It all started in 1999, at that time no diploma was necessary and the French fishing school was looking for instructors to introduce surf-casting on the beaches of Gironde. This will be his first professional experience in the fishing industry.
In 2004, he created the Bord'Eaux Loisir Pêche forum, which he chaired for 10 years and which became a fishing club generating fishing competitions in Gironde. The creation of this forum allowed him to meet many people in the world of fishing, he was then a freelance animator in leisure centers of the Gironde.
In 2005, he decided to become a professional fishing guide.
What training have you taken?
" In 2005, I passed my Brevet Professionnel de la Jeunesse et de l'Éducation Populaire et du Sport (BPJEPS) specializing in fishing (mandatory since 2003). "This training will allow him to teach, supervise and lead this physical and sporting activity in fresh water for a fee. " Once I obtained my diploma, I asked for my professional sports educator card, a process that is done online at eaps.sports.gouv.fr and that allows me to practice my profession in all legitimacy. "
Attracted by sea fishing, Jérôme Rabin passed his Federal Certificate of Sea Fishing Instructor in 2007. This diploma will allow him to teach sea fishing, to lead sea fishing trips and to work for fishing clubs.
Of course, the coastal sea license is essential. Jérôme has a coastal, deep-sea and river license. He also has first aid training.
" In 2012, I completed my training by obtaining an additional unit entitled "fishing in the sea" which has become mandatory to be able to take people on board a boat and offer fishing courses at sea. "The fishing guide instructor does not need to pass his Captain 200, because he depends on the youth of popular education and sports and not on maritime affairs.
After several years as a self-employed fishing guide, Jérôme Rabin has been working since 2017 for the company Ile de Ré Nautisme, which offers training courses and sea fishing trips on the island of Ré.
What is your daily routine?
" I lead fishing trips at sea. I take trainees (group of 5 people) on a Rhea 900 "Écume de Ré" from the port of Saint Martin de Ré for lure fishing training sessions. I organize, I supervise and I lead the fishing trip by sharing my know-how and my knowledge of the aquatic environment. My objective is that my trainees return to the port with a technical baggage and of course fish, while respecting the regulations! "
What are the skills required to work as a fishing guide?
According to Jérôme, to practice this profession, you must first have technical skills. " It is necessary to know perfectly its environment, to know where to look for the fish via different reading techniques: sounder, weather, water currents, swell, maps... It is also necessary to know all the techniques of fishing: holding the rod, knots, removing a hook, lures to be adapted according to the type of fish or the relief in which the fishing is carried out. "
Other skills are required, and they concern soft skills. " You must be very pedagogical and know how to explain techniques clearly, know how to adapt your explanations, because there may be difficulties in understanding depending on the trainees. You must be sociable, because you are in direct contact with new people every day. You have to know how to stay optimistic and motivate the group when it doesn't bite right away. "
" Moreover, it is important to always be one step ahead of the animation in order to be able to bounce back according to the situation. We are the actors of the animation. When the fishing is difficult, we have to take the trainees to another spot while not moving too far away, because there is the constraint of the tides. "
What are your responsibilities?
- " I am responsible for my work tools: maintenance of the boat, maintenance of the fishing equipment, management of orders. "
- " I am responsible for the crew that I take on fishing trips. "
- " I am responsible for the turnover of my activity, I must be a source of proposal and I communicate on my activity via social networks. "
What are the possible evolutions concerning your job?
" My job can evolve in terms of fishing courses that I will lead. In particular, I am developing big game fishing trips, to take trainees more than 6 miles from the coast to fish for tuna or shark. To complete my activity, I could take the Brevet d'aptitude à la conduite de petit navire (one month training). This would allow me to offer trips at sea within 6 miles of the coast for small groups of less than 6 people, but it would only be a trip without fishing. "
