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Best saithe (coalfish) lakes in France

63 France waters hold saithe (coalfish), 63 mapped with real state-agency depth surveys. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality, leading with the waters in our reviewed search catalog — open any water to see exactly where to fish it: depth contours, scored spots with plain-English reasons, seasonal windows and bait picks. A powerful North Atlantic schooling predator that follows herring and other small fish across current-washed coastal points, steep walls and offshore banks.

1. Baie d’Audierne — South East — 342 ft max · survey depth data · Garfish, European Seabass, Common Sole, Thick-lipped Grey MulletWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites, 6 carry-in or shore-oriented
2. Iroise Sea — South West 3 — 203 ft max · survey depth data · Garfish, European Seabass, Common Sole, Thick-lipped Grey MulletWhy #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites, 3 carry-in or shore-oriented
3. Iroise Sea — North West 3 — 331 ft max · survey depth data · Garfish, European Seabass, Common Sole, Thick-lipped Grey MulletWhy #3: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites, 6 carry-in or shore-oriented
4. Côte de Granit Rose — North West — 257 ft max · survey depth data · Garfish, European Seabass, Common Sole, Thick-lipped Grey MulletWhy #4: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites, 2 carry-in or shore-oriented
5. Côte de Granit Rose — North Central — 251 ft max · survey depth data · Garfish, European Seabass, Common Sole, Thick-lipped Grey MulletWhy #5: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 5 public access sites, 5 carry-in or shore-oriented
6. Concarneau and Bénodet Coast — South West 2 — 211 ft max · survey depth data · Garfish, European Seabass, Common Sole, Thick-lipped Grey MulletWhy #6: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites, 6 carry-in or shore-oriented
7. Baie d’Audierne — North Central — 262 ft max · survey depth data · Garfish, European Seabass, Common Sole, Thick-lipped Grey MulletWhy #7: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
8. Iroise Sea — South West 4 — 130 ft max · survey depth data · Garfish, European Seabass, Common Sole, Thick-lipped Grey MulletWhy #8: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites, 6 carry-in or shore-oriented
9. Lorient and Groix Coast — South West 2 — 238 ft max · survey depth data · Garfish, European Seabass, Common Sole, Thick-lipped Grey MulletWhy #9: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites, 4 carry-in or shore-oriented
10. Concarneau and Bénodet Coast — South West 3 — 202 ft max · survey depth data · Garfish, European Seabass, Common Sole, Thick-lipped Grey MulletWhy #10: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites, 6 carry-in or shore-oriented
11. Concarneau and Bénodet Coast — South West 1 — 291 ft max · survey depth data · Garfish, European Seabass, Common Sole, Thick-lipped Grey MulletWhy #11: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites, 4 carry-in or shore-oriented
12. Quiberon and Belle-Île — South West 1 — 268 ft max · survey depth data · Garfish, European Seabass, Common Sole, Thick-lipped Grey MulletWhy #12: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites, 2 carry-in or shore-oriented
13. Quiberon and Belle-Île — South West 2 — 215 ft max · survey depth data · Garfish, European Seabass, Common Sole, Thick-lipped Grey MulletWhy #13: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites, 4 carry-in or shore-oriented
14. Quiberon and Belle-Île — Middle West 3 — 84 ft max · survey depth data · Garfish, European Seabass, Common Sole, Thick-lipped Grey MulletWhy #14: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites, 6 carry-in or shore-oriented
15. Iroise Sea — Middle West 3 — 156 ft max · survey depth data · Garfish, European Seabass, Common Sole, Thick-lipped Grey MulletWhy #15: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites, 6 carry-in or shore-oriented
16. Quiberon and Belle-Île — Middle West 4 — 85 ft max · survey depth data · Garfish, European Seabass, Common Sole, Thick-lipped Grey MulletWhy #16: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 5 public access sites, 5 carry-in or shore-oriented
17. Lorient and Groix Coast — South West 3 — 117 ft max · survey depth data · Garfish, European Seabass, Common Sole, Thick-lipped Grey MulletWhy #17: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites, 6 carry-in or shore-oriented
18. Lorient and Groix Coast — South West 4 — 76 ft max · survey depth data · Garfish, European Seabass, Common Sole, Thick-lipped Grey MulletWhy #18: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites, 6 carry-in or shore-oriented
19. Cherbourg and Cap de la Hague — North West — 343 ft max · survey depth data · Garfish, European Seabass, Common Sole, Thick-lipped Grey MulletWhy #19: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites, 2 carry-in or shore-oriented
20. Iroise Sea — Middle West 4 — 151 ft max · survey depth data · Garfish, European Seabass, Common Sole, Thick-lipped Grey MulletWhy #20: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites, 6 carry-in or shore-oriented
21. Cherbourg and Cap de la Hague — North East — 262 ft max · survey depth data · Garfish, European Seabass, Common Sole, Thick-lipped Grey MulletWhy #21: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
22. Cherbourg and Cap de la Hague — North Central — 217 ft max · survey depth data · Garfish, European Seabass, Common Sole, Thick-lipped Grey MulletWhy #22: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites, 2 carry-in or shore-oriented
23. Concarneau and Bénodet Coast — South West 4 — 122 ft max · survey depth data · Garfish, European Seabass, Common Sole, Thick-lipped Grey MulletWhy #23: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites, 6 carry-in or shore-oriented
24. Quiberon and Belle-Île — Middle West 1 — 157 ft max · survey depth data · Garfish, European Seabass, Common Sole, Thick-lipped Grey MulletWhy #24: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites, 2 carry-in or shore-oriented
25. Quiberon and Belle-Île — Middle West 2 — 158 ft max · survey depth data · Garfish, European Seabass, Common Sole, Thick-lipped Grey MulletWhy #25: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites, 6 carry-in or shore-oriented

…plus 38 more France waters holding saithe (coalfish).

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When to fish saithe (coalfish) in France

• Spring 15–160 ft — Locate bait before fishing a current-facing point or steep measured break; school depth matters more than an old waypoint.
• Summer 25–260 ft — Use sonar to follow mobile schools along deep walls and channel mouths, and keep the lure above the marks.
• Fall 20–220 ft — Track herring or other schooling forage through constrictions and work the outside edge rather than driving through the school.
• Winter 45–320 ft — Winter marks are commonly deeper and scattered; confirm a current legal fishery and a real school before committing.

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Saithe (Coalfish) elsewhere: Sweden · United Kingdom · Norway · Ireland · Denmark