Zubaidi, the silver pomfret, is one of the most prized fish in Kuwait and the wider Gulf. It tastes delicate and commands a good price, so anglers wait for it all year. The question everyone asks is simple: when is the right time? The short answer is that Zubaidi is a cooler-water fish. The best window runs from late autumn through winter and into early spring. The precise peak shifts every year with water temperature and weather.
When water temperatures drop, Zubaidi move closer to shore and settle over sandy and muddy bottom to feed. In the hot summer months they tend to move deeper or feed less actively, which is why the season feels quiet. Once the water cools and the sea settles after the seasonal winds, the signs start appearing.
Do not build your plan around a fixed date. Watch the sea state and the temperature, then get out and test.
This is usually when the build-up begins. Zubaidi start showing on nearby marks once the sea calms after the windy weeks. Depths commonly start around 15 to 30 metres, and the clearer the water and the weaker the current, the easier the fish find your bait.
In the coldest months the water suits this species best, and the odds of bigger fish improve. Fishing now demands patience and a tight focus on the bottom. Zubaidi takes the bait gently, and many anglers lose fish by striking too fast.
This is where preparation pays off: correct weight, a bottom you can feel, and a hook matched to your bait. If the boat holds steady over a productive mark, do not rush to move before trying more than one drop.
Fishing stays good in early spring while the water is cool, then tapers off as it warms. Some years the season runs long, others end early. That is exactly why experienced anglers check conditions as they go rather than relying on memory.
This is where the B7R app earns its place in your kit: tide tables for Shuwaikh and Shuaiba ports, sea state, a fish species guide, a catch log, a seasons calendar, and navigation tools, all in one place and free on Google Play.
There is no absolute rule, but many anglers prefer sunset and the first hours of darkness, when fish feed more actively. Daytime works too over deeper bottom or under cloud cover. Record your own results, because the answer changes from one mark to another.
The preferred Zubaidi is medium to large, as the flavour is better and the value higher. Keep only what you need, and release the small ones so the season stays healthy. In the kitchen, grilled or fried Zubaidi is a Kuwaiti favourite, and freezing it quickly after the catch keeps the taste at its best.
Do not skip safety either: watch the wind, tell someone your route, and in an emergency the B7R app includes an SOS button.
Go test it yourself and track your season step by step. Download the app free on Google Play and start here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.q8dm.b7r