The conclusion of the sport fishing championship at the Marine Sports Club in Hurghada – The are in place different diversification strategies to stimulate tourism in Egypt, as we talk about activating tourism through recreational fishing, we are focused on an hobby that many people from all over the world loves, and in which the preservation of the environmental balance is taken into account and under the supervision of the competent authorities.
Hurghada is located on the Red Sea coast of Egypt, has stunning coral reefs and turquoise waters perfect for surfing, making the area a thriving tourist destination. With easy access to the picturesque Giftun Islands and the Eastern Arabian Desert, Hurghada has seen a great deal of development over the past decade – and certainly the number of tourists is often beyond imagination. Its beaches are a relatively easy haven for Europeans, and the world’s best scuba divers and snorkelers. Walking or taking a taxi it is possible to explore the old quarter knowns as Dahar.
There are many, many things that distinguish the city of Hurghada, to be selected among the top 25 tourist destinations around the world, as the city of Hurghada is characterized by picturesque beaches and unique diving sites, as well as Sea islands that put it at the forefront of the choice of tourists to travel, including the important landmark of Giftun island, characterized by beaches of rare coral reefs and considered a unique naturalistic heritage.
Economic and social value of recreational fisheries is very high and bring benefit and economic value to the coastal communities. It is also crucial to consider the environmental protection and the respect of the professional fishing – the value flows is based on more than just the fish harvest. Anglers can receive enjoyment and value even if they do not catch any fish or keep the fish that they do catch.
Fishing in Hurghada is one of the favorite recreational activities and it is supported and promoted annualy through the World Fishing Championship. Each club nominates their members, targeting 4 types of fishing methods: “trawling, rafting, jigging and bobbing“. The tournament is held in three fishing days at sea, where each boat is equipped following the the specific regulamentations of the target fishing methods. All results are recorded in terms of largest fish, numeber of fishes cought and weight, in front of a judging committee and the audience at Marina.
The 2023 Fishing Championship ended on Saturday, May 13 at the Hurgada Marine Sports Club and the event was organized by the Egyptian Fishing Federation, headed by Engineer Mohamed Maoun Kadah, in cooperation and coordination with the Red Sea Directorate of youth and sports, headed by Hassan Khalaf, undersecretary of the ministry, and supervised by Mamdouh Khalifa Ali, undersecretary of the Directorate for sports, and the Marine Sports Club headed by Alaa Altay, chairman of the club.
The championship was attended by many different sports clubs at the Country level, with a total of 17 teams from various clubs and some individual partecipant. Just to mention a few teams: Maadi, Yacht, Heliopolis, Al-Zohour, Bluefin Academy, Alexandria Fishing, Alexandria Yacht, Greek Bahri, Minya Sports Airport, and Hurghada Marine Sports Club.
Here the categories and the winners of the competition:
The trawling championship was won by the Alexandria Yacht Club, composed by Ayman Hassouna, Amir Wadih, Mina Amir Wadih, and Muhammad Al-Shazly. The same team also won the prize for the best fisherman who trawled a drake fish weighing 17,10 kg. At the second place, Alexandria Yacht Club and at the third place, the Alexandria Shooting Club team.
In the rafting championship, was won by the Heliopolis team, composed by Ashraf Al-Yasqi, Khaled Fattouh, Hassan Raqem, Muhammad Al-Yamani Darwish and Hassan Muhammad Al-Yamani. At second place, Alexandria Yacht Team and came third, the Heliopolis team, and Shahira Mohamed El-Mahdy, won the cup for the best fisher, catching a white perch, weighing 7,200 kg.
In the jigging tournament, the competition was fierce, and matters were not settled until the third day. Al-Zohour team dominated the jigging category. Team Al-Zohour at first place with a team composed by Ahmed Ragab, Ahmed Mahmoud Ibrahim, Ismail Fakhry, Saji Sayed Abdel Hafeez, Hazem Abu Al-Nour and Mustafa Zakaria. At the second place, Al-Zohour team, and the third place, Greek Sea Team from Alexandria, and the contestant Sayed El Badry from the Greek Sea Team won the cup for the best jigging fisher, with a Nagel fish weighing 9.55 kg.
Finally, the Bluefin Academy team won the bobbing championship cup with a team composed by Jihan Abdel Halim, Omar Fathy, Marco George, Irene Iskandar, Hossam Fathallah, and Shadi Al Hakim.
About the Egyptian Fishing Federation
The Egyptian Fishing Sport Federation is a sports body with an independent legal entity and considered one of the non-profit private body. It is a member of the International Fishing Sport Federation CIPS and the International Fishing Sport Organization IGFA.
The federation carries out its activities within the framework of the general policy of the state and the planning set by the Olympic Committee and the regulations of the International Federation of Fishing Sport. It exercises the following functions:
- The federation is the sole entity responsible for all the affairs of the sport of fishing in Egypt;
- Developing a general policy that achieves the dissemination and promotion of the sport of fishing in Egypt;
- Manage all the affairs of the championship in all technical, financial and organizational aspects, develop programs and competitions in which clubs and sports bodies members of the federation participate, and supervise the implementation of these programs in respect of the rules and the environment.
The conclusion of the sport fishing championship at the Marine Sports Club in Hurghada