From Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer to Saint-Raphaël, via Toulon, Hyères, Le Lavandou or Saint-Tropez, there are many fishing spots in the department. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced fisherman, the Var coasts will easily allow you to indulge your passion. Two main biotopes are to be distinguished in order to understand the sea fishing in the Var. Indeed, either you can fish from rocky coasts or from a sandy beach.
Which species to look for on the rocky coast in the Var?
The rocky coast is by far the most common and the richest area for fish, so it's best to fish these diverse areas if you want to maximize your chances of success. Rock fish are by definition the most present species. Scorpionfish, various wrasses, gobies, or other snappers and girelles populate the rocky bottom. They are very aggressive and opportunistic fish, especially when the waters start to warm up. Wolffish, dorado or other sars also frequent these areas rich in food. If you want to confront larger fish such as pelagic species, you will have to look for spots with larger bottoms, the numerous islands of Var, Porquerolles, les Embiez, or the peninsulas of Giens and Saint-Mandrier, are good places to meet pelamids, barracudas or bonito in the hunt.
Which species are sought on the sandy beaches in the Var?
The sandy beaches are numerous in the Var, you will find different species of fish. Mullet, wolffish and sea bream, known as white fish, are the three main species to be caught from the beaches of the Var. As flatfish are not very present, it is very difficult to target them, even if you can sometimes find some nice soles. In areas with a mixed biotope, or for example at the entrance of the ports, you will be able to fish for most of the species mentioned above.
With what techniques?
Most techniques can be used to fish from the shore in the department. On the rocky coast, lure fishing techniques such as rockfishing make it easier to have fun thanks to the numerous catches. You can also fish with worms, shrimps or mussels as bait. On the sandy beaches, surfcasting remains the most popular technique. The baits to be favored are marine worms, bibis, mourrons or hard worms.
Areas closed to fishing
Be careful, the Var department includes some places where fishing at sea is forbidden. Of course, the island of Port-Cros, classified as a national park, where all forms of fishing are strictly forbidden, but also many military grounds along the coast where it is forbidden to access and therefore to fish.
