16th February 2014 was a day I’ll remember for a long time. After two enjoyable days at Salon des Peches en Mer in Nantes, getting acquainted with all the latest lure fishing tackle, we decided to have some fun fishing.
The night before, Masa, Dan, Chris and myself scoured over Google Earth to try and find a suitable looking area for a spot of LRF. We decided upon the north shore of the mouth of the Loire.
After a drive about we found an amazing looking spot for some rockfishing – a vast saltwater basin in Saint Nazaire. The basin had a lock, meaning there was always a certain level of water in the basin. It reminded me of the Barbican in Plymouth.
We started fishing a small fishing quay with a mixture of Isome, Shirasu and paddletails. With four of us, we quickly surveyed the immediate area and found a nest of gobies. Okay, not wildly exciting but these were French gobies and it was good fun with lots of bites, a bit of competition and a few gibes when someone dropped a fish.
After we’d had our fill of the gobies we had a little walk around and stumbled across the most amazing venue for LRF I have ever seen. It turns out that Saint Nazaire was occupied by the Germans during the war and they used it as a massive U-Boat station. The huge submarine pens were an amazing backdrop to fish. The aging concrete buildings complete with years of graffiti and neglect, were pretty cool. You can fish in the pens themselves, or into deeper water on the outside. Alas, we didn’t locate any other species, but it didn’t really matter as we were all enjoying just being there. Superb place.
Definitely would like to return some time when the water temp is higher. Or perhaps next time we visit the Nantes tackle show, for some Night Games.
Fred
22nd August, 2014 @ 12:37 pm
Hello !!!
So funny to discover your blog. I live in Nantes. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you’d come back. I could show you some other pits with wrasse, pollocks or even seabass if you want.
Have a nice day.
Adam Kirby
25th August, 2014 @ 8:20 am
Thanks Fred. That’s very kind of you. We are regular visitors to Nantes, but always for the show in February. The fishing appears tough at that time of year, but we enjoy the change of scenery.
Fred
25th August, 2014 @ 10:42 am
Hi, fishing can be hard at that season, it’s true. Depending of the weather like in any other place indeed ;)
In 2012 it remained bloody cold for two months, impossible to fish although you wanted to be changed in ice block :) In 2013, weather was hot but the wind kept on blowing the whole season…Bad luck… But if it doesn’t freeze with an acceptable breeze^^, there’s is always spots to get pollocks chasing baby eels ;)
Adam Kirby
26th August, 2014 @ 9:55 am
Cool. Sounds good Fred. Let’s hope for acceptable weather in 2014/15
Fred
10th February, 2015 @ 12:27 pm
Hi,
you seem to be lucky. Rainy but soft weather announced for the week-end :)
If ever you’d go to Nantes ? As far I am concerned ( although I live at 10 minutes of driving from the spot… ) I think I won’t go to the show… It’s look as desperatly cheap as post-sovietic store…. Only Daiwa, FtF ( Reins, Tiemco… ), Ultimate ( megabass, duo, vagabond and other upper-classed products^^ ) and small frenchie staff as the Black Minnow Squad ( Fiiish ) and others… I really doubt it’s worth the trip.
Adam Kirby
11th February, 2015 @ 6:47 pm
Yes, we are going. I can appreciate you might prefer the small, boutique brands – we do too – but seeing what Europe is up to is still exciting for us Brits. Plus the chance to eat cheese, drink wine and do some fishing with friends :0)
Fred
13th February, 2015 @ 11:18 am
I like both brands ;) But without Shimano, Hart, Sakura, DAM, Savagear prologic, Rapala, Smith, Keitech, Major craft, Delalande, Salmo, Illex and a dozen else, it might to look sadly weak for myself…
It is also true that I can drink wine all of the year ( if I don’t mind losing my driving licence indeed :) ).
By the way, I am afraid you would have to go back to the same U-Boot Palace if you want to “light-fish”… I’m just a dreadful weather soothsayer. Sorry. The wind is starting to blow hard this morning and it’s going to get worse with intensive rain the whole week-end. Damn it.
Enjoy your trip anyway !!!
Adam Kirby
17th February, 2015 @ 1:04 pm
Thanks Fred. I misread your original note. Of course now I realise what you meant. Yes, it is a massive shame that Illex-family and Sakura didn’t attend this year. I fear for the future of this show in such grand premises. We still had fun. Played with some stuff we don’t get to see. Ate and drank nice food. And even caught a few fish! But yeah, could have been even better. Which is now the best show in your opinion?
Fred
18th February, 2015 @ 7:48 pm
Nice that you’ve got fish and enjoyed your trip !!! I haven’t find time to fish since the beginning of december. I long to go back persecuting small fish… Or even big ones… :)
The other big fishing show in France is the following one…
http://www.cnpl.fr/
But it might be a little bit distant for people coming from UK… And you’d have also to not forget the snow tires. The Auvergne is much more cold in winter than the Bretagne…
Adam Kirby
18th February, 2015 @ 8:46 pm
Thanks so much. We’ll consider it next year. Thanks for the advice! Hope you get to bother fish again soon. Loving the extended daylight already