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This is the time when sea bass hunt in tight shoals, especially around estuaries and rocky outcrops s . But beware: as temperatures drop and the tides rise, you'll need to adapt your summer techniques to make the most of your last outings before the winter break.
Understanding fall sea bass: behavior and habitats
Where can I find it?
In October-November, sea bass gradually leave shallow waters for deeper depths (10âeuros30 m) where he hunts for sand eels, shrimp and small fish. Three key zones :
- Current breaks bars gather here to save energy.
- Estuaries rich in food, they attract predators at high tide.
- Ports and dikes artificial structures shelter prey (crabs, young mullets) that are a feast for sea bass.
When to fish?
- Ideal hours : 2 hours before and after slack water (sea bass hunt on the prowl).
- Tides : Choose coefficients > 70 (strong currents activate predation).
- Weather : Avoid days of easterly wind (cold water reduces activity). A covered sky is perfect: the subdued light makes the lures more believable.
Attention in the Mediterranean, sea bass (wolffish) remain active later in the season (until December), but are concentrated near the posidonia meadows .
Techniques and lures: what really works in autumn
Lure fishing: the winning trio
| Lure | Why does it work? | Animation | Ideal spotlight |
| Delalande Fire Eel (13 or 18 cm) | Perfect imitation of the sandeel, favorite prey. | Slow retrieve (bring back in slow jerks). | Rocky bottoms, wrecks. |
| HEDDON Super Spook 12.5 cm (floating) | Erratic swimming that provokes the attack. | Twitching (irregular shaking). | Turbid waters, ports. best in calm weather |
| Goes down fast, ideal for bottoms. | Hopping (jerky jumps) or linear | Breakage, strong currents, hunting. |
Mistakes to avoid too large lures (> 15 cm). In autumn, bass prefer medium-sized prey . The only exception is if you're looking for your record-breaking bass, which can succumb to a very large lure
3 mistakes that scare off bars
- Noise and sudden movements :
- A bar hears your footsteps on the pebbles more than 20 m away . Solution : Come closer neoprene socks and launch with your back to the wind. The same goes for boats: take care with your daggerboards, go wide and don't slam the boxes on board
- Wrong fishing depth :
- In autumn, 90% of hits occur less than 3 m from the bottom . Use the right weight to make your lure swim at the right depth, without restricting its movements. Start light and gradually increase the weight
- Neglecting regulations :
- Check the regulations in the area where you're fishing, and don't forget that sea bass migrate to spawn. Each bass released means thousands more fertilized eggs.
Cooking sea bass: express recipe and storage
But we're also here to treat our taste buds, so I've come up with a simple and effective late-season recipe: Grilled sea bass with citrus and herbs (10 min).
Ingredients (for 2) :
- 2 sea bass fillets (300 g each).
- 1 lemon, 1 orange.
- Olive oil, thyme, rosemary.
- Guérande salt.
Preparation :
- Brush fillets with olive oil.
- Add lemon/orange zest + herbs.
- Cook 4 min per side over high heat (grill or frying pan).
Variant replace the lemon with yuzu for a more exotic taste (I love it)
It's up to you!
October-November offer the last opportunities of the year to capture large bass. With the proper techniques (slow lures, fishing close to the bottom) and in in compliance with regulations your outings will be 100% successful .
