Farasan Banks: A GT Journey to the Saltwater Flats of the Red Sea

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DISCLAIMER: The outfitters did not operate this past year due to conflict in the region and have no plans for reopening. Hopefully in the future, the Farasan Banks will be available again.

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The Farasan Banks are a place few have ventured to, let alone fished. Located in the Red Sea, the Farasan Banks and Farasan Island are part of Saudi Arabia not far from Yemen. This area is an unspoiled wilderness teeming with marine life and largely unexplored by anglers.

Our exploratory trip was organized by Arabian Fly Sport Fishing and Fly Castaway, two outfitters known for their commitment to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the world of saltwater fly fishing. Arabian Fly Sport Fishing normally focuses mostly on the waters of nearby southern Oman, while Flycastaway for decades has been a recognized leader in fly-fishing venues in the Indian Ocean—both in the Seychelles and Mauritius.

Our base of operations was a comfortable mothership that moved each night, bringing us to new, untouched fishing grounds. The idea of waking up each day with the promise of exploring waters that had never seen a fly was exhilarating–finally my dream of catching a giant trevally on a fly might come true.

Despite fishing salt from Australia and Oman to the Maldives, giant trevally—a species widely known for their power and ferocity—had somehow eluded me. One of my most bittersweet fishing stories is in fact about not catching a GT.

Three years prior I had been fishing with Brandon of Arabian Fly Sport Fishing in the waters of Oman.

We were fishing for African permit (Trachinotus africanus) and spent much of our time casting from the boat toward the cliffs. The waves were breaking and large numbers of permit were happily feeding on small shells and crustaceans.

But Oman is also a great place for GTs, so I always had my 12-weight rod ready, just in case. Somewhere in the middle of my week we have been lucky and spotted absolute GT giant. Black, huge fish cruising the shallower parts, right below the surface, swimming in its hunting speed, probably looking for mullet baitball. Brandon moved the boat 100 meters ahead of the fish into shallower water as we had better visibility. We switched off the engine and tried to wait in hopes that the GT would appear near us. The fish showed up within few minutes and it took one short cast–that GT nailed the fly. It was the first big GT I had seen–I didn’t expect such an aggressive take and quick shoot off. That’s where the problem started. My fly line jumped high in the air out of my fingers and wrapped right around my neck. It took seconds until I was pulled into the sea. I seriously thought that I would drown as there was no way I could break a GT line and 100-pound tippet. Luckily a miracle happened and the fly line severed somewhere on the drop-off as fish pulled through the coral reefs. It was a heart stopping experience which taught me to always have a knife handy, especially when you flyfishing for big saltwater species. 

This trip to the Farasan Banks was my chance to finally land the fish that had haunted me for a long time.

Saudi Fly Beginnings

We were greeted by the kind of heat that feels like it could melt the skin off your bones. The sun was high as we boarded the small boats that would take us to the towering, pyramid-like cliff. Warren, our guide who had been scanning the area, suddenly gestured towards the water. A school of giant trevally appeared within the first minutes since we entered the flat. 

With a quick cast I sent my tan brush fly straight towards the cruising GTs. The fly barely hit the water before one of the GTs surged forward, inhaling it in a flash. The reel screamed as the fish took off.

It’s not a coincidence fly fishers often refers to giant trevally as a bullies of the flats. They give you aggressive and strong runs, will test your mind, test your fighting skill, and test your gear. But if you don’t give in, it won’t take long until you have it in your hands. Just put the reel drag near to maximum and hold on. If you give them too much space, they will likely hit the drop off and cut your leader or fly line. And the longer the fight goes, you are risking the chance that something will go wrong with you gear. Even if you are confident, you are well prepared for the fight, these gangsters of the flats will prove you wrong.

My first GT ever was a stunning fish, measuring around 75 cm–not a monster fish, but a damn nice start. In that moment, I knew that all the heat, the sweat, and the hard work had been worth it.

A Giant GT Materializes...

One morning we were fishing a small, uninhabited island, and I could sense that something was about to happen. As the sun reached its zenith, transforming the glassy shallows into the kaleidoscopic shimmer that like to give up GTs, we were looking for tailing triggers as they have been plentiful around that island. But I could not be bothered because there was still that monster GT to be caught.

I found myself a good viewing point on the sandbar overlooking the main channel, where you would expect a GT to cruise, looking for baitfish. My eyes were tired from scanning the water for hours while the guys were having fun with other fish around the island. And that’s exactly what happened. While looking to the main channel I noticed movement just by the shoreline, almost right on the beach. Huge, grey fish, with its back out of the water, in the first second I thought it was a big reef shark! As my hunting instinct was stronger I placed my fly in front of that fish, thinking maybe I just can have some fun with this one, but within seconds–mind you that “cast” wasn’t longer than 6 meters–I was hooked up.

