in Finistère, with hook-and-line bass enthusiasts

The quest for the bar begins in Saint-Guénolé, in Finistère. Adrien Nedelec, fisherman from the boat Gwenn Ha Du, and his sailor Jordan, do not use a net. They are trollers, an emblematic fishery of the region. The longline is a line equipped with several hundred hooks. To bait the bass, they use small live fish, and throw the line into the sea with a precise gesture. All that remains is to wait. “We let the equipment rest at the bottom of the water, and it is the fish, if present in the area, which will bite or not“, says Adrien Nedelec.

Throughout the day, Adrien and Jordan will throw nearly 1,600 hooks, in more or less deep water, in order to multiply their chances. It’s all about precision. “We try to anticipate the arrival of the fish, to be able to grab it by hand“, explains Adrien Nedelec. This artisanal fishing allows the fish to be kept almost intact. The method also preserves resources. Adrien’s catch is meager, but profitable, because line bass is a high-end product. At the Guilvinec auction (Finistère), fishmongers are on the lookout for the most beautiful pieces.Antoine Le Corre supplies demanding restorers, and is therefore ready to put his hand in his pocket. Mickaël Rigousse, chef at Le Chantier restaurant in Concarneau (Finistère), would not work another bar for anything in the world.