/ 
An exceptional island
Located in front of Saintonge, and connected by a very long bridge to the mainland, Oleron is the largest island of the Atlantic coastline and the second largest French island after Corsica. It is bordered by beaches backed by wooded dunes. The forest covers almost all the southern part of the island.
Its highest point reaches 32 meters and Oleron benefits from a very mild microclimate which gives a Mediterranean aspect to this oyster farming area where oleanders grow. The climatic conditions of this bar across the ocean are differently felt by the marine environment.
The waters of the southern coasts of the island are warm, as a branch of the Golf Stream runs along them. Whereas the waters of the northern coasts are regularly colder by at least 3 to 4°, enough difference to shift the fishing conditions.
The seasonal difference can be estimated at one month for the northern part of the island, which means in practice that the fish come to the coast one month later. This difference is also an interesting fishing advantage, because at the same time, we have a wider range of action, since we can fish in waters with different temperatures. This increases the chances of catching more different species during the same period.
In addition, the island forms a sort of immense bay to the north-east with the Pertuis d'Antioche, a privileged spot for shark fishing. There is also a sandy-muddy plateau at the mouth of the Charente river, a favourite spot for mullet, bass and flatfish among others.
Multiple fisheries for all
In the south-east of the island, there is a very fishy area but dangerous to fish with a boat with low engine power. It is composed from north to south by the Oleron current and by the Maumusson inlet.
This zone, where the waters are well channeled by long sandbanks and which reach high speeds especially at ebb tide, is a real refectory for fish. Indeed, the contribution of alluvial deposits loaded with food coming from the Seudre attracts numerous species. When fishing from the shore, one must be careful not to be isolated by the rising waters.
The first fisheries are those of shellfish and other crustaceans, because Oleron is infested with them: clams, cockles, razor clams and clams, without forgetting the curlers and the crab. The best spots are the coasts of St Trojan and Boyardville.
We also catch beautiful shrimps around the mussel or oyster beds between the Château d'Oléron and the Pointe de Perrotine.
Fishing from the shore on the island of Oleron
From the shore, you can fish with support or casting from the rocks, or with surfcasting and line fishing. This technique is very successful on the island on the small sandy corridors between two rocky masses. The list of possible catches is as follows: bass, mullet, conger eel, horse mackerel, flatfish, rays, bream, olds, pout and red mullet.
On the western side, we often catch speckled bass, while in the inner areas of the island, around the bouchots and oyster beds, we find gilthead bream and turbot. Not to mention eels, which can be found in good density in the smallest channel, especially around Saint-Pierre d'Oléron and on both sides of the Oléron bridge.
For sport fishermen looking for big hits, the best points are the point of Gatseau for all the species that come to eat in the currents of the Pertuis de Maumusson. The rocks in front of the Biroire are interesting to fish for conger eels and old fish, and the cove of Marais Salé for thin fish. The point of Chassiron, as for it, allows to fish big bass in the buldo. The beach between the Baudissère and La Brande contains beautiful flatfish in high coefficient seas.
Fishing by boat around the island of Oleron
By boat, in September, we hang out in front of the west coast to catch bonito and albacore, but also sea bass, which are in good density all around the island.
Ãeuros support the pit of the Antioch channel, the main catches are blue sharks and threshers. There are also very beautiful conger eels, pollack and cod in winter.
In the huge eastern bay, we catch sea breams, turbots and soles near the island. For rays and sea bass, it is necessary to fish further offshore, especially on the bank of Lamouroux at the exit of the current of Oléron.
