Milder temperatures
It's that time of year that lure anglers hate, the time of year when it's freezing and lure fishing is closed in almost all French inland waters. It's true that you can find a few private lakes or go to the seaside, but you need to be well equipped and ready to face the sometimes extreme, often harsh winter conditions.
For those lucky enough to be able to travel, the best option is to fly to a tropical destination in search of warmer temperatures and new fish.
Guadeloupe and its many species
Guadeloupe, a French overseas department, offers a wide variety of ecosystems and fish species. Fishing takes place mainly at sea, but also in freshwater. You can indulge your passion all year round, day and night, and you don't need a fishing licence. Just be aware of the natural park zones and the "chloredecone" reserves (a persistent insecticide present in the eastern part of basse-terre) before casting your line.
For those who would like to keep a fish to eat, you should also consult the list of species contaminated with ciguatera (toxic micro-algae) to avoid poisoning yourself, and of course respect the legal catch sizes.
All fishing techniques
A multitude of spots are accessible from the shore: rivers, sandy and pebble beaches, flats, river mouths, canals, mangroves, harbors, riprap or cliffs. There's something for every taste and technique. The boat gives much better access to the mangroves and allows you to go looking for fish in lagoons, passes, on drop-offs and FADs (Fish Aggregating Devices).
Numerous fish lurk around the coasts, the best known being tarpon, snook, trevally and large barracuda. There are plenty more to discover.
Lure fishing with a light cast is very effective, but you can also practice with a fly or surfcast. You can't necessarily expect to catch big fish, but one thing's for sure: if you put your mind to it, you'll rarely come up empty-handed. And there's always the chance of a pleasant surprise.
Winter is not the best time of year, as temperatures drop a little here too (water between 24 and 26° and air between 20 and 27°), but there are always active fish, and the pleasure of fishing in a t-shirt and swimming shorts is sure to lift the spirits of any chilly angler.
