A prized species
The St. Pierre, Zeus faber, is a marine fish that generally inhabits rocky or sandy bottoms, often at depths ranging from 50 to 300 meters. It is prized for its fine flesh and delicate flavor, making it a fish of choice for many fishermen.
Elevator fishing principle
I wanted to talk a little about fishing techniques today, as everyone is familiar with the elevator technique, which is used mainly offshore, on wrecks in general, in search of very reactive leaches.
Elevator fishing, also known as "vertical fishing" or "waddling", is a sea-fishing technique that involves moving a lure or bait up and down in the water column. This method is particularly effective for targeting fish at different depths, especially those living close to the bottom or in underwater structures.
- Vertical movement: the principle is to let the lure or bait sink to the bottom, then slowly bring it back up with up and down movements. This movement imitates that of wounded or fleeing prey, attracting predatory fish.
- Depth control: by adjusting line length and retrieve speed, anglers can explore different depths to locate fish.
I also use this technique when fishing for sturgeon, with a much slower retrieve than a conventional elevator. The St. Pierre is a magnificent fish, because of its beauty and the size of its mouth, which is as big as half its body. Don't hesitate to put big lures like big shads under its nose.
I mainly use very big shads with a very big tail that will give a lot of vibrations even with a weak retrieve. As far as colors are concerned, the St Pierre mainly likes anything flashy with a reddish-orange tinge. Natural colors also work well. This fish can be found in sandy areas, where it hides its main food and likes to gorge itself on sandeels.
St. Pierre are not necessarily easy to fish, as they are very fussy, sometimes requiring many subtle touches before success is achieved. The fight isn't necessarily as interesting as that of a sea bass, but the impact of the touch can be amusing when you're not expecting it.
I don't fish it very often, because you also have to think about the resource to be able to fish it over several years.
