Shrimp Season in Kuwait

Shrimp season is the biggest date on Kuwait's fishing calendar. Boats get refitted, nets get repaired, and the market in Shuwaikh starts to hum weeks before the first landing. A good night on the water is worth more than weeks of ordinary fishing, which is why everyone has the gear ready days early.

Local shrimp show up in numbers once the water cools and the summer heat breaks. The season usually opens as al-Qayz peaks and al-Barad settles in, roughly late September into October, and runs through the cooler months. As temperatures climb again, shrimp move into deeper water and landings thin out. The official opening follows survey results and is announced in advance so crews can prepare.

Where the boats fish

The familiar grounds still deliver: Kuwait Bay, al-Zour, al-Khiran, the waters around Failaka and Kubbar, and Umm al-Maradim. What matters is bottom type and water movement. In cool water, shrimp sit shallower and closer to shore, which is when trawling works best. In the heat they scatter and go deeper, and hauls get lighter.

Gear and preparation

• Check the boat, nets and trawl gear at least a week ahead, because the port gets crowded in the first days of the season.
• Watch the wind and sea state. The first weeks of al-Barad bring stronger wind and a short, choppy sea.
• Plan around the tide. Shrimp move with the water, and tide timing decides where you set and how long you work.
• Load ice and boxes early. Shrimp degrades fast in heat, and the price drops with it.

Practical advice on the water

Early-season shrimp vary in size and quality from night to night, and anyone comparing one trip to the next will notice the difference. Don't stake your week on a single night - track your tow lines day by day and keep more than one plan for the run back. Many crews prefer the dark nights around the new moon because shrimp rise more, but tide timing still matters more than the calendar.

A lot of Kuwaiti crews now plan their trips with the B7R app, checking seasons and sea state and getting tide times for Shuwaikh and Shuaiba ports before casting off lines.

After the catch

Handling starts on deck. Sorting and icing on the boat changes the price you get, and reaching port quickly changes it more. The market moves in waves: the first landings draw strong demand, then prices settle according to the volumes arriving.

Zubaidi and hamour have their own seasons, but shrimp is the one everybody plans for. Keep your options open - if the trawl night is slow, try hand-lining in Kuwait Bay or near al-Zour, and check the fish guide and seasons to see what should be around at that time of year.

Download the B7R app free on Google Play for tide times at Shuwaikh and Shuaiba ports, sea state, the fish guide, seasons, a catch log, navigation tools and an SOS button: the Google Play listing