Hello Julien, could you introduce yourself to our readers?
I'm 43 and live near Royan in Charente-Maritime. I'm a member of Team Honda Marine and Savage Gear France. I mainly fish with lures, but also fly and feeder fishing from time to time.
Can you tell us about your early days in fishing?
I caught my first fish on the banks of the Loire during a family summer vacation, and then continued with my dad, notably in the branch of the river that runs through our garden.
When, how and why did you agree to become a Pro-Staff?
The partnership with Honda Marine came about gradually, in collaboration with my dealer Seudre Service in Breuillet (17), who has been with me since the early days of my fishing guide business, and on whom I can rely.
What does being an ambassador mean to you?
For me, being a Honda Marine Ambassador means representing the brand through my activity. I sail more than 500 hours every year, and have logged more than 3,000 hours in a Honda without experiencing any problems. I'm responsible for transporting my family and friends, and in my business I also sail with my customers. For me, it's a guarantee of safety to sail on a Honda Marine-powered boat, so I'm proud to carry the brand and its values through the networks and my professional activity.
What's your fondest memory or anecdote from your time as a Pro-Staff?
One of my fondest memories aboard my Honda boat dates back a few years, when we were off Royan in search of tuna. A hunt broke out nearby, and we cast several times, when suddenly a fin protruded from the surface of the slightly choppy sea... I shout to Léo and Sébastien, who are with me that day, "It's a marlin! I'm overexcited at the sight of this fish, but I don't have a rod armed for it, so we throw our poppers in its direction, and the fish starts chasing my popper, following me all the way to the boat and coming right up beside my Honda! I still have this image in my head, the electric blue fins of this fish swimming right before my eyes... Just long enough for me to try my luck one last time with a different lure, and he disappeared into the depths of the ocean.
What do you think of fishing in France?
When it comes to fishing in France, I have the impression that brands and federations are trying to get things moving and are getting involved in events such as the GPF, the MFC cup, street fishing, etc... All these events that can put fishing in the public eye are very interesting and help people discovering modern fishing techniques to get a different idea of fishing, which helps to rejuvenate the image of fishing in France and make it more dynamic.
Any advice for anglers who want to join a Pro-Staff team one day?
For those wishing to join a team, I think you need to stand out by producing original, polished photos and videos, or by achieving regular results in competitions.
