Do you want to know everything about fishing on foot?
Whether you're a lover of seafood, the fauna of our coastline or just curious, fishing on foot is one of the must-do activities when you're on holiday by the sea, and particularly close to La Guichardière campsite. It's an activity that everyone can enjoy, but you do need to know a few rules.
A great classic of the Côte de Jade!
In the Loire Atlantique region, our coasts are renowned for being full of surprises, well hidden under the sand or between the rocks... The Côte de Jade stretches from Saint-Brévin-les-pins to Moutiers en Retz, where you'll find oysters, mussels, clams, cockles and periwinkles, depending on the area and the beach. Fishing on foot is easy to do with the whole family and attracts fans of all ages! It's a great way to mix walking with exploring, digging, grating and finding wonders for your meal (or just for an aperitif, depending on what you find)! It's a year-round activity at low tide (even richer during high tides when the coefficient exceeds 95). The highest coefficients are in spring and autumn, when the sea retreats far out onto the foreshore, giving anglers access to areas that are rarely uncovered. Ideally, you should arrive around 1h/1h30 before low tide, so you can enjoy a good 2 hours' fishing.
What beaches are suitable for fishing?
The Jade coast is rich in shellfish: Cockles, clams and razor clams are the most sought-after shellfish for shore fishermen. There are also pretty little periwinkles for the aperitif, mussels and wild oysters, limpets galore, and grey and pink prawns (called boucots in the region).
Where to fish?
Usually fishermen keep their favourite spots secret, but in front of your Flower Camping la Guichardière, all you have to do is stoop down! The first fishing beaches are just 400m from the campsite: Plage de Mouton (oysters, periwinkles, etc.), followed by Plage de Port Giraud (mussels) and Plage du Cormier (cockles), as well as the beaches of Saint Michel Chef Chef. On the other side, you can find periwinkles and curlers hidden under the seaweed at La Prée, and you can also poke around in the rocks at Pointe Saint Gildas in Préfailles. A little further afield, in Pornic: the Fontaine aux Bretons beach and the Boutinardière beach (clams, prawns), the Pointe de Gourmalon and between the Montbeau and Grandes Vallées beaches. At La Bernerie en Retz, you can fill your basket with oysters and clams at the Grande Plage.
What to wear?
Take shoes that are not afraid of seawater or rocks, boots that fit well on your feet (so they don't get stuck in the mud) or beach shoes (like neoprene slippers), but an old pair of trainers will do just as well! In summer, don't forget sun cream, a cap and a bottle of water, as you'll soon forget about the sun beating down when your feet are in the water. When it comes to tools, you don't need much: a claw or small rake, a knife, a landing net and, of course, a basket or bucket to carry your treasure back in!
You don't need a permit or any special authorisation, but be careful about the size of the shellfish you collect, as there are rules to be observed (size, quantity, season, etc.) to ensure that each shellfish can reproduce. However, the maximum quantity of shellfish authorised is set at 5 kg per fisherman and tide, all species combined. And fishing on foot is prohibited within 25 metres of marine farming concessions (oyster beds, bouchots, etc.).
For health reasons, certain beaches may be subject to a temporary or permanent ban, indicated by a sign.
Respect the marine environment: return upturned pebbles to their original position, fill in holes and use authorised fishing tools to avoid damaging the marine environment. The foreshore is home to a rich but fragile ecosystem, so find out about the quality of the water - some areas may be temporarily off-limits for health reasons.
+ For more information, visit the website of the Association des pêcheurs à pied de la côte de Jade (APPCJ): www.appcj.fr
