From 3 to 11 December 2016, the Nautic-Paris Boat Show, will open its doors to the numerous boating communities at Porte de Versailles. Creator of the Nautic SUP Paris Crossing, the largest Stand Up Paddle race in the world, the show is this year launching the sport fishing competition on 10 December: Nautic Street Fishing.
This competition is of the ‘No Kill’ variety, with any fish caught being measured and then released immediately. It is organised in partnership with French Touch Fishing, which successfully launched the first Open Street events, the Union des Pêcheurs de Paris (Paris Anglers Union), which has managed fishing rights in Paris for the past 125 years, the French Sport Fishing Federation and the support of Suzuki Marine.
“Among the many leisure activities, amateur fishing and its eco-friendly ‘no kill’ version, is one of the main occupations of the boating fraternity. For several years, Suzuki Marine has supported the environmentally friendly approach to this activity. The vast majority of fishing boats and hence engines are used both often and regularly, which enables their reliability and low fuel consumption to be put to the test,” states Christophe Vassas, Director of Marine Activity.
This event is open to 150 two-person teams, which amounts to 300 competitors split into three categories: Top anglers (Scratch), Ladies and Juniors, and two rankings will be drawn up: all fish and large fish (over 70cm). We know that the Parisian stretch of the River Seine is well-stocked with fish, with some very big catches at times, including a giant catfish spanning 2.30m and 90 kilos back in 2014 !
Solely artificial lures are permitted and the pouring of attractants is prohibited. There is a minimum size for each type of fish, with a maximum quota of catches and a points bonus. The following species will be targeted: pike, perch, pikeperch, catfish, salmonids, chub and barbel. If the fish drops off mid capture, this is not counted, and the penalty for accidental death of a caught fish will result in a set number of points being deducted per species. The competition will take place on the left bank, between the Passerelle des Arts (PK 170.8) and the bridge downstream of the ring road (PK 177.8), which equates to a luxurious 7km playground!
Registration is done online via the website www.salonnautiqueparis.com, with the first 150 pairings being automatically entered, and the waiting list begins from the 151st entry form completed. This registration gives anglers the right to two passes for the Nautic, where the confirmation and general briefing for the competition will take place on 9 December. From dawn onwards the next day, teams will be spread along Paris’ quaysides (between 09:00am and 16:00pm) in a bid to catch the most fish, the rarest fish and the most diverse fish possible! These same fish will have seen 600 SUP riders silently glide above them on Sunday 4 December… Let’s hope that the “I won’t eat you, you won’t eat me” pact will be respected by one and all!
A capital show in every sense of the term, the Nautic is a unique event that is open to all practices and all passions. It surrounds the capital with its different marine communities, surfers, racers, adventurers and anglers, all keen to make this high point of the year very special in what is a fabulous city.
