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French seafood in season in April:what arrives at auction, what becomes scarce

April at French fish auctions: langoustine in peak season, hake, monkfish, John Dory, cuttlefish, spider crab; Channel sea bass is back. Substitutes and prices.

Updated 4 min readLiveCriée editorial team

April: Langoustine, Hake, Monkfish (anglerfish), John Dory, Brill, CuttlefishJFMAMJJASONDIN SEASONAprilLangoustineHakeMonkfish (anglerfish)John DoryBrillCuttlefish
Contents
  1. What arrives at auction in April?
  2. What becomes scarce?
  3. Which substitutes for the menu?
  4. Points to watch on prices
  5. Frequently asked questions

In April, seafood swings towards spring: langoustine enters its peak season, hake, monkfish, brill, John Dory, saithe, cuttlefish, spider crab and whelk are at their strongest, and sea bass fishing reopens in the English Channel on 1 April (2026 rule); the king scallop begins its last weeks and the common prawn almost disappears. This is the month when the winter menu starts to give way to crustaceans.

Status as of 13 October 2026, based on the monthly sales of all French fish auctions in 2023 and 2024 (FranceAgriMer). The full calendar covers 40 species over twelve months.

What arrives at auction in April?

SpeciesWhat auction sales showWhat to know when buying
LangoustinePeak season: about 295 tonnes in April 2024, more than double MarchAverage price falling, around €11.50/kg
HakeBiggest month of 2024: about 1,300 tonnesAround €3.50 to €4/kg at auction
Monkfish (anglerfish)Peak season from April to MayAround €5.70/kg
John DoryStart of its most plentiful period, from April to JulyAround €15/kg
BrillLast high point of its peak season
CuttlefishSpring peak: about 620 tonnes in April 2024Around €4.30/kg
Spider crabPeak season, about 210 tonnesAround €2/kg
Whelk, saithePeak season
Sea bassReopening in the north on 1 April (2026 rule)Price rising, around €17/kg in April 2024
European lobster, brown crabStart of the seasonLobster still around €33/kg
MeagreBack at auction after an almost empty winter

National rhythm of auction sales (FranceAgriMer, 2024); it varies from one port to another.

What becomes scarce?

  • King scallop is still there, but declining: about 2,300 tonnes in April 2024 against 3,750 in March. The last day of fishing is 14 May.
  • Common prawn (crevette bouquet) is almost absent from fish auctions, only a few tonnes, at a climbing price.
  • Whiting and black sea bream come out of their winter peak: the average auction price of whiting almost doubled between February and April 2024.
  • Atlantic bluefin tuna and European spiny lobster (langouste rouge) only arrive in very small quantities.
  • Herring is almost absent, albacore and bouchot mussels are out of season.
  • Mediterranean sea urchin ends its season: from 2023 to 2026, by prefectoral order, its fishing was closed from 1 March in the Bouches-du-Rhône and the Var, and 15 April was the last day for professionals in the Alpes-Maritimes. Check the dates of the current season.

Which substitutes for the menu?

A few ideas, to adapt to your menu and the day's catch.

  • If you had on the menuKing scallop (to replace by mid-May)In April, think ofLangoustineWhy : Langoustine in peak season and getting cheaper
  • If you had on the menuTurbotIn April, think ofJohn Dory, brillWhy : Turbot still expensive before its May peak
  • If you had on the menuCommon prawnIn April, think ofLangoustine, spider crabWhy : Prawn out of season
  • If you had on the menuWhitingIn April, think ofHakeWhy : Hake at its strongest, whiting getting dearer
  • If you had on the menuBouchot musselsIn April, think ofWhelkWhy : Mussels out of season

Points to watch on prices

