All you need to know about fishing in South Finistère!
Finistère is the Holy Grail of foot fishing in Brittany! We tell you everything you need to know to make a success of your fishing trip around our campsite near Fouesnant.
When should you go fishing?
An ancestral practice that is very popular on Brittany’s coasts, recreational fishing on foot is within everyone’s reach. In South Finistère, as elsewhere in Brittany, you can fish on foot all year round, from sunrise to sunset.
Fishing for shellfish is best done when the coefficient exceeds 70. During high tides, when the coefficient exceeds 90, fishing on foot is particularly promising. Indeed, the higher the tidal coefficient, the further the sea withdraws… and the better the fishing!
It’s advisable to arrive two hours before low tide and to go up no more than 30 minutes after low tide, to avoid being trapped by rising water. It is therefore essential to consult the tide tables at www.maree.info.
How to dress and equip for shore fishing?
When fishing on foot, we recommend you wear brightly colored clothing to be more visible in case of trouble. In summer, we advise you to wear boots, sandals, neoprene slippers or an old pair of sneakers to avoid scratching your feet. You’ll also need a cap, a pair of sunglasses and sunscreen to protect you from ultraviolet rays. In spring and autumn, opt for a light “kway” jacket to protect you from the wind and the legendary Breton drizzle.
As far as equipment is concerned, there’s no need to invest in very expensive gear to try your hand at shore fishing: a bucket, a landing net, a claw (or a small rake), a penknife and gloves will do the trick just fine. Don’t forget to take your cell phone with you to alert emergency services in the event of a problem (the emergency number is 196).
Which shellfish to collect?
Finistère offers a wide variety of shellfish for harvesting by the sea. Scallops, cockles, mussels, wild oysters, periwinkles, limpets and razor clams are just some of the species highly prized by anglers. Crustaceans are just as good: spiders, crabs, curlers, shrimps, sea urchins…
Where to go fishing in South Finistère?
From the Pays fouesnantais to the Pays bigouden, South Finistère offers a huge playground for fishing on the foreshore, between the rocks, on rocky plateaus or in the estuary bed at low tide.
– Fouesnant: Mousterlin Point at Beg Meil and Cap Coz Point
- La Forêt-Fouesnant: Kerleven beach and Saint-Laurent cove
- Concarneau: the Belle Étoile beach at Le Cabellou
- Bénodet: Pointe Saint-Gilles beach
- L’Île-Tudy: the Pont-l’Abbé river estuary and Pouldon cove
For responsible fishing, adopt good practices
Fishing on foot is subject to strict regulations, to protect the environment, resources, your health and safety.
For your safety :
- As soon as the sea rises, return quickly to land (check tide times).
- Check the day’s weather forecast (don’t go fishing in stormy or foggy weather).
- Stay within reach and within sight of other anglers.
- Respect authorized fishing zones: consult prefectoral decrees to ensure the sanitary quality of natural shellfish beds.
- Keep your catch in a cool place and eat shellfish within 24 hours of going out.
Preserving the resource and the ecosystem:
- Systematically return turned stones to their original position.
- Respect the maximum quantity of shellfish allowed.
- Limit fishing to family consumption: respect the maximum authorized quantity (5 kg per fisherman per trip, all species combined).
- Respect the minimum catch size: to measure your catch, rulers are distributed free of charge at tourist offices.
More information at www.pecheapied-responsable.fr