Fishing at La Tranche-sur-Mer, a simple family activity

During your family vacation at Le Bellevue campsite, we suggest you try out a fun and educational activity, fishing on foot at La Tranche-Sur-Mer in Vendée. Take advantage of the 13,000 meters of beach in this charming seaside resort to help your children discover the riches of the aquatic fauna and the hidden treasures of the coastline.

Alexandre Lamoureux

Fishing on foot, a seaside pastime for young and old alike

Fishing on foot involves collecting shellfish, crustaceans and other small marine inhabitants directly from the beach. This hobby is practiced at low tide, when the water recedes to reveal a vast expanse of sand, rocks and puddles. Equipped with buckets, nets and boots, children explore beaches and rocks in search of shrimp, oysters, cockles, periwinkles and mussels.

Take advantage of your stay at the La Tranche sur Mer campsite to go fishing on foot with the whole family. Imagine the giggles when your budding anglers discover a crab hidden under a rock or try to dig up clams. These fun and educational outings teach them about protecting the marine ecosystem, the coastline and the beach.

Some species are protected, and fishing them is subject to restrictions on size and quantity. Children learn how to observe, capture and release these small marine creatures in their natural habitat.

Prepare for your fishing trip: follow the guide!

Ready for a new seaside experience? Check the tide times on specialized websites or at the reception desk of your family campsite in the Vendée. Ideally, you should arrive an hour before low tide and leave before the water rises. Also check the tidal coefficient. The higher it is (over 70), the more the sea retreats and the larger the fishing area.

For your fishing trips, bring comfortable clothes and boots to avoid slipping. Don’t forget a bucket and, for clams, a fine-mesh bag. Take a rake to dislodge shells buried in the sand and a landing net for small crustaceans. Protect your hands with gloves.

Fishing on foot is subject to strict regulations:

  • Each species has a minimum size that must be respected to avoid harvesting individuals that are too young (4 cm for clams, 2 cm for periwinkles, 5 cm for oysters);
  • fishing is authorized outside the breeding season;
  • Fish only what you can consume, and release unfit catches into the water without harming them;
  • if you move a rock, make sure you put it back in place to preserve the species’ natural habitat.

Shellfish, enjoy your booty at the campsite

Back at your Le Bellevue campsite cottage, the fishermen take over the kitchen! Rinse your shellfish to remove the sand. Clams, cockles and mussels prepared à la marinière are delicious. Shrimps are best pan-fried with a little butter and garlic.

If you don’t find any oysters during your fishing trips to La Tranche-Sur-Mer, don’t despair. Head for the marshes or oyster-farming areas, such as Baie de l’Aiguillon, Barre des Monts, Talmont-Saint-Hilaire near Les Sables-d’Olonne, or further north, Île de Noirmoutier. In the Vendée, your waterside vacations are sure to be full of surprises!

Alexandre Lamoureux