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Fishing

Fishing on foot, shrimp fishing contest at the ecomuseum, fishing in ponds... Fishing in Rochefort Ocean is an essential.

A few tips for fishing on foot

During the great tides, the sea goes back a couple of hundreds meters away and lets on display large flat and rocky areas very appreciated by fishermen on foot : the foreshore. 

Fishing on foot, at the rhythm of the tide

Do you know what the "foreshore" means? It is the part of the shoreline which is covered by the sea and then uncovered at the mercy of the tides and which shelters the most prolific fauna and flora... 

With boots or old sneakers, a basket, a landing net, respectfully dig around the foreshore and find shells, mussels, oysters (outside the parks), shrimps...

Foot fishing is allowed at :

  • the Pointe de la Fumée in Fouras-les-Bains
  • at the Jamblet and Tridoux in Aix Island
  • at the Palles on Madame Island
WARNING ! Check the official decrees, regarding the fishing season: from sunrise to sunset, more than 25 m from the concessions of marine crops.
The maximum quantity of fishing is fixed at 5 kg per fisherman per day, all species of shellfish combined with a minimum size to respect.
Thank you for respecting the coastline especially by carefully putting back in place the stones that you will have moved around.
More information about regulation HERE.
Sunset in Fouras ©C.Ecale
Foot fishing in Port-des-Barques © Ecomusee de Port des Barques
Soubise and the Charente river ©C. Ecale

Fishing huts on the Charente river

Many wooden huts run along the Estuary of the Charente river, they are colored, more or less small ... accessible by a pontoon: these are named "carrelets" ! 

These fishing huts are a part of the landscape of Rochefort Ocean, we are proud to have them everywhere: along the river in Tonnay-Charente, on the peninsulas of Port-des-Barques and Fouras-les-Bains, the islands of Aix and Madame. 

Not only is it a way to bring back pounds of fish, it is also a quiet and unusual place to enjoy the beauty of the scenery, wildlife and flora. 

The technique to fish in these fishing huts consists of putting a bait in the center of the square net (hence the name "plaice"), then when the net is submerged, it is raised (preferably at tide) and there you have you fish !
 

Best places to see them  :
Along the Charente river, while walking along the trails. 
North of Fouras
Piédemont in Port-des-Barques
Madame Island

Freswater fishing

To fish in fresh water, the purchase of an individual fishing card is compulsory. Follow our advice and take advantage of your stay to fish with your family or friends on the lakes and canals.

Where can I buy a fishing licence?

- On the internet at www.cartedepeche.fr
- At one of the following outlets:

  • "Pro Pêche" shop: La Pimale (next to Super U), 17620 Échillais.
  • Decathlon: 96 Rue des Pêcheurs d'Islande, 17300 Rochefort.

Where to practice leisure fishing?

The fishing routes in the waterways:

  • The Charras Canal :
    Very accessible on the right bank, it crosses the communes of Muron, Breuil-Magné and St-Laurent-de-la-Prée. It is a very popular fishing route, situated in a quiet area in the middle of nature. You can fish for carp, roach, bream and carass, pike-perch, perch, black-bass and eels. Night fishing for carp is allowed on the right bank to the railway bridge at "Charras" in Saint-Laurent-de-La-Prée.
  • The Charente-Seudre Canal :
    Very accessible, it crosses the communes of Saint Hippolyte, Échillais, Saint Agnant and Beaugeay. It is also a popular fishing route, situated in a bucolic setting. You can fish for roach, pike-perch, perch, black-bass, eel and carp. Night fishing for carp is permitted from the bridge at "Biard" (Saint Hippolyte) to the bridge at "Pillay" (Monthérault) on the left bank, and from the "Pillay" bridge to the Bellevue lock (Beaugeay) on the right bank.

In addition, there are other accessible canals full of fish: the Canal de Broue (Beaugeay), the Canal de Brouage (Beaugeay), the Canal de Ciré (Breuil-Magné), the Canal de Rochefort (Breuil-Magné, Vergeroux), the Canal de Loire (Loire-les-Marais), the Canal des Daurades (Muron, Loire-les Marais), the Canal de Saint-Louis (Muron), the Canal des Treize Prises (Moragne) and the Canal de Genouillé (Tonnay-Charente).

Parcours famille
  • The Béligon lake in Rochefort :
    This lake is ideal for fishing with family and friends. There are many accessible fishing spots, as well as a PRM fishing pontoon. The site is equipped with a shelter, an outdoor drinking water, toilets, a children's playground and a picnic area. It has a lot of fish: roach, rotengles, carp, carass, tench, perch, pike-perch, black bass and rainbow trout in March and April.
  • The Cabariot lake :
    This lake is a little jewel nestled in the heart of a 10-hectare leisure area. This site is equipped with toilets, a drinking water point, a shelter, a picnic area, a children's playground and a restaurant/snack bar open during the tourist season. The pond offers many accessible fishing spots as well as a pontoon and a PRM fishing pontoon. It is very well stocked with fish: roach, carp, carass and black bass.

In addition, there are other accessible lakes such as the pond of the Ile d'Albe in Muron (rainbow trout in March, roach, carp, pike, black bass and pike-perch), the Lac des Rouches in Port-des-Barques (roach, carp, black bass and perch) and the ponds of Saint Hippolyte (rainbow trout in March and April, roach and carp).

For more information (regulations, fishing techniques, etc.), contact :

For more details about sailing on the Charente river, shore fishing, tide times, timetable to Aix island or Madame island : the guide of the sea and water sports is at your disposal.
"Cap sur la Charente"