A Passion for Poisson

Meet Tony, a fisherman based at Port Croûton.

Tony became a fisherman 15 years ago when he was just 15. He has been based here, in Port Croûton, for 10 years. Before coming to Cap d’Antibes he was working in Cannes.

Why did you choose to become a fisherman?

I became a fisherman because it’s my passion. It’s not a family business or anything like that.

I used to go fishing with my father when I was young so that’s probably where it started but he only used to fish as a hobby, not professionally. I realised early in life that fishing was something I wanted to do.

Describe your typical day?

Every day I get up at around 4 am then I go to deliver my fish to the big fish market in the  Var. This is where I sell most of my fish. After that I come back here to the port.

From 5.30am until around 9am I go out to check my nets and bring back what I have caught and put out fresh nets. When I come back I sell the fish here in the port until around midday. After that I go home for a siesta, then at around 6pm until midnight I put out my nets again and check the ones I put out in the morning.

In the winter it is forbidden to put our nets around the Cap so I have to fish a little further away. It’s always a long day.

What do you love about Cap d’Antibes.

Cap d’Antibes is ‘’la classe’ that’s it. There are many villas but there is still lots of nature and wilderness. You have the forest and lots of trees here which you don’t find in other places. It is a beautiful place to be.

What types of fish do you catch?

There are many rocks around the Cap so there are many fish. We have the Rascasse, Chapon, St Pierre, we have everything here. We are very lucky on the Cap as there are a lot of fish. Yes sure there are a few less than years ago but it’s ok, it has stabilised again now.

A good fisherman is careful not to take the small ones, for example the Chapon, if I catch one less than 160g I throw it back straight away. If we don’t throw the small ones back then in the future there will be less and less fish.

What do you love about your job?

The sea, if you don’t love the sea and fish you can’t do this job.

I have always loved to fish. When I was little and went to the beach with my friends they would all be playing football or swimming but I would just sit and fish. It’s what I have always loved to do.

I also love the weather and the sunshine. I work all year round and the views here change constantly, no two days are the same. Of course sometimes in the winter it can be difficult but most of the time the conditions for fishing are perfect here.

What do you love about Cap d’Antibes?

Cap d’Antibes is ‘’la classe’ that’s it. There are many villas but there is still lots of nature and wilderness. You have the forest and lots of trees here which you don’t find in other places.

Who are your clients?

I have many private clients. The I have the fish market in the Var I mentioned before and I also have my little stand here in the port.

I also supply the Bistrot du Port and the Perroquet both in Juan Les Pins.

I assume you eat a lot of fish being a fisherman, so what’s your favourite dish?

Actually If I had to choose my favourite dish would be a pasta dish. I love Pasta.

You can buy Tonys’ catch of the day form his stand in Port Crouton from 9am-12pm

To receive new interviews and updates on news and events on the cap sign up for the newsletter.