La Rochelle Bay of Biscay fishing forecast
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.
Today’s verdict
Trending down — 4 points below 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.
Current conditions
Live conditions are temporarily unavailable for this spot (last data Oct 16, 2026). Seasonal and regulation info below is unaffected.
What the score means at La Rochelle Bay of Biscay
La Rochelle Bay of Biscay currently scores 57 out of 100 (Good). Water temperature is 18.4 °C. 8 forecast signals are active in this score.
- Water temperature +25.0
- how close the water is to this species mix’s comfort band
- Chlorophyll +18.0
- 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
- Barometric pressure +3.3
- falling pressure often triggers feeding
- Current shear +3.0
- surface vs depth current difference
What’s biting now
The model expects today: european-seabass, atlantic-bonito, pollock, ballan-wrasse, cuckoo-wrasse, thicklip-grey-mullet, pouting, red-gurnard
Bite windows
Best months for La Rochelle Bay of Biscay:
Score history at this spot
30 days tracked at this exact location
Best recent day: 2026-09-17, 73/100
1 day(s) at 70+ in the tracked period
About this spot
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 ground
What you can catch
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Dicentrarchus labrax
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Scomber scombrus
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Sarda sarda
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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
| 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.
Check La Rochelle Bay of Biscay before you go
Live scores update through the day. Get the full forecast, bite windows, and your own saved spots in the FishRadar app.
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Nearby spots
Explore 10 more fishing spots within 489 km of La Rochelle Bay of Biscay.
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Arcachon Bay
Dordogne River
Loire River France
Lorient Brittany
Gave de Pau France
Biarritz Basque Coast
Brest Finistere
Brittany Coast
Saone River Lyons
Sete Languedoc
Frequently asked questions
What fish can you catch at La Rochelle Bay of Biscay?
Anglers at La Rochelle Bay of Biscay target European Seabass, Atlantic Mackerel, Atlantic Bonito and Pollock.
When is the best time to fish La Rochelle Bay of Biscay?
The most productive months at La Rochelle Bay of Biscay are typically May, June, July, August, September, October.
What is the fishing forecast for La Rochelle Bay of Biscay right now?
La Rochelle Bay of Biscay currently scores 57 out of 100, based on live ocean and weather conditions — see the full breakdown on this page.
Is the thermocline set up at La Rochelle Bay of Biscay right now?
Not strongly right now — the water column is fairly mixed, so fish are less depth-locked.
Fishing guides for this spot
- How to Catch Atlantic Bonito: Chasing the Autumn SpeedstersHow to Read Tides for FishingHow to Read a Fishing Forecast
Forecasts, not guarantees — check local rules before you fish.