HOME

 Go for Gold: Catch yourself a Gilthead Sea Bream

Local Accommodation Les Glycines B&B Angling Permit and Guide Information Contact Us Fishing Licences Fishing Guide Rates About your Guide FAQs Sheet Fishinista Trophy Gifts on sale Seabass Lure Fishing Articles in Finistère, Brittany Irish Angler May '10 Irish Angler June '10 Irish Angler July '10 Tackle Test Articles   Shimano Jigging test Shaky Cam Fishing Video Clips Rainbow on Fly David's Rainbow Photo Galleries Coare fishing gallery Seafishing gallery Rainbow trout Atlantic salmon Allis shad Sea basses on fly Pike,zander,perch Fly and Lure  Fishing Selector Sea bass fly fishing Autumn sea bass Shad fly fishing Mullet fly fishing Wild brownies Mackerel & Jacks Salmon fishing Reservoir rainbows Estuary rainbows Pike fly fishing Bleak on the fly Black bass on the fly River Coarse Fishing Selector Steve's River PBs Bream fishing Paul's Bream Dream Carp fishing Roach/other coarse Fishing for kids Predator Lure Fishing Selector Pike fishing Zander fishing Perch fishing Lake Guerledan Beach and Boat  Sea Anging Selector Shore fishing Sea bass fishing Pollack fishing Wrasse fishing Gilthead sea bream Sea bream fishing Squid & Cuttlefish Professonal Fly Casting & Fishing Tuition Tying the Perfection Loop knot French to English Fisherman's Glossary

With the right tackle and knowledge, you too can catch this gold-headed Prize! In Brittany, while others around you are going crazy trying to locate and catch the ever popular sea bass, there is a lesser-known treasure lurking in the same waters which is prized, not only for its quality on the table, but for it blistering runs and 'Hell Boy' fighting ability. This beast is known locally as the Dorade Royale (Royal Sea bream). To English speakers it is known as the Gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata). So how do you know if you have indeed caught the 'golden one'? As shown by the specimen bream above, look for a thick irregular ribbon of gold which is located between and behind the eyes near the top of the gill cover (operculum). Normally, these fish will also have a splash of black on the top of the gill cover along with some bright orange on the fringes of the gill plate below. If you look inside its formidable jaws you will also see loads of irregularly-sized 'cobbles' (pavement-like teeth) which informs the angler that it can handle most if not all hard-bodied naturals you can throw at this stunner of a sea bream species. Move aside black and red sea bream and make  way for Royalty! Sam's friend,Vincent, with  one of many giltheads to his name Surfcasting equipment with long rods and suitable (spinning or multiplier) reels packed with good abrasion resistant monofilament are by far the best way to tackle up for these fish. Vincent (pictured above) normally digs his bait on sandy beaches near his fishing marks an hour or so before low tide. He then starts fishing at low tide for around three hours (depending on tidal flow) to allow for a safe return to the higher ground. He also recommends fishing the large spring tide to ensure that the gilthead angler has access to places where these fish are not normally pursued. Leave and fish again another day! When fishing rocky points or sand bars far from the main shore, please make sure that you plan a good route back to safe higher ground before arriving at your mark because the water may fill the swim quite quickly. Arrive at your mark before low tide and map out how far the water has receded, then determine via landmarks how much was can return before you must leave. If you are a weak swimmer or cannot swim, I recommend that you wear a tubular life vest (as worn by loch-style trout anglers) which can inflate automatically or manually via a lanyard located on the vest. With strong Breton tides it is always best to be safe to fish again another day.   Vincent sporting a great brace of Breton bream! Good Gilthead sea bream baits are best dug up or caught fresh on the day. Vincent's favourite offerings include: large lug and rag worms, razor and soft-shell clams. Don't forget to try crabs and prawns too as the mouth of the gilthead is constructed to take on any armoured prey. Place your baits on sharp robust hooks as the mouth of a gilthead will snap through thinner hooks like tooth picks with its gob full of pavement, not unlike the cobbles in the above picture. Once you cast out to a promising site do remember to put some slack back into the line by gently pulling it off of the reel as these fish are sensitive feeders. Any real resistance will send them barrelling for deeper water. Vincent goes a bit further by loosening the drag so when the fish hits the bait, it will not feel any resistance, thereby allowing him to stealthily tighten his drag before the hook-set--a very exciting way to deal with this rock-crushing finned-missile. Watch this space for more details coming soon. © 2011 Fishinista.com (all rights reserved)