Charente-Maritime France · France

La Rochelle Bay of Biscay fishing forecast

Name: La Rochelle Bay of Biscay
Address: Charente-Maritime France, FR

58 Good of 100

La Rochelle Bay of Biscay is a saltwater fishing spot in Charente-Maritime France, France. Anglers here target European Seabass, Atlantic Mackerel, Atlantic Bonito, Pollock. The most productive months are typically May, June, July, August, September, October.

Quick answer

Best monthsMay, June, July, August

Top speciesEuropean Seabass, Atlantic Mackerel, Atlantic Bonito

Score now58/100

Local rulesFrance

Today’s verdict

Ranks #352 of 437 spots FishRadar scored worldwide today

In line with this spot’s 7-day average

Score confidence ±4 points, from 8 live signals

The statistical model disagrees with the physics model here today — treat this score with extra caution.

Helping the score most

Water temperature+24.9Chlorophyll+12.6Waves+9.0

Pressure trend

Pressure stable — fish feeding on their usual rhythm

Next solunar peak

dawn 05:39

Current conditions

Sea surface temp	22.7 °C
Wind	20 km/h from SW, gusting 28 km/h
Wave height	0.7 m at 9 s
Current	0.07 m/s toward SW
Pressure	1017 hPa
Cloud cover	100%
Chlorophyll	3.47 mg/m³
Salinity	34.5 PSU
Mixed-layer depth	7 m
UV index	0
Precipitation (24h)	0.2 mm
Wind sea	0.3 m at 2 s
Ground swell	0.5 m at 9 s from W
Current shear (surface vs 50 m)	0.07 → 0.00 m/s

The water here is 5.0 °C warmer than the September average of 17.7 °C. Warmer-than-normal water pushes cool-water species deeper and brings warm-water species in earlier than the calendar suggests. The water is mixed to about 39.4 m, with the thermocline below that.

Updated 1 h ago.

What the score means at La Rochelle Bay of Biscay

La Rochelle Bay of Biscay currently scores 58 out of 100 (Good). Water temperature is 22.7 °C. 8 forecast signals are active in this score.

Water temperature +24.9: how close the water is to this species mix’s comfort band
Chlorophyll +12.6: plankton density — the base of the food chain
Waves +9.0: swell energy stirring the water column
Wind +8.0: surface chop, oxygen and bait drift
Current +7.5: moving water concentrates bait
Barometric pressure +3.3: falling pressure often triggers feeding

What’s biting now

The model expects today: european-seabass, atlantic-mackerel, atlantic-bonito, ballan-wrasse, cuckoo-wrasse, thicklip-grey-mullet, red-gurnard, common-sole

Bite windows

Moon

Waning Crescent · 15% lit

Solunar day rating

50 / 100

Best months for La Rochelle Bay of Biscay:

Score history at this spot

30 days tracked at this exact location

Best recent day: 2026-08-28, 68/100

+5 points vs the same day last week

About this spot

Water type

Sea

Open coastal saltwater — conditions and safety depend heavily on the live wind, wave, and tide forecast, so check them before you head out.

Access & shore

Fishable from shore · offshore-only

What you can catch

European Seabass

Dicentrarchus labrax
Atlantic Mackerel

Scomber scombrus
Atlantic Bonito

Sarda sarda
Pollock

Pollachius pollachius

Best months by species at La Rochelle Bay of Biscay

European SeabassDicentrarchus labrax
Atlantic MackerelScomber scombrus
Atlantic BonitoSarda sarda
PollockPollachius pollachius

Typical months; local seasons and closures apply.

Local regulations

Ministère de la Transition écologique, de la Biodiversité, de la Forêt, de la Mer et de la Pêche

France

Species	Bag limit	Min size	Open season
European SeabassRegulation (EU) 2019/1241, Annex VI, Part A (Annex VII for Biscay, Annex IX for the Mediterranean)	—	min 42 cm	—
EU minimum conservation reference size for seabass differs by sea basin (Regulation (EU) 2019/1241): 42 cm in North Western Waters — the Channel and Brittany, ICES sub-area 7 — under Annex VI; 36 cm in South Western Waters — the Bay of Biscay, ICES sub-area 8 — under Annex VII; and 25 cm in the Mediterranean under Annex IX. FishRadar shows the strictest of the three. The northern seabass stock also has an annual recreational closed season and a daily bag limit set each year by EU/national measures, plus mandatory RecFishing catch declaration. Verify current limits before fishing.
PollockRegulation (EU) 2019/1241, Annex VI, Part A	—	min 30 cm	—
EU minimum conservation reference size in North Western Waters is 30 cm (Regulation (EU) 2019/1241, Annex VI, Part A). Pollack is also a sensitive species subject to reinforced recreational measures and RecFishing declaration in France.

Licensing:

saltwater-recreational — residents No paid licence for recreational sea fishing. From 2026, anglers aged 16+ must register every 12 months and declare daily catches of sensitive species (e.g. European seabass) via the EU RecFishing app. Minimum sizes, gear and zone/season restrictions apply., non-residents Same RecFishing registration and reporting obligations apply to non-residents fishing recreationally in French waters.
freshwater-recreational — residents Inland/freshwater fishing requires a "carte de pêche" from a local AAPPMA angling association (national network at cartedepeche.fr)., non-residents Non-residents need the same "carte de pêche" (annual, holiday or daily options available).

Some rules may have changed since our last verification — always confirm with the authority before you fish.

FishRadar regulations are summaries for informational purposes only. French recreational fishing rules are set nationally and by EU regulations (including seabass measures and Mediterranean minimum sizes), and vary by area and season. Always verify with the Ministère de la Mer at mer.gouv.fr before fishing.