F LY F L I C K S
QUEENS OF THE DESERT IN DUBAI ON THE FLY, SOUTH AFRICANS NICK BOWLES AND BRENTON SHARP BRING URBAN QUEENFISH TO THE BIG SCREEN AND PUT DOWN A MARKER FOR DUBAI AS A FLY FISHING DESTINATION.
guiding or even information. And certainly nothing about fly fishing. I started an informational website called Ocean Active, as a hobby, and then started receiving a lot of enquiries. We set up Ocean Active as an outfitting business and have been loving guiding and introducing clients to Dubai and Oman ever since.
Photo Bryan Gregson
Brenton Sharp [BS]: I grew up in Ballito, KZN, just north of Durban. I have fished as much as I can for as long as I can remember - out at sea from the age of five, trying to keep up with the big boys. I reached a turning point where the future was looking stressful if I was to remain as a deep-sea charter captain. Nick put me in touch with a high-profile Emirati boat owner who brought me out here to manage his fleet and to facilitate fishing as needed. It was an amazing experience. Now, I’m with Ocean Active full-time and also work as a fine artist.
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The Mission caught up with them at home in Dubai to learn about the allure of the Middle East and what it can offer the seasoned global angler.
The Mission [TM]: What pulled you to Dubai? Captain Nick Bowles [NB]: We were living it up in London, as many young Saffa’s do after school, and studying, when Mich, my girlfriend, —now wife—accepted a job with Emirates in 2000. I stayed on in London, but after a year decided to join her in Dubai. It wasn’t hard. A quick Google search was underway as I had no idea about Dubai. The results claimed there was sun almost year-round, the sea was blue and there were lots of fish in the Arabian Gulf! No-brainer. I packed the bags and left the cold rainy weather of London 15 years ago and I have never looked back! There was not much in the way of fishing
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f we discount the 2011 Ewan McGregor rom-com Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, this will see a Middle East fishery featured for the first time on the fly fishing big screen with the release of Dubai on the Fly at the Fly Fishing Film Tour (F3T). South Africans Captain Nick Bowles, owner of Ocean Active, and Head Guide Brenton Sharp, were at the helm of this firstever film produced collaboratively by Beattie Outdoor Productions, Off the Grid Studios, Dubai Tourism and Drift Media.
TM: Why would international anglers be drawn to Dubai? NB: Fly fishing off Dubai is unique and we refer to it as “urban fly fishing”, as you are, at times, fishing in front of the 7-star Burj Al Arab Hotel, Atlantis Hotel or the 200 skyscrapers in the Dubai Marina. The city’s incredibly accessible, located in the middle of the earth and a travel hub between East and West, North and South. Through Emirates, you can reach Dubai from most places on the planet within a few hours. Plus, there are all the high-end hotels, restaurants, shopping and amazing attractions, as well as world-class fly fishing. “Why would someone not want to come to Dubai?” is more the question. I once had a client say to me in amazement,