Fabien Harbers, monitor and fishing guide in the Mediterranean Sea
Discover the portrait of Fabien Harbers, instructor guide fishing in the Mediterranean between Cannes and Antibes and specialist in sea fishing in kayaks.
Hello Fabien, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers before starting?
Hello, my name is Fabien Harbers, I am 38 years old, I have been fishing since a young age and I am a professional fishing guide. I am based in the Alpes Maritimes, in Golfe Juan, between Antibes and Cannes.
What fishing techniques do you suggest?
I am not a “pro lender”. The fishery is too vast to focus on only one fishing method. There are hundreds of techniques and different ways of fishing ... For my part, I offer several techniques and modes of lure or live fishing, always in line with the values of No Kill sport fishing. On board, by boat or pedal kayak.
From the edge : From spinning to lure fishing, I mainly target Barracudas and Wolves during my night sessions.
On a boat : Slow trolling with electric downrigger (Denti, Seriole, Liche Amie), Speed or Slow Jigging, Deep fishing with electric reel (Calamari, Greyhound Shark, Dorades) Pelagic hunts (Pelamid, Bonitos, Tunas) as well as fishing for tenya.
By kayak: the same techniques as in a boat without deep-sea fishing, people appreciate this mode of fishing for the sporty / ecological side, I have been fishing for years in a kayak, I still love it as much !!
You have made sea fishing in a kayak one of your specialties. Can you tell us a little more about this technique? What makes this fishing so special for you?
I discovered kayak fishing ten years ago. It is a fishing method that immediately appealed to me. It is a means of fishing, at a lower cost and "clean", which allows a different approach to fishing and for certain fishing techniques the kayak is the "perfect" tool.
Its particularity is to be able to pass almost everywhere in absolute silence and anyone who has already experienced a fight in a kayak with a big fish knows the happiness that the sensation of being literally towed! The big positive point of “propulsion” kayaks is that they allow you to practice vertical fishing with the possibility of staying upright permanently or almost in absolute silence.
I joined Team Savager's a few years after discovering these fantastic machines, the Hobie pedal kayaks.
Their mode of propulsion by the legs allows me to cover great distances during my sessions and for my trainees who have never done a kayak in their life, to adapt and quickly familiarize themselves with this formidable machine. This way of fishing appeals to young and old alike and remains one of my favorite fishing methods.
What do you like most about the job of a fishing guide today?
I would say the meeting with the public, to be able to exchange with as many people as possible, from all social classes and different nationalities. Share my knowledge, bring happiness to people alone or with their family and see them become children again for a session!
What is your type of clientele? What are they looking for behind your offers?
My clientele is varied: locals, beginners, French / foreign tourists etc ... Most are eager to discover or improve in a fishing technique and thanks to the sponsors I provide them with the best tools on the market to practice these different techniques.
You are often seen speaking on topics related to the protection of resources and the environment. Could you tell us a little more about your philosophy? How do you advocate these values in guidance?
My philosophy is simple, I just try to give another perspective of our Mediterranean through my guides.
I teach my audience the values essential to the survival of our passion and our fabulous "aquatic land". I try to make them see the sea as a museum that you visit by wiping your feet before returning… Luckily, my audience comes mainly to learn or improve while sharing a moment of conviviality and the same philosophy.
In general, he is sensitive to the protection of the environment and the management of the resource, they are also always happy to release the most endangered fish (Denti, Seriole).
Of course, we keep other species such as Barracuda, Bluefish, Pelamid, mackerel, sea bream… I also note with pleasure that the young generation of fishermen have understood the challenges of "sustainable fishing" and are the first to show 'example.
What qualities do you think are required to be a good guide?
I think that altruism is the main quality, like to exchange, share and transmit one's know-how by being explicit, knowing one's fishing grounds and its peculiarities and of course being a good fisherman!
How could Rodmaps help you in your guiding activity?
I have already worked with several different business providers for several years and they bring me a lot in terms of attendance. The Rodmaps interface is well thought out, the means of communication with customers are simplified.
Do you have any future projects you would like to tell us about?
