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FISHING IN THE CHARENTE MARITIME
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The
Charente Maritime is a large department and offers many different sorts
of fishing. Those keen on river fishing will be attracted to the channels
and tributaries which drain the Charente wetlands into the large Charente
river, and where fishing is almost always authorised.
We
suggest that at least to begin with you will benefit from a local fishing
guide. You'll need a fishing permit. Ordering
it from French Affair before you go will save you time.
RIVER FISHING
La
Sèvre Niortaise, in the north of the department is the main
river, winding through the Marais Poitevin, also called Venise Verte.
It is a slow, deep river, known for its eel, white fish and carnivores.
In
the centre of the Charente Maritime, the River Charente is tidal
for some distance inland and is a good habitat for large specimens of
carps, pikeperch and pike. There are also breams, roachs and bleaks. Mullet
come in from the sea. In May and June shad swim up river to breed.
The
River Boutonne, close by St Jean d'Angély is classified
as a 1st category river, and provides good fishing in the spring but not
is not recommended in summer.
On
the west side of the department, on the River Seudre and the many
canals of the coastal wetlands of Rochefort, Marennes and the Gironde
estuary there are many ideal places for fishing, especially for crayfish.
In the south of the department the river is very clear and is well known
for its pike and the beauty of its confluence with the Charente.
Check
the fishing seasons shown below for the type of fishing in which you are
interested.
The
French Affair houses most conveniently placed for these rivers are:
The
Sévre Niortaise: 224, 225, 229, 226, 227
The Charente: 239, 237
The Boutonne: 237
The Seudre: 239
SEA
FISHING
The
sea fishing off La Rochelle, Ile de Ré, Ile d'Oléron, and
is excellent. You do not need a permit for sea fishing. You can go fishing
at night, even during the summer months to catch bass off the Ile de Ré
or Royan, and conger and skate off La Rochelle. Ile Madame is the best
place for mussels.
The
most convenient French Affair houses for sea fishing are:
La
Rochelle: 212
Ile de Re: 223,
224, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231, 232
Ile d'Oléron: 221,
222
Royan: 201,
202, 216, 218, 239, 208
2008 FISHING SEASONS IN THE CHARENTE MARITIME
For all fresh water fishing you
will need a fishing permit.
Fishing is allowed during the season from half an hour before dawn to half an hour after sunset. Carp may be fished 24 hours a day but at night only on specially prepared and precisely delineated boats.
The other exception
to this rule is for eel being fished without a hook but on what the French
call a boul de verre, in which case you may fish for eel until midnight.
Pike
The season for pike is from the the 15th April till the first 31 December.
Pike less than 50
cms have to be returned to the water alive.
Shad
The season for shad is from 1st February to 30th June inclusive. In practical
terms they are most likely to be in the rivers during May and June.
Shad less than 30
cms have to be returned to the water alive.
Trout
On the Sèvre
Niortaise, Charente, Boutonne and Seudre the season for trout is from
the 2nd Saturday in March to the 3rd Sunday in September inclusive.
Trout less than 25
cms have to be returned to the river alive.
The limit of the take
home catch is 6 trout per person per day all other fish have to be returned
to the water alive.
All other fish.
Provided that you have a fishing permit,
all other fish can be fished year round.
Black Bass less than
23 cms have to be returned to the water alive.
Zander less than 40
cms have to be returned to the water alive.
Sea Lampreys less
than 40cms have to be returned to the water alive.
River Lampreys less
than 20cms have to be returned to the water alive.
Mullet less than 20
cms have to be returned to the water alive.
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