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Sea bass fishing
The Cherbourg Open Labrax is a major competition for sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) fishing at sea, by boat, using a "no-kill" system: the fish are kept alive on board, measured, then immediately returned to the water to preserve the resource.
Each centimeter above the legal height (42 cm) earns one point, and the cumulative total of measurements at the end of the heats determines the final ranking, making this a highly technical event in which the choice of spots, lures and animations is decisive.
Boating and fishing
The event is supported by Cherbourg Action Pêche Plaisance and Cherbourg Plaisance/Cotentin Nautic, and is part of the motorboating and fishing dynamic relaunched in Cherbourg since 2025, with a first edition that already brought together several dozen boats and the best national sea bass specialists.
For 2026, there's a clear upswing, with the field almost doubled in size and a host of partners from the boating and fishing worlds, including Mercury, which is particularly keen to promote this event as a showcase for modern, friendly and responsible fishing.
The public will be able to enjoy the show in port, particularly during the early morning departures of the boats and their return to the quayside, in a secure fishing zone limited to around 3 nautical miles offshore, keeping the action close to Cherbourg while offering great opportunities to catch big bass.
For lure fishing enthusiasts and the curious alike, this mid-May rendezvous promises to be a highlight of the NordâeurosCotentin boating season, combining performance, team spirit and respect for the marine environment.
