Dakhla Fishing Trip - Atlantic Catch on the Sahara Coast

Dakhla sits where the Sahara meets one of the most productive stretches of ocean on the planet, driven by a cold upwelling that feeds vast shoals of fish. This is what built the town, long before the kitesurfers arrived, and a fishing trip here connects you to the industry that still defines the peninsula. You go out with people who fish these waters for a living.

Depending on the day and the conditions, you fish the calm lagoon or the livelier open Atlantic just beyond it, targeting the species the coast is known for - meagre (courbine), sea bream, sole, mackerel, bonito and, over rocky ground, octopus. The crew shows you how they read the water, work the lines and handle the catch, and explains how the daily landings supply markets from here to Casablanca and beyond.

Back on land, the point of the day is eating what you caught. Your fish is cleaned and grilled simply over coals on the beach or at a lagoon-side spot, dressed with chermoula, salt and lemon, so the trip ends with a plate of seafood that was swimming a couple of hours earlier. It is a genuine slice of southern Moroccan coastal life, wind and salt included.