Tips for a shore fishing trip
Today, we join the fishermen on foot who find themselves at low tide on the beaches of the North of Brittany !
And yes, filling your bucket with seafood is a Breton national sport. But where to go, how to do it and what are the things to check?
We share our advice with you to make the most of your seaside outing.
The only watchword of the day: responsible fishing!
Introduction to shore fishing
Where to fish on foot in northern Brittany ? The question is quickly answered: our Breton coasts are full of magnificent places to go for a morning (or afternoon) of fishing on foot with the family (with friends or alone for that matter).
Before choosing the destination of the day, young and old remember to check their equipment. No need to think about bringing your favorite wetsuit! For shore fishing, we are content with small equipment such as the basket, gloves, flat blade knife, claw, landing net and caliper to measure the size of the shells collected. Don't forget the rubber boots to avoid cutting yourself!
Direction then Côtes-d’Armor in the north of Brittany. The spot of the day? Saint-Jacut-de-la-mer, which we know well for having tested sand yachting there.
As soon as we arrive, we notice that the beach is far from being abandoned: the early risers are already on the trail to carefully search for the treasures left by the ebb tide… But how do we start when we are beginners?
We seek advice from (it seems to us) a regular in the practice. He shares with us shore fishing techniques ! On your notes!
3 techniques for shore fishing
Knife fishing on the beaches of northern Brittany
The knife is great fun to fish! This long shell (which bears its name well) is located a few centimeters from the surface. To find it, you have to look for holes in the shape of an 8 or a keyhole in the sand: it may be underneath! To find out, remember to bring a packet of salt. Place a pinch in the hole and wait a few seconds... The knife doesn't like excess salt and will try to escape when it comes out of the sand! Easy right?
Fishing for the crab
The crab belongs to the crab family! To find it, head for the rocks that line the beaches of northern Brittany. Then lift the stones or look between the rocks and take a good look… Maybe you will see some moving! In any case, remember to carefully put the rock back in its place before leaving: other plants and shells live here.
Fish for clams, cockles and clams
These species are said to be burrowing shells, in other words, they live in muddy, sandy and gravelly bottoms. When the sea recedes, these shells therefore only live a few centimeters from the surface and can thus leave small oval hollows on the ground. All you have to do is start looking for these holes, then dig lightly with your claw, spoon or even your finger.
Where to practice shore fishing in northern Brittany?
We take advantage of this nice meeting to ask him for advice on the spots where to go in the North of Brittany for shore fishing. Here are the places to remember:
- Saint-Jacut-de-la-Mer
À Saint-Jacut-de-la-Mer, head for Haas beach located at the end of the peninsula! And to fish on foot in the heavenly settings of Brittany, nothing beats setting sail on the Ebihens, the archipelago that looks like the end of the world…
- Note : it is forbidden to fish in the Ille et Rance canal! It is still much more pleasant to walk there on foot or by boat!
- Saint-Cast-le Guildo in the Bay of Arguenon:
The Bay of Arguenon is a magnificent place for fishing on foot on the Breton coast. At low tide, this natural site reveals the alignment of bouchots, wooden piles and in the distance, the islands and the outline of the Emerald Coast.
For scenery of cliffs and greenery, we advise you to organize your shore fishing session on 4 Vaux beach in Brittany in Saint-Cast-Le-Guildo. It is the ideal place to observe the mussel farmers who leave with their paddle boat and the oyster farmers!
Note : A distance of 15 meters must be respected around the professional parks: below this distance, fishing on foot is not authorized!
Responsible angler checklist
If we have remembered one thing, it is that all good fisherman agrees that it is essential to adopt a Sustainable fisheries to ensure business continuity throughout the year!
What are the best practices to follow for shore fishing in northern Brittany (and elsewhere too!)?
Before leaving
- Check the sanitary quality of the fishing grounds on foot
- Consider checking the tide schedule and tidal coefficients. It would be useless to find yourself empty-handed in front of a high tide...
- Avoid fishing after heavy rain and fog
while fishing
- Comply with fishing and consumption bans
- Move away from port areas, mouths of rivers and water drainage networks.
- Fishing in a marine environment recommended and known to the authorities
- Respect the sizes and quantities of shellfish and crustaceans to be collected
- Watch the rising waters so as not to be surprised
- Respect minimum catch sizes and fishing periods
- Take only for own consumption – no overfishing
- Put the raised rocks back in place
- Do not take shellfish that are dead, chipped or have a suspicious odor.
after fishing
- Disgorge shellfish to extract sand and silt
- Clean them well
- Quickly place the shellfish in the refrigerator
- Consume shellfish the same day preferably (the sale is prohibited)
Take advantage of shore fishing: à la carte!
A fishing trip on foot in complete autonomy: here's a good idea for a family activity! Head to the Tourist Office to find calipers to comply with the regulations! (Price: 4,5 euros)
But if your knowledge of our friends the shellfish stops at Brigitte Bardot's song, we advise you to follow the experts by taking part in the outings organized by the Tourist Office.
→ You can book your shore fishing trip with a guide here!
Reviews
5/5VEYRET - September 16, 2020
Very useful for a high Savoyard who ''hunts.'' only the boletus or the chanterelle. We will be in St cast le Guildo mid October
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