Today, Le Saint Martin campsite takes you on a stroll to the Capbreton fish market, the only fishing port located on the Landes coast. Local and artisanal fishing, very affordable prices, and a picturesque atmosphere are all good reasons to visit this fish market where sales are made directly, without intermediaries.
A must-see visit when coming to Capbreton
In the Landes region, near the Basque Country, Capbreton is inseparable from its port. While the "City of 100 Captains" welcomes pleasure boats, it has also preserved a traditional fishing activity dating back seven centuries, heir to whale hunting in the Bay of Biscay and, later, cod fishing in Newfoundland.
Today, a fleet of 19 boats, mainly netters and potters, goes day fishing along the Basque-Landes coast and up to the north of the Arcachon basin. This artisanal fishery has its specificities and advantages.
Fish for every season
Open every day of the year, the Capbreton fish market is a unique opportunity to taste fresh local seafood, a coastal fishery respectful of seasons and stocks. In summer, tuna, bonito, hake, red mullet, and anchovies can be found on the fishmongers' stalls. Among them are crabs, lobsters, and spiny lobsters caught in pots. In autumn and winter, fishermen bring in sea bream, sea bass, sole, sardines, and other chipirons (squid) in their lines and nets.
Buy your fish directly from the boat... from the hold to your plate!
The fishermen of Capbreton sell their fish directly from the boat, without going through an auction, straight from the sea to your plate. This privilege, granted by Colbert in 1652, allows you to buy fish directly from the source at very affordable prices.
It is at the end of the Georges Pompidou quay, at the foot of the harbor master's office, that the fishing boat owners set up their ice-laden stalls. Each proudly displays their boat's name in front of their stand: L'Enfant Terrible, Le Crésus, Le P'tit Loup, Le Gavroche, Le Viking... The vendors are available to provide advice on choosing and cooking fish. You can buy it whole or gutted and prepared. Then, head for... the barbecue or plancha grill! And the prices are very affordable, given the quality of the products, and much cheaper than at a fishmonger's.
Visiting Tips
The Capbreton fish market is open every day of the year, from 9 AM to 12 PM and from 3 PM to 6 PM. If you arrive at the right time, you'll have the chance to witness the unloading of the fish crates. We recommend coming in the morning, around 9 AM or 10 AM, to soak up the typical atmosphere of the port. There are fewer people and more choice. Arrivals, of course, depend on the day's catch.
Otherwise, for parking, there is a free car park in front of the port. In summer, free shuttles serve the port and the harbor master's office. A ferry boat, "le Boucarot", allows you to cross the harbor basin between the Pompidou quay (where the fish market is held) and the Bouret quay (opposite).
Does the call of the open sea tempt you?
Fishing in Capbreton is also a leisure activity. Your turn to play! In summer, boaters offer boat trips to fish for tuna (bluefin and albacore), bonito (a cousin of tuna), and squid. From the shore, surfcasting allows you to catch sea bass, among other fish—the king of fish called louvine in the Landes region.
photoArnaud 25/CC BY-SA 3.0,wikimedia
