A shark that's harmless to humans
Support fishing for small dogfish is very popular on the Atlantic coast. The small dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula). A member of the shark family, harmless to humans, it reaches an average length of 60 cm, with a maximum length of 80 cm and a weight of 3 kg. It has an elongated brown body mottled with dark brown and black on top, with light gray to white shades on its flanks. Its mouth is below the head, linked to the nostrils by a curved line. Its skin is very abrasive and was even used by carpenters as sandpaper. It can live for around 70 years. It prefers sandy or stony bottoms, with a preference for bottoms with algae. Its color blends in with the bottom, making it an excellent camouflage to surprise its prey. It can be found at depths of up to 400 m. It's a gregarious animal, and doubling up is not uncommon in this type of fishing.
Robust, powerful equipment
The equipment will consist of a short boat rod between 1.80 m and 2.20 m, rated at 100 to 250 grams with a spinning reel fitted with 30 to 40 hundredths. A 2 or 3-stack leader will be offered with a drag in the last stack to quickly find out how the fish are holding on the bottom. You can add phosphorescent red pearls in front of your hooks for added attraction, triggering more bites. Depending on the tidal range and the strength of the currents, you'll lead your lines with 80 to 200 grams of sinker. Baits include mackerel strips, sardines, worms, snappers, crabs... These baits make up the diet of a carnivorous fish.
Find the right position to record strong hits
The boat will generally be positioned upstream of a rock head to be able to fish behind it and the drop-off. Baiting is done by anchoring a net filled with strouille a good metre above the bottom. This type of fishing can be done all year round, and most of the time, the best fishing takes place at slack tide. Some fish will still be caught on the ebb tide, but in smaller numbers. What's more, mornings are always better than afternoons. The bite is clean and straightforward, and the fight powerful, especially in the case of a double. You'll be amazed at the head strikes, swimming speed and power of the dogfish, and you'll get a real thrill out of it. Don't forget to set your drag so as to work them in gently - it would be a shame to miss such a fish because of a small technical error.
