Fishing in Var benefits from a remarkable variety: sea bass on the rocky stretches of the Maures coast and Cap Nègre, dorade in the Saint-Tropez bay, bonito and amberjack in deeper water, octopus and squid in the calanques, grouper for the lucky ones. Our skippers know the spots and the techniques.
Sea fishing outings are governed by the skipper's professional fishing licence — you fish under his cover. He provides tackle, bait, ice for the catch, and a safety briefing. The boats are equipped with sonar, GPS plotter, fish finder, and basic comfort (sun cover, cooler, toilet).
We offer half-day, full-day, or evening outings. Half-day is most popular for first-timers (€350-500 for 4 people). Full-day for serious fishers (€700-1,200). Evening 'big-game' outings target tuna in summer.
Formats and pricing
Three main formats:
- Half-day coastal fishing (4h, 4 people): €350-500. Sea bass, dorade, octopus.
- Full day big-game (8h): €700-1,200. Tuna, bonito, amberjack.
- Lure fishing for sea bass (4h, 2-3 people): €400-600. Active fishing on rocky stretches.
- Night fishing for squid/octopus (3h evening): €300-450.
- Family fishing (3h easy): €280-400. Simpler techniques for kids and beginners.
Tackle, bait, ice, and the skipper's fee included. Catches are kept by you within legal sizes (some skippers also fillet on return).
Techniques and target species
By season and technique:
- Surface trolling for tuna: June-October. Lure spreader, multiple lines. Tuna 30-100kg possible.
- Jigging for amberjack: spring and autumn. Vertical jigging in 30-50m. Powerful fight.
- Lure casting for sea bass: spring and autumn. Mediterranean coast and Estérel rocks. Active fishing.
- Bottom fishing on artificial reefs: summer. Dorade, sea bream, octopus.
- Pelagic for bonito: summer. Trolling at moderate speed.
- Night fishing for squid: autumn. Multiple jigs, lights.
Best season: April-October for variety. November-March: rougher seas, fewer outings, but tuna possible.
Departure ports
Where to depart from:
- Hyères: closest to Stoechades fishing grounds and Porquerolles.
- Saint-Raphaël: Estérel coast, big-game zones.
- Bandol: Bandol bay, La Ciotat canyon for deep fishing.
- Le Lavandou: wild Maures coast, less fished.
- Saint-Tropez (Cogolin port): Pampelonne, Cap Camarat.
Each port has its specialty grounds. We pair you with the right skipper based on your target species and stay location.
Catches: keep, release, or eat
What you do with the fish:
- Keep: within legal minimum sizes (sea bass 36cm, dorade 23cm, etc.). The skipper guides you on what's legal.
- Release: increasingly common for sea bass and tuna (catch-and-release fishing). Hooked fish quickly released to preserve stocks.
- Eat: some skippers can clean and fillet the catch on return (gratuity expected). Or take it to a restaurant we book — they cook your fish for the dinner.
- Cooking at the villa: many of our partner chefs cook your fresh-caught fish at the villa as part of the evening meal.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a fishing licence?
No — the skipper has the professional fishing licence. You fish under his cover.
Are children welcome?
Yes — many skippers offer family formats. Kids fish themselves, supervised.
Best season?
Sea bass: spring (April-June) and autumn (September-November). Tuna: June-October. Dorade and grouper: summer.
What if we catch nothing?
Possible but rare with our partner skippers. The day is still a beautiful sea outing. No catch-rate guarantee.
Can we eat what we catch?
Yes — most skippers fillet on return (small tip expected). Or we book a restaurant that cooks your catch ('vous apportez le poisson').