Different objectives
Last year, almost 1,300 fish were tagged, including 300 during the challenge day on September 06. The objectives of this project are :
- Improve knowledge of the movements of spotted sandpipers in Atlantic and Channel waters (extent of movements, migratory routes).
- Characterize the function of estuarine areas during the species' life cycle.
- Encourage recreational anglers to modify their practices to ensure optimal release of outfalls.
- Raise awareness among sea users and the general public of the importance of taking action to conserve this species.
Fishing for emissoles
As a result, the conditions were ripe for my first session dedicated to the project. It all started the day before with a harvest of green crabs, the main prey of these small sharks. The rig is quite simple, a sliding rig, with a 60 to 80 gram pear sinker depending on the current. I fish drifting and am therefore limited by tidal coefficients. A 1.20 m drag with a 3 or 4/0 circle hook. The green crabs are quite big, which allows me to select the prettiest fish.
We launched in the early hours of the morning to take advantage of the relative coolness. The first hits were not long in coming, I missed 3 fairly quickly and then picked up one under the kayak. Something wasn't right. I decide to change the way I hook the crab. I hook almost at the touch to avoid the fish going too deep, the aim being to release it in top form after marking. I soon get another bite after this change of method, and this time it's a good one.
The fight with these fish is always heavy and brutal, especially as soon as she sees the light of the surface. In the video attached at the end of this article, I show this first fish and the various stages before release. As you can see, this emissary has done me in with the landing net... Two more fish will follow before I head off to the edges of the lake in search of a cool breeze on the shady bank. I take the opportunity to have a snack break. I'll also pick some samphire, of which there are quite a few in the area, delicious in mashed potatoes or mashed potatoes.
After this refreshing break, I set off again for another hour, as it was too hot to stay any longer. I landed another fish that wouldn't get off the bottom and scored a fine 4th emissole, not bad for the outcome of this first 2025 session. The balance 104 cm for 3,950 kg, 93 cm for 2,785 kg, 94 cm for 2,960 kg, 104 cm for 4,840 kg (this one's pretty round).
New edition
A new edition of the challenge émissole is scheduled for early September, and there are still a few places left. You can do it by boat, kayak or even from the shore.
As you can see from the video, these fish are pretty nice to look for in a kayak. Last week, a 1.44 m fish was tagged on this same spot by Brest fishing guide Vincent Ottmann.
