Fishing spots in Iraq

Iraq: an estuary is not an open beach

At Al Faw and Umm Qasr, distinguish the water-level reference from the specific channel. A tide table alone does not provide current speed or vessel movements. Confirm permitted access away from working navigation areas.

Choose a rig for a locally confirmed target rather than assuming every listed species is present at every estuary point. Inspect line angle and returned bait: buried or tangled bait needs a presentation change first.

Choose the actual location in Iraq

This guide lists 2 locations in Iraq, including Al Faw – Shatt al-Arab mouth, Umm Qasr – Khor Abdullah. Open the location you intend to visit, select shore or boat, and compare the same trip window. Area names and coordinates are planning references; check access and bottom type before preparing tackle.

2 locations connect to 2 reference-station model(s); some may share a source with timing and height adjustments. The location count does not imply a separate gauge or validated model for every mark. Locations without tide models use available information; a missing model does not mean no tide.

Data sources and methodology →

Fishing spots in Iraq

Place	Type	Bottom	Fish	Shore faces
Al Faw – Shatt al-Arab mouth	Shore & boat	Mud, turbid water, strong current	Croaker, pomfret, mullet, grunter	Southeast	Tool
Umm Qasr – Khor Abdullah	Shore	Muddy channel, very large tide (up to 4 m)	Croaker, mullet, grunter	Southeast	Tool

Map points are approximate area references, not access permissions or navigation positions. Assess wind, gusts, wave height, period and shoreline exposure together.

Seas of Iraq

Arabian Gulf: Creeks, channels and open coasts exchange water differently. Use the relevant location and reference station; tide height alone does not measure current speed. A springs-for-shore and neaps-for-boats preference is not a universal trip rule.

Shatt al-Arab

Al-Faw

Umm Qasr

Fishing spots map

🟦 shore · 🟧 boat. Tap any point for details, and open it in Google Maps or Google Earth.

The map loads as you approach it. You can also open the location list.

Show locations as a list

Popular fish in Iraq

Targeting times below are general guidance that varies with location, season and conditions, not measured fish activity.

Hamour (grouper) · Epinephelus coioides — **Hamour (grouper)**
Dawn, dusk and around slack tidePhoto credit

Kingfish (kanaad) · Scomberomorus commerson — **Kingfish (kanaad)**
Early morning with birds and bait activityPhoto credit

Sobaity seabream · Sparidentex hasta — **Sobaity seabream**
Dawn to high tide, and duskPhoto credit

Yellowfin seabream · Acanthopagrus latus — **Yellowfin seabream**
Dawn and duskPhoto credit

Rabbitfish (batata / safi) · Siganus canaliculatus — **Rabbitfish (batata / safi)**
Daytime only (sunrise to afternoon); absent at nightPhoto credit

Tigertooth croaker · Otolithes ruber — **Tigertooth croaker**
Night, dusk and murky waterPhoto credit

Javelin grunter · Pomadasys kaakan — **Javelin grunter**
Dusk and early nightPhoto credit

Spangled emperor · Lethrinus nebulosus — **Spangled emperor**
Early morning and afternoonPhoto credit

Queenfish · Scomberoides commersonnianus — **Queenfish**
Early morning and duskPhoto credit

Trevally · Carangoides bajad — **Trevally**
Morning with moving waterPhoto credit

Longtail tuna · Thunnus tonggol — **Longtail tuna**
Early morning on boilsPhoto credit

Red snapper · Lutjanus malabaricus — **Red snapper**
Late night and dawnPhoto credit

Fish seasons

Species	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Bait
Hamour (grouper) Epinephelus coioides													Live mullet or sardine, whole cuttlefish, large prawn, fish strips
Kingfish (kanaad) Scomberomorus commerson													Live mullet or sardine, no weight
Sobaity seabream Sparidentex hasta													Live mullet or half-mullet, sardine, live shrimp
Yellowfin seabream Acanthopagrus latus													Peeled shrimp, small crab, clams, worms
Rabbitfish (batata / safi) Siganus rivulatus, S. luridus, S. canaliculatus													Firm dough (bread or flour), shrimp, green algae
Tigertooth croaker Otolithes ruber													Prawn, sardine, cuttlefish strips
Javelin grunter Pomadasys kaakan													Prawn, crab, cuttlefish
Spangled emperor Lethrinus nebulosus													Cuttlefish, prawn, crab
Queenfish Scomberoides commersonnianus													Live mullet or sardine
Trevally Carangoides spp.													Live sardine, strips
Longtail tuna Thunnus tonggol													Live sardine
Red snapper Lutjanus malabaricus / L. bohar													Cuttlefish, fish strips
Cobia Rachycentron canadum													Live fish, whole cuttlefish
Barracuda Sphyraena spp.													Live fish
Mullet (bait fish) Planiliza klunzingeri													Dough, bread
Silver pomfret Pampus argenteus													Small shrimp
Cuttlefish Sepia spp.													—

Darker = peak season. Seasons are approximate and vary year to year.

Laws & safety

Check current access, gear, species and licence restrictions with the authority responsible for the exact area and activity. A map marker or a seasonal colour is not a permit.

Match safety equipment and the trip decision to the actual boat, load, route and skipper’s assessment. No single wind or wave number is a safe limit for every boat.

How to use the tables on this page

Species and seasonal tables are indicative planning aids, not a catch survey or a current legal calendar. Start with a reachable target and check the method in the linked guide.

Read the practical guide · Data sources and calculation limits