Sea bream fishing: fun in winter too

Sea bream can also be caught in winter. © Benjamin Le Provost

When we think of fishing for sea bream, we often think of spring or summer. This is not the case: this fish is abundant as winter approaches, making for great fishing.

Large numbers of sea bream

Surprising as it may seem, late autumn and early winter are ideal for sea bream fishing.

At this time of year, these fish gather in compact schools, offering anglers exceptional opportunities. On my last outing, my Lowrance HDS 10 Pro echo sounder revealed an impressive shoal.

Capture d'un sondeur montant un très gros banc de dorades.
Capture of a sounder mounting a very large school of sea bream.

This gathering takes place before spawning, which takes place in the middle of winter.

Like many species preparing for reproduction, sea bream become more aggressive and more reactive to prey. It's the perfect time for some great fishing.

Sea bream is a very hardy fish, and no-kill practices are of course possible and recommended wherever possible, always with a view to preserving the resource.

Simple, fun fishing

If there's one species that doesn't require sophisticated equipment, it's sea bream. This fishery is accessible to all and requires only simple, effective rigs.

First of all, you can create a basic rig with a sinker and a stack, to which a size 1 or 2 hook is attached. This set-up is more than enough to trigger the bites.

The second, even simpler option is to use a jig on which you can hook a piece of squid, cockle or mackerel. These three baits are a favourite of sea bream and have the advantage of holding very well on the hook.

Il suffit d'escher un appât directement sur le jig pour le rendre beaucoup plus pêchant.
Simply attach a bait directly to the jig to make it much more fishable.

Sea bream fishing: an excellent learning experience for young and old alike

Once you've located the shoal, you'll be able to make one catch after another. There are plenty of bites, making this fishery ideal for novice anglers.

To catch a sea bream, it's essential to have a good feel for the bite, but also to master the art of hooking. The mouth of this fish is small and relatively hard to bite, requiring precision and timing.

Une fois la technique maîtrisée, les touches s'enchaînent, pour le plus grand plaisir des pêcheurs et des pêcheuses.
Once you've mastered the technique, the bites follow, to the delight of both male and female anglers.

This is an excellent exercise for perfecting technique and developing good reflexes, for beginners and more experienced anglers alike.

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