 
|
Sought-after
Fishes around La Ciotat.
Various species of fishes can be found around La ciotat,
here are some of the most sought by the fishermen.
|
|
1.-
The Mediterranean Blue Fin Tuna
The blue fin tuna is undoubtedly the largest fish you can fish
off our Mediterranean coasts. It is a predator at the top of
the food chain. Always in search of food, it must move constantly,
without resting on the bottom. It can be found in the Mediterranean,
the Pacific, the Atlantic and the Indian Ocean. The migrations
of tunas are dictated by the presence of the fish they eat,
and by the return to tropical water where they reproduce. The
tuna moves in shoals, close to the surface. The young specimens,
mingle in shoal with other tunas of the same size. They
stay in hot water, whereas the adults have to go in cold water
to find food.
It generally measures between 1 to 2 m and weighs from 100 to
180 kg. It can reach a maximum length of more than 4 m and a
weight of more than 900 kg.
The anatomy of its fins (fins in the style of a sail, horizontal
careens located on both sides of the caudal fin), and the presence
of haemoglobin in its blood allowing it to give quick oxygene
to its muscles, make it a very fast (up to 110 km/h) and very
powerful swimmer (acceleration capacity higher than a Porsche).
Its vivacity and combativeness are always very appreciated by
the big-game-fishermen.
In summer, the tuna approaches our coasts, and at the end of
summer and especially in October, it is easy to see very large
specimens coming very close to the edge and particularly at
night. Contrary to other fishes, the blue fin tuna has diurnal
and night lives. It is possible to observe it during night huntings,
with the guaranty of a memorable spectacle. When the Tuna hunts,
either it captures its preys directly, or it jumps out of water
to fall down on the shoal and to daze some fish which it eats
then quietly.
Period of fishing: March to December.
|
2.-
The bonito
The bonito is a migrating fish, living in shoal, looking
like its cousin the tuna, because of its elongated body.
Its head is pointed and its eyes are relatively small.
Its lower jaw counts between 20 and 26 fine and sharp-edged
teeth, the first are much larger and directed backwards.
The spacing between the teeth is irregular.
There are 3 bonito species:
- The bonito with striped back (Sarda sarda)
It is the most widespread species in the Mediterranean.
Its silver-blue back is scratched by 5 to 11 oblique longitudinal
bands which fade on the sides. Its belly and its sides
are pearly-white. The young bonitos have a different colouring
with more transverse bands.
- The bonito with striped belly (katsuwonus pelamis)
- The thonine (euthynnus alleteratus) which is distinguished
from bonito by irregular marblings on the back and dark
tasks on the thorax.
The bonito is a predator which only hunts during the day.
It is a fish which likes hot water between 12° and
27°. So it is present in summer in the Mediterranean
littoral zone and begins its migration to the south about
middle of autumn Despite that, many shoals are present
during all winter, staying a little further away from
the coast. They are less active than in summer, but hunting
trips are organized in the beginning, middle and end of
the day, with a depth higher than 15 meters.
It eats small fishes and small molluscs (squids, cuttlefish,
anchovy, sardines, mackerels..)
It measures maximum 1 meter, for 10 kg. Its growth is
very fast (30 to 35 cm when three months old). The bonito
reproduces from April to June and the female lays of 400,000
to 500,000 eggs. |
|
|
Its
combativeness and its abundance close to our coast make
of it a very sought fish and enjoyed by sporting fishermen.
Period of fishing: July to August -
Winter |
|
|
3.-
The Alamco jack
With its tapered body, its short and abrupt head ending in a powerful
jaw, the Alamco jack has all the characteristics of a frightening
predator.
Its back is gray-brown and sometimes bluish gray. The caudal fin
is transparent, the other fins are often bluish. The sides are
clear and pearlescent, the belly is white. The young specimens
have yellowish back and sides with some vertical marks. The top
of the head is dark. Unlike the bar jack, with which it is often
confused, the Alamco jack has a brownish trail on the basis
of the mouth going up behind the eye. Generally between 80 and
120 cm, the most current specimens fished oscillate between 2
and 20kg but the largest specimens can go until 50 kg.
Living in small shoals of some individuals, the Alamco jacks are
living on the edges of underwater cliffs. They often stay close
to the bottom (until -400m) but hunt on surface . Its reproduction
takes place on our coasts at the end of spring and at the end
of summer. Sometimes the young ones and other of average size
come to venture, during summer, in the mouths of the rivers and
the piers and even on the beaches, to hunt. Very voracious fish,
They eat pelagic fish (sardines anchovy , chinchards), squids
and shrimps. The presence of the Alamco jack in the Mediterranean
is in constant growth. |
|
Sporting
Fish sought for the trophy it represents, the most effective
technique for the Alamco jack remains the trolling
fishing with alive bailt, near an edge or a head of
immersed rock. If you are lucky enough to fall on a
surface hunting, you will be able to try to capture
this fish with a pencil popper imitating an needlefish
(surface cruiser, cotton cordel). Broumé fishing
gives also very good results on the Alamco jack.
Period of Fishing : september to october.
|
|
4.-
The Barracuda
The barracuda is a fish with a lengthened and cylindrical
powerful body, with a greenish back striped of black,
and a silver belly. The barracuda has a prominent jaw
and its pointed teeth give him a resemblance to the pike.
In the Mediterranean, it measures between 60 cm to 1.20
m for a varying weight from 5 to 12 kg.
Since more than one decade, the barracuda haunts our coasts,
and nobody knows exactly where it comes from.The cause
is perhaps the reheating of the Mediterranean or a migration
via the Suez Canal, but a thing is sure: today the barracudas
are increasingly numerous and the records of size and
weight are always in evolution on the Mediterranean coast.
There are 5 species of Barracuda in the Mediterranean
(Mediterranean Barracuda - Barracuda chrysotaenia - yellow
Barracuda tail - Bécune blunt - Barracuda with
yellow mouth) smaller than the African species which measures
up to 2,20 m for 50 kg.
This full water fish lives between 0 and 75 m of depth.
It frequents all types of biotope (harbours, coastal water,
estuaries, lagoons) according to its size (the small ones
and the middle-sized prefer the ports with deep water).
Frightening predator, famous for its voracity, the barracuda
eats mullets, garfishes, squids, shrimps… The fish
of small size move in small groups whereas the large specimens
are rather solitary. |
|
|
The
barracudas reproduce at the end of May. The females
will then carry 250 000 eggs until the end of the summer.
The type of fishing privileged to capture this fish
is drag fishing with lure.
Period of fishing : may to august.
|
|
|
