an iodized outing!

Foot fishing on the Ile d’Oléron

Oléron wouldn’t be Oléron without fishing! The islanders are used to these long fishing trips at low tide.

If you’re staying in Dolus d’Oléron, in our campsite on the Ile d’Oléron, just a stone’s throw from the beaches, don’t miss out on this great fishing activity! Put on your boots, grab a rake and a basket, and get ready for a few hours of foot fishing.

Then enjoy the fruits of your catch with family and friends in the comfortable kitchen of one of our mobile homes or chalets at Le Montet d’Oléron campsite!

A few tips for successful shore fishing in Oléron

Before you feast, try tolearn the best fishing practices on the island of Oleron, by reading this guide: Guide la Pêche à pied (in French)

TheAtlantic Ocean offers summer visitors a wide range of activities, including foreshore fishing on the Ile d’Oleron.

First of all:

What is foreshore?

Theforeshore lies between the extreme limits of high and low tides. A multitude of small animals take shelter in this natural habitat, such as the shells that emerge from the sand.

Three types of foreshore

The rocky foreshore which, as its name suggests, is dotted with rocks exposed at low tide. Many species live here, as the rocks offer cavities where crustaceans can hide, protected by seaweed. Similarly, shellfish can cling to the rock faces, and shrimp survive in the water holes.

The sandy foreshore is the preferred environment for shellfish, which sink easily into the sand, without predators, where they can wait for the ebb of the rising tide. Since they often lie flush with the ground, they are easy to find. All you need to do is observe, bend down and scrape the sand with a hand grapette or clam knife to find the shells.

In our region, and on the fishing paradise of Oleron Island in particular, you’ll find plenty of them, especially during the spring tides when the sea retreats even further.

The muddy foreshore is a paradise for birds, which find plenty to feed on, and is home to sole, shrimp, clams, etc. The water rises further to the surface than on the sandy foreshore, so you’ll need boots for fishing. This is also where fishers come to find their bait: worms.

So if you’d like to try your hand at fishing on the island of Oleron, book your accommodation in Dolus, in the center of the island, or a campsite close to the sea…