There are indeed new projects in the pipeline. Nice surprises to come that I can't talk about at the moment, techniques that I continue to experiment and that I will propose by the beginning of next year when the results are conclusive.
I am sorely lacking in time at the moment. My guide activity is buzzing from April until the end of the year, but I'm not complaining! Travel side, I am going back to Mauritius in February 2020. First for the holidays with my fiancee and especially because the 8 days spent last year in the South West of the island went by too quickly but me have nevertheless made it possible to touch many species of sport fish: Sailfish, Giant Trevally, Yellowfin, Barracudas and Wahoo.
In short, strongly next year!
What is your fondest fishing memory?
There are so many that I don't know which one to choose… Maybe one of my biggest Lich Amie captured in a kayak a few years ago near Nice.
I was walking a large mackerel through muddy water in search of bluefish after the rain, a memorable start that gave me several minutes of fighting before I could hoist a 28 kg specimen on board. Unfortunately, this splendid fish had largely engulfed my bait, so I kept it.
As an anecdote, in the afternoon I was guiding a client in a kayak who had come to hunt down the Liches and Serioles. After 1 hour of trolling, he will be entitled to a huge start just behind his kayak. I could see on the surface a Lich Friend even bigger than the one I had captured in the morning. About forty kg at a minimum!
I had no idea there were such big ones around! Unfortunately for the intern, it was this big Lich who won the fight. He wasn't ready for that kind of fish anyway. In his case it was a bit like "driving a Ferrari at 200 km / h without having a driving license" ...
By the time he finds the brake pedal, the fish broke the line, I think he will remember it all his life!
What is also your best memory / anecdote during a guide?
Again, I have many memories in mind. But there comes to me an anecdote which is a little out of the ordinary and I think that the person will recognize himself by reading these lines.
Each year I receive a client on the precise date of June 20th. Date on which we "hit" like every year for 2 years! The first year he came, he had booked the full day. In the morning we attacked a "Slow Jigging" session. On the first descent to -200 m deep, we would make a Saber of more than 2 m.
Then, at the end of the morning, we attacked a live fishing session. Again, just a few minutes after starting, he was entitled to a big start and a good fight with a 7.2 kg Bluefish! Throughout the day, we chained the catches by ten and in the evening we finished in style with a swordfish in less than 20 m of water !! Finally the following year he had returned and we had achieved with a few ready fish, the same explosive session ...
So it became a ritual and last year after many catches of barracudas and bluefish we ended the session on a catch that is at least unusual in my fishing sector: a Lean of 7 kg at the exact place where we had captured Bluefish 2 years ago!
In short, do not try to book on June 20 => the day is already blocked !! ^ _ ^
A message to pass on to young people who would like to discover the world of fishing?
I will tell them that they are right to be interested in something other than the Playstation and nightclubs!
Fishing is fundamentally rooted in our human roots. Going fishing means getting a little closer to yourself, taking an interest in the elements around us, knowing how to look and understand, marvel and protect nature by appreciating what it gives us.
Go ahead guys, go for it and have fun before anything else!
Discover Fabien Harbers' guiding offers:
Sea fishing course between Cannes and Antibes with Fabien Harbers
On board the “Sword Fish” an Open Cap Camarat boat specially designed for cruising and fishing, equipped with a latest generation Lowrance sounder, I will show you a multitude of sea fishing techniques from Cannes to Antibes.
Kayak fishing with Fabien Harbers
I offer you a new fishing mode by practicing the sea kayaking fishing, but not just any kayaks… Hobie kayaks represent the the ultimate in fishing kayaks. This wonderful tool is offered to you today in its complete configuration: sounders, rod holder, GPS, electric fishpond, stabilizers ... don't wait any longer and discover kayak fishing!
Useful links to get to know Fabien Harbers and his profession better:
About The Author
Rodmaps
Rodmaps is above all the story of Nicolas and Matthieu, two friends passionate about fishing. Since our childhood, our passion drives us to travel through France and to travel around the world in search of adventure and trophy fish. Through Rodmaps, we want to share our passion for fishing with as many people as possible and make people discover the joys of this sport around us, because yes, fishing is a sport!