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Fishing in France

41 species across 46 spots

France offers fishing across 46 spots with 41 species in marine, marine, brackish, freshwater, brackish waters. Suitable for beginner to expert anglers.

Best months: May-september, April‑june, May-october, July to september

Top Spots

Côte d'Azur2 species

Dusky grouper inhabit the rocky coastlines and reefs of the French Riviera

Camargue – Le Grau-du-Roi1 species

Mediterranean sandy flats with seagrass meadows; high goby density during warm months.

Nice, Côte d'Azur1 species

Crystal clear Mediterranean waters with abundant reef structures; a classic spot where dentex patrols the rocky drop-offs.

41

Species

46

Spots

Species

41
Chestnut goby

Chestnut goby

Chromogobius quadrivittatus

Very Common

marine

Camargue – Le Grau-du-Roi
Common dentex

Common dentex

Dentex dentex

Very Common

marine

Nice, Côte d'Azur
Sparus atlanticus

Sparus atlanticus

Sparus atlanticus

Very Common
Côte d'Azur, Antibes
Fries's goby

Fries's goby

Lesueurigobius friesii

Very Common

marine

Port-Cros Marine Reserve
Atlantic mackerel

Atlantic mackerel

Scomber scombrus

Very Common

marine, brackish

Saint‑Malo Coast
Northern pike

Northern pike

Esox lucius

Very Common

freshwater, brackish

Brière Regional Natural Park
Chub

Chub

Squalius cephalus

Very Common

freshwater, brackish

River Loire (Orléans)
Zope

Zope

Ballerus ballerus

Very Common

freshwater, brackish

Seine River, Rouen Section
Drab longfin gurnard

Drab longfin gurnard

Lepidotrigla calodactyla

Very Common

marine

Baie de Morlaix
Chabot du Lez

Chabot du Lez

Cottus petiti

Very Common

freshwater

Lez River (Upper Lez), near MontpellierRiver Loup, Aude DepartmentGorges du Verdon – Verdon River
Red mullet

Red mullet

Mullus barbatus

Very Common

marine

Nice Bay
Atlantic halibut

Atlantic halibut

Hippoglossus hippoglossus

Very Common

marine

St. Pierre et Miquelon
Narrow-snouted pipefish

Narrow-snouted pipefish

Syngnathus tenuirostris

Very Common

marine

Camargue Wetlands
Cobitis elongata

Cobitis elongata

Cobitis elongata

Very Common

freshwater

Loire River – Orléans Section
Sparus stellatus

Sparus stellatus

Sparus stellatus

Common
Bay of Morlaix, Brittany
European seabass

European seabass

Dicentrarchus labrax

Common

marine, freshwater, brackish

Gironde EstuaryCamargue Delta
European conger

European conger

Conger conger

Common

marine

Brittany Coast – Crozon Peninsula
Senegalese sole

Senegalese sole

Solea senegalensis

Common

marine

Bay of Biscay (Brittany coast)Gulf of Lion
Gibberfish

Gibberfish

Gibberichthys pumilus

Common

marine

Loyalty Reef, New Caledonia
Common dab

Common dab

Limanda limanda

Common

marine

Brittany Coast, Baie de Douarnenez
Lesser spotted dogfish

Lesser spotted dogfish

Scyliorhinus canicula

Common

marine

Brittany, France – Baie de Saint-Brieuc
Lemon sole

Lemon sole

Microstomus kitt

Common

marine

Arcachon Bay
Dusky grouper

Dusky grouper

Epinephelus marginatus

Common

marine

Côte d'Azur
Emerald rockcod

Emerald rockcod

Trematomus bernacchii

Common

marine

Port‑aux‑Français, Kerguelen IslandsÎle de la Possession, Crozet Islands
Patzner's goby

Patzner's goby

Lebetus patzneri

Common

marine

Calvi Bay
Barbel

Barbel

Barbus barbus

Common

freshwater

River Rhône (Lyon stretch)
Dogtooth grouper

Dogtooth grouper

Epinephelus caninus

Common

marine

Côte d'Azur
European hake

European hake

Merluccius merluccius

Common

marine

Baie de Douarnenez
Albacore

Albacore

Thunnus alalunga

Common

marine

Corsica
Striped bass

Striped bass

Morone saxatilis

Common

marine, freshwater, brackish

Roscoff Coast
Japanese amberjack

Japanese amberjack

Seriola quinqueradiata

Common

marine

Noumea Reef, New Caledonia
Southern rock bass

Southern rock bass

Paralabrax callaensis

Common

marine

Golfe du LionCôte d'Argent
Anglerfish (Lophiidae)

Anglerfish (Lophiidae)

Lophiidae family

Common

Deep waters, typically 200-1000m depth

Bay of Biscay, France
Tiger shark

Tiger shark

Galeocerdo cuvier

Common

marine, brackish

Reunion Island
Blackbellied angler

Blackbellied angler

Lophius budegassa

Common

marine

Mediterranean Coast of France
Roach

Roach

Rutilus rutilus

Occasional

freshwater, brackish

Loire River – Orléans Canal Section
Blackspot seabream

Blackspot seabream

Pagellus bogaraveo

Occasional

marine

Côte d'Azur (French Riviera)
Black stiphodon

Black stiphodon

Stiphodon atratus

Occasional

freshwater

Rivière Ngoula, New Caledonia
Mediterranean sand smelt

Mediterranean sand smelt

Atherina hepsetus

Occasional

marine, freshwater, brackish

Nice – Baie des Anges
River lamprey

River lamprey

Lampetra fluviatilis

Uncommon

marine, freshwater, brackish

River Loire
Citharichthys amblybregmatus

Citharichthys amblybregmatus

Citharichthys amblybregmatus

Uncommon

marine

New Caledonia (South Reef)
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