Bay of Biscay · fish in season in November
Peak season
European seabass Dicentrarchus labrax
On the Basque coast the angling season is given as April–December. Autumn is the most productive shore period: fish move close in to feed hard before winter. In 2026, south of the 48th parallel (Audierne) the limit is 2 bass per angler per day, minimum size 42 cm, and kept fish must be tail-marked. East of Donostia, a different size and bag apply in the Basque Country. Rules are set again every year; check the DIRM / préfecture maritime in France or the regional authority in Spain. Not legal advice.
Where: Surf-washed rocky points, surf beaches and estuary mouths; in autumn close in, following baitfish shoals.
Shore spinning Surfcasting Trolling Minnow (hard bait) Soft plastic Small live fish Peeler crab Ragworm
Source: Gobierno Vasco – Departamento de Alimentación, Desarrollo Rural, Agricultura y Pesca · Peche.com · Journal officiel de la République française (copie publiée par la commune de Locquirec)
Atlantic horse mackerel Trachurus trachurus
Caught almost all year on the Basque coast, especially in autumn.
Where: Harbours and breakwaters; sabiki rigs at dusk.
Sabiki / feather rig Jigging Sabiki feathers Soft plastic Metal jig Anchovy Sardine Squid
Source: Gobierno Vasco – Departamento de Alimentación, Desarrollo Rural, Agricultura y Pesca · FishBase
Whiting Merlangius merlangus
A winter fish: from the Vendée to the Spanish border it is inshore from September into November, and big whiting are taken by boat from January to March. In Biscay spawning starts in January.
Where: Sandy beaches (surfcasting) and rocks or wrecks deeper than 30 m.
Sabiki / feather rig Bottom fishing Handline Sabiki feathers Chicken breast Mussel Fish strip
Source: Peche.com
European squid Loligo vulgaris
On the Basque coast the small-squid (chipirón) season is given as May–December. On the French coast, shore fishing for squid is best from late autumn to early spring as the water cools. It migrates towards the French coast in spring.
Where: Lit quays and breakwater ends; squid jigs (eging) at dusk and after dark.
Eging (squid) Squid jig (egi)
Source: Gobierno Vasco – Departamento de Alimentación, Desarrollo Rural, Agricultura y Pesca · Peche.com · Wikipedia
In season
Thornback ray Raja clavata
PROTECTED
A ray recorded in the region. We found no monthly angling data for Biscay; values show presence and are conservative.
Pollack Pollachius pollachius
The stock and the recreational fishery are closely watched in Biscay. In 2026, south of the 48th parallel catch-and-release is mandatory January–April, with 2 fish per angler per day in other months and a 42 cm minimum size. We found no month-by-month angling data; values show presence and are conservative. Rules are set again every year; check the DIRM / préfecture maritime in France or the regional authority in Spain. Not legal advice.
Where: Reefs, rocky plateaus and wrecks; soft plastics or jigs from a boat.
Shore spinning Boat spinning Float fishing Soft plastic Jig head Minnow (hard bait) Sand eel Ragworm Mackerel strip
Source: Peche.com · Ifremer (Archimer) · FishBase
Pouting Trisopterus luscus
Listed among the species caught all year on the Basque coast.
Where: Rocky and mixed ground, harbour floors and wrecks.
Bottom fishing Surfcasting Ledgering Ragworm Lugworm Mackerel strip
Source: Gobierno Vasco – Departamento de Alimentación, Desarrollo Rural, Agricultura y Pesca · FishBase
Ballan wrasse Labrus bergylta
Listed among the species caught all year on the Basque coast. Long-lived and slow to mature; releasing big fish helps the stock.
Where: Weedy rocks and gullies; crab, prawn or small soft plastics.
Bottom fishing Float fishing Light rock fishing (LRF) Soft plastic Jig head Minnow (hard bait) Hardback crab Peeler crab Ragworm
Source: Gobierno Vasco – Departamento de Alimentación, Desarrollo Rural, Agricultura y Pesca · FishBase
Thinlip grey mullet Chelon ramada
Common in summer near estuary mouths, calm beaches and harbours. Enters estuaries and lower rivers; spawns near the coast between September and February.
Where: Estuaries, harbours and calm beaches; float tackle with bread or paste.
Shore spinning Float fishing Ledgering Spinner Ragworm Bread Dough bait
European conger Conger conger
Recorded along these coasts and present all year. We found no month-by-month angling data; values are conservative.
Where: Rock holes, the base of harbour walls and wrecks; at night.
Bottom fishing Surfcasting Drifting Mackerel strip Squid Cuttlefish
Occasional
Gilt-head bream Sparus aurata
Comes back from offshore and turns active in spring; caught inshore from May and common through summer. Spawning October–December.
Where: Mussel and oyster beds, sand-to-rock transitions and estuaries; ledgered crab baits.
Bottom fishing Surfcasting Float fishing Soft plastic Minnow (hard bait) Hardback crab Mussel Shrimp
Golden grey mullet Chelon auratus
A warm-season fish, often seen on beaches and in harbours in summer. Adult mullet spend winter in deeper water.
Where: Shallow sandy beaches and harbours; small worm baits.
Float fishing Bottom fishing Bread Dough bait Ragworm
Source: Peche.com · British Sea Fishing
White seabream Diplodus sargus
Ranges from Brittany southwards in the Atlantic; often seen around rocks, breakwaters and beaches in summer.
Where: Rocks in the wave wash; prawn, mussel or worm baits.
Bottom fishing Float fishing Light rock fishing (LRF) Minnow (hard bait) Soft plastic Mussel Hardback crab Ragworm
Atlantic mackerel Scomber scombrus
On the Basque coast the main run is April–May; odd fish are caught the rest of the year.
Where: Breakwaters and headlands facing open water; feathers or small spoons.
Sabiki / feather rig Shore spinning Float fishing Sabiki feathers Spinner Fish strip
Source: Gobierno Vasco – Departamento de Alimentación, Desarrollo Rural, Agricultura y Pesca · FishBase
Black seabream Spondyliosoma cantharus
Common around rocks, breakwaters and beaches in summer. Further south, spawning takes place earlier in the year.
Where: Rocky and mixed ground at 0–30 m.
Bottom fishing Ledgering Squid Ragworm Mackerel strip
Undulate ray Raja undulata
Restricted species: catching and keeping it is subject to specific rules. If caught, releasing it unharmed is recommended. No fishing technique is shown. Rules are set again every year; check the DIRM / préfecture maritime in France or the regional authority in Spain. Not legal advice.
Surfcasting Bottom fishing Peeler crab Mackerel strip Fish strip
This is the general seasonal pattern for the region, not live data. It can shift by a few weeks with water temperature, migration and the year.