The massive GT shot instantly forward inhaling the fly in a swift and violent explosion and all hell broke loose. The fish tore through the shallow waters, dragging me into the deep water, guys immediately run back to help me and hold onto me as in moments I thought I won’t be able to win this battle on my own. The waves crashed around us as we fought to keep the fish from breaking off on the corals. It was a nerve-wracking fight, the kind that tests not just skill, but every ounce of strength and determination you have. After about 20 minutes the fish finally gave up and guys tailed an enormous leviathan of the sea–measuring 110 centimeters (43.3 inches).

Batfish (the Strange Looking Creature) and Permit (the Golden Nugget)

I didn’t pay too much attention to other species as my heart was set to GT fishing, but there were other challenges present. One of them was batfish–they were plentiful around sandy islands, cruising the shoreline back and forth. This strange creature is rare in the fishing world and seemed almost out of place in these pristine waters. Almost each attempt was met with a refusal. This was a different kind of challenge–more technical, and more about patience and cunning than reflexes. Hours passed, we tried different flies, different approaches, and different angles but the batfish remained elusive. We eventually got a few to the bank, it was truly special as I dont know if I will have chance to target them again.

My fishing buddy Rasmus is into permit fishing so we were able to alternate opportunities. He kept a sharp lookout for the unmistakable shape of a permit cruising the flats or the hint of gold-hued tail waving and always had his permit rod ready. On our third day he spotted a small group of three full-grown Indo-Pacific permit moving slowly across  the flat, knowing it could be his only shot at these tricky fish.

The approach required absolute patience and stealth as the slightest misstep would send them fleeing. With the wind blowing directly into his face, Rasmus moved slowly, keeping low, waiting for the right moment to cast. 

The fly landed softly just ahead of the lead fish and the permit turned, jolted forward, and we could see the unmistakable tap on the line as the fish inhaled the tan Alphlexo Crab. He set the hook, fish made a run, and everything went lose. His leader broke off, probably on corals. For an Indo-pacific permit, the fish was massive–it was a bitter pill to swallow, especially for Rasmus.

But on the final day of our trip, with the sun setting on the horizon, Rasmus spotted another group of permit cruising the flats. This time, things ended up well.

He made a careful approach, precise controlled cast, and the fly landed just on the perfect spot. We could see as one of the permit turned, its eyes locked on the fly, and then, in a moment of pure adrenaline, took the fly.

That fish was strong, darting through the shallow water in a desperate bid for freedom. But Rasmus was well prepared and after a tense battle, he brought his dream fish to hand: A shimmering gold nugget that resonated with him as one of the most fulfilling fish of his fly-fishing career.

GT on a Mouse Fly

As our last day was coming to an end, I gave thought to the idea of catching a GT on a mouse fly. I knew it has been a crazy idea, but I always liked to push myself to the limits. Flyfishing should be fun, right? We walked the flats the entire day, Ramus with his 8 weight permit rod with a tiny Flexo crab and I stayed loyal to my 12 weight GT rod. I rigged up a huge mouse fly, which I tied just before this trip out of rabbit skin and pink party balloons which I used for its cute ears and a long pink tail.

I was almost giving up when our guide Brandon suddenly tensed: “GT,” he whispered, pointing to an immense shadow moving towards us. He remained completely calm, which helped as I didn’t need anyone else to add to the panic. My cast wasn’t perfect, splashing on the surface a few meters ahead of the fish. For a moment time stood still as the fish came closer. I started stripping very fast and the giant trevally surged forward. It took the fly in a deafening explosion of foam of water, so forcefully that the reel handle hit my fingers so hard that for a moment I thought I broke it. It measured a bit over 90 centimeters (about 35.4 inches)–a massive fish by any standard but especially caught on a mouse.

Reflecting on Saudi GTs

As we sailed back to the mainland, the ship cutting through the calm waters of the Red Sea, I had time to reflect on the journey we had just completed. The Farasan Banks had been more than just a fishing trip; it had been an adventure that tested us in ways we hadn’t anticipated. For me it was not only journey of triumph, but a journey to truly understand that if we decide to do something in life, preparation, dedication, and patience will bring things together. And if you are in the right place with the right people, everything will be much easier than you think.

On our final evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, I felt a profound sense of peace. The journey had been long, and the challenges were many, but in the end, it had all been worth it. We had ventured into uncharted waters, faced the unknown, and come out the other side with stories that will be retold for years to come.

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Katka Svagrova is a Czech-American fly-fishing guide, champion, and educator. She is a 5X Women's Czech Republic Fly-Fishing Champion and has represented the Czech Republic in the European championship, where her team achieved a fourth-place finish among 17 teams from across Europe. Katka has also been a World Flyfishing Ladies Champion and has guided clients in various countries, including Iceland, where she works as a salmon fishing guide. She’s an ambassador for FFI and Hardy and a RIO Pro.

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