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Laurent, can you introduce yourself in a few words and tell us what makes you so passionate about nightclub stalking?
I'm 37 years old, originally from the north of Brittany, near Saint-Malo, and now live on the Rhuys peninsula in Morbihan. I've been working for Rodhouse for seven years. I own a RIB that allows me to fish for sea bass and tuna all along the Breton coast. I particularly enjoy fishing for sea bass from the shore at the end of the season, when it gets dark early and is often a good time to catch big fish.
Without giving away all your secrets, how did you manage to specifically target the big fish?
Areas with accelerating currents at the end of bays, estuaries or inland seas are particularly interesting to fish on an ebbing tide. All that remains is to identify the right casting angle and the precise moment of the tide, parameters which vary according to each spot.
The vibration of the lures used also plays a decisive role. A lure that doesn't displace much water will be detected little or not at all by the fish, while a lure that generates too much vibration may provoke bites, but not necessarily from larger fish.
Once you've identified that there are fish on a spot, it's essential to test different vibrational signatures to determine what selects the best fish. It's hard to explain, but certain vibrations are particularly appealing to trophy fish, whereas a similar lure will not produce the same results.
I know you're always on the lookout for innovation. You recently decided to create a rod specially dedicated to this technique. Can you tell us about the genesis of this project?
When you fish at night with a soft lure, you can't see your line, so you need a super-resonant rod, and even more so if there's wind and current. I use a Statement 724 XO (2.30m, 5-25 g), it's incredible because it's very light and you feel absolutely everything.
But on certain spots, I need to cast further and have more length to better control the fight.
So I recently fitted a North Fork Composites SJ 804-1 HM 2.43m 7-28 g blank with xO+ carbon monocoque handle and Fuji Titanium Torzite guides. The result is a powerful, sensitive, light, single-stranded rod measuring 2m66 and weighing just 150g. There's no single-stranded rod of this length on the market, let alone one this light.
If I understand correctly, the rodbuilding enabled you to design THE perfect rod for this technique?
Exactly, I was able to design a rod perfectly suited to my fishing style, using the best possible materials, without making the slightest compromise. I chose the size of the guides, the length of the handle and all the components to create the ultimate rod! To caricature it, you could say I built it for a very specific spot. In fact, I inaugurated it on a nice fish.
Are there any ideal night-time conditions that you systematically seek out (moon, tide, weather)?
The 4 most important factors for sea bass fishing from shore are wind direction, time of year, tidal coefficient and time of tide:
- Wind direction : Westerly and southerly winds are the most favorable. They create swells and often bring precipitation, which slightly clouds the water. In these conditions, sea bass hunt closer to shore, taking advantage of the tinted water to surprise their prey.
- Time of year : Sea bass are fished from the shore from April to December, but the biggest fish are caught from September onwards.
- Tidal range : This is a key factor in choosing the right spot. Some spots operate with the maximum coefficient, while others require a coefficient of less than 100 to avoid an excess of seaweed heckled by the current. In general, I prefer a coefficient of at least 70.
- Tidal moment : I prefer to fish at ebb tide, as most of the spots I know give better results at that time.
Tell us about the selection of lures you used to make these superb catches
All the spots have one thing in common: fishing with soft lures, and more specifically with shads. They're mounted either on Texan VJ36 hooks for linear fishing, or on 10 to 15 g lead heads for fishing in the current. It may come as a surprise, but black lures work best at night. By the way, if Fiiish could market a blue glitter Black Minnow 120, that would be great!
Looking back, what was the biggest turning point in your progress?
My biggest breakthrough came when I met a fishing partner with whom I share all my outings. I recommend fishing in pairs for safety, to understand things more quickly and because it's much more fun to share these moments.
Finally, what advice would you give to an angler who wants to start stalking sea bass at night?
Start by scouting daytime spots, then concentrate your night fishing on those that have shown good results.
In terms of equipment, invest in a quality headlamp (greater than 600 lumens), a resonant fishing rod, and preferably use a 0.35 mm fluorocarbon leader to avoid breaking on the first fish over 70 cm long.
For safety reasons, it's advisable to fish in pairs, to warn someone close to you, and even to wear a lifejacket, as you would on a boat trip.
