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Best thornback ray lakes in France

231 France waters list thornback ray (official records or labelled estimates), 231 mapped with survey or official-chart depth data. 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 bottom-feeding skate of sand, mud and mixed ground that uses outer estuary banks, channel shoulders and tide-swept holes.

1. Saint-Tropez and Fréjus Coast — North East — 7266 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Bluefish, Garfish, European Seabass, Common SoleWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites, 6 carry-in or shore-oriented
2. Vendée and Île d’Yeu Coast — North West 1 — 215 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Bluefish, Garfish, European Seabass, Common SoleWhy #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites, 6 carry-in or shore-oriented
3. Vendée and Île d’Yeu Coast — South West 3 — 144 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Bluefish, Garfish, European Seabass, Common SoleWhy #3: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
4. Vendée and Île d’Yeu Coast — South West 4 — 124 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Bluefish, Garfish, European Seabass, Common SoleWhy #4: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites, 6 carry-in or shore-oriented
5. Camargue and Western Gulf of Lion — South West 3 — 259 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Bluefish, Garfish, European Seabass, Common SoleWhy #5: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
6. Baie de Bourgneuf — South West — 70 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · European Flounder, Garfish, European Seabass, Common SoleWhy #6: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites, 6 carry-in or shore-oriented
7. Pertuis d’Antioche — South Central — 86 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · European Flounder, Garfish, European Seabass, Common SoleWhy #7: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites, 6 carry-in or shore-oriented
8. Landes Coast — South 2 West — 248 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Bluefish, Garfish, European Seabass, Common SoleWhy #8: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites, 6 carry-in or shore-oriented
9. Marennes-Oléron Basin — South West — 126 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · European Flounder, Garfish, European Seabass, Common SoleWhy #9: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
10. Pertuis Breton — South West — 188 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · European Flounder, Garfish, European Seabass, Common SoleWhy #10: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites, 3 carry-in or shore-oriented
11. Pertuis Breton — South Central — 150 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · European Flounder, Garfish, European Seabass, Common SoleWhy #11: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites, 6 carry-in or shore-oriented
12. Bassin d’Arcachon — South West — 214 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Bluefish, Garfish, European Seabass, Common SoleWhy #12: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites, 6 carry-in or shore-oriented
13. Baie de Saint-Brieuc — North West 1 — 191 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · European Flounder, Garfish, European Seabass, Common SoleWhy #13: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
14. Bassin d’Arcachon — Middle West — 184 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Bluefish, Garfish, European Seabass, Common SoleWhy #14: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites, 4 carry-in or shore-oriented
15. Marennes-Oléron Basin — South Central — 114 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · European Flounder, Garfish, European Seabass, Common SoleWhy #15: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites, 6 carry-in or shore-oriented
16. Baie d’Audierne — South East — 342 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Garfish, European Seabass, Common Sole, Thick-lipped Grey MulletWhy #16: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites, 6 carry-in or shore-oriented
17. Iroise Sea — South West 3 — 203 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Garfish, European Seabass, Common Sole, Thick-lipped Grey MulletWhy #17: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites, 3 carry-in or shore-oriented
18. Iroise Sea — North West 3 — 331 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · 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. Côte Vermeille — North East — 302 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Bluefish, Garfish, European Seabass, Common SoleWhy #19: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites, 6 carry-in or shore-oriented
20. Côte de Granit Rose — North West — 257 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Garfish, European Seabass, Common Sole, Thick-lipped Grey MulletWhy #20: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites, 2 carry-in or shore-oriented
21. Baie de Morlaix — North West — 296 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · European Flounder, Garfish, European Seabass, Common SoleWhy #21: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
22. Côte de Granit Rose — North Central — 251 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Garfish, European Seabass, Common Sole, Thick-lipped Grey MulletWhy #22: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 5 public access sites, 5 carry-in or shore-oriented
23. Marseille and Côte Bleue — South East — 663 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Bluefish, Garfish, European Seabass, Common SoleWhy #23: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites, 6 carry-in or shore-oriented
24. Marseille and Côte Bleue — South Central — 377 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Bluefish, Garfish, European Seabass, Common SoleWhy #24: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites, 6 carry-in or shore-oriented
25. Loire Estuary — South West 1 — 111 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · European Flounder, Garfish, European Seabass, Common SoleWhy #25: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites, 2 carry-in or shore-oriented

…plus 206 more France waters holding thornback ray.

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When to fish thornback ray in France

• Spring 15–60 ft — Hold a bottom bait on clean sand or mixed ground beside the main tide run.
• Summer 10–65 ft — Use sufficient lead to hold bottom without dragging through sensitive habitat.
• Fall 15–75 ft — Shift toward deeper outer-estuary holes as water cools.
• Winter 30–100 ft — Most fish move deeper; winter estuary marks are low confidence and careful release is essential.

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Thornback Ray elsewhere: United Kingdom · Ireland