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Where can you find the nightjar at night?
Well-lit harbor areas are prime hunting grounds. The glow from the streetlights draws small fish together and creates a boundary between light and darkness. Seabream often linger at the edge of this zone, ready to snatch a disoriented prey.
Rocky breakwaters, headlands, beaches near a drop-off, and harbor exits are also worth exploring. As with other types of nighttime shore fishing, it?s best to start close to the shore before increasing your casting distance.
The first hour after sunset is often productive, but fish can remain active for much of the night. The current, the availability of food, and the intensity of the light are more important factors than the moon phase alone.
What equipment should I use?
The best way to fish for severeau is using ?light tackle,? with a sensitive rod measuring 1.80 to 2.40 m that can cast lures weighing just a few grams. A thin braided line, generally between 6/100 and 10/100, improves casting distance and allows for better detection of bites. A fluorocarbon leader of 20 to 25/100 offers a good balance between stealth and strength.
A long-handled landing net is recommended when fishing from piers or seawalls. It prevents you from lifting the fish by the line and minimizes injuries, especially when using nets with the proper mesh size.
The Most Effective Lures
Small soft lures measuring 3 to 7 cm are particularly well-suited. Mounted on light jig heads, they can be worked slowly in the midwater or near the bottom. Shad, pintail, slug, and finesse-style lures mimic the small fish and cephalopods that the black bass preys on.
Compact casting jigs are useful when fish are feeding far from the shore or when wind conditions call for more weight. Shallow-diving lures, on the other hand, allow you to target the upper water column. At night, light, silver, or slightly glow-in-the-dark colors can make it easier to spot the lure without requiring aggressive retrieval.
A slow and methodical animation
The priority is to determine the depth at which the fish are holding. After casting, let the lure sink while controlling the line, then work it with short tugs on the tip. After five to eight movements, guide the lure as it sinks and maintain enough contact to detect bites.
If you don't get any bites, try again by varying the depth: near the surface, in open water, and then near the bottom. Young sea bass may be just below the light halo or a few meters deeper. A steady retrieve, interspersed with pauses, often triggers bites.
When the fish are active, there?s no need to cast very far. Bites can occur just a few meters from your feet, especially along well-lit docks.
Regulations and Safety
Recreational saltwater fishing remains subject to local regulations: minimum size limits, permitted species, port access, and restrictions specific to individual facilities. The horse mackerel is subject to a minimum size limit of 15 cm.
Caution is essential at night. Wear a red headlamp, wear shoes with good traction, and avoid breakwaters that are slippery or exposed to swells. In harbors, respect access restrictions, be mindful of recreational boaters, and stay clear of areas reserved for navigation.
Discreet, fun, and accessible, fishing for night seabream with shore lures is an excellent introduction to light tackle fishing in the Mediterranean. With light tackle, precise casting, and controlled lure action, just a few meters of pier can sometimes yield some wonderful surprises.
