camel and goat herders with no fishing communities. This is key as there is no commercial subsistence fishing apart from a handful of small open boats using hand lines. The pressure is effectively nil which means the flats are pristine.
The Nubian flats are the nearest saltwater fishery to Europe and easily accessed by three hour flights Dubai. I know the first thing that most people ask is about Sudan is safety. Is it safe to go there? When I was doing my due diligence on this operation before I first went in 2015 I too had the same concerns. What I had not realised is that Sudan and South Sudan are two separate countries. The troubled area is the border between the two countries which is 1100 miles from Port Sudan and the areas we fish. That is the same distance as the south coast of the UK and the Russian/ Polish border. I had no concept of how big that country was until I got there and once you arrive it becomes quickly apparent that the inhabitants are extremely friendly and once out of Port Sudan there are hardly any people to speak of. There are also approximately 3000 divers going into Port Sudan every year to as the diving is spectacular. That coast line up to Egypt is just desert mainly and totally uninhabited, point of fact I was stunned by how few people there are there.
For the coming season the guides have been scouting new areas as they are still scratching the surface as to the potential of the fishing here. A couple of weeks ago they found a new area that guest had 15 shots at GTs, hooked 6 and landed 2 so they are there. With the popularity of trevally species on the fly, the Nubian flats are about the cheapest fully guided operation with a chance for a shot at a GT. A few things to keep in mind are that this trip is not for the feint hearted or those that enjoy comfortable accommodation. It is for the adventurer who is looking for an experience as well as a fishing trip. The mothership is rustic to say the least, cabins have no air conditioning and most fishermen sleep up on deck under the stars – which in itself is an amazing experience, the sound of the water lapping against the side lulling you to sleep.
The cost for 2019 is €3,650 and we have a prime slot as follows:
- 13 to the 20 May – 4 rods available
If you are looking for your next saltwater adventure and love the challenge of casting at tailing triggerfish with the chance encounter with trevally than you should put the Nubian flats high on your list. If you would like details for available dates, please contact Charlotte Chilcott or Peter McLeod or call our office on +44(0)1980 847389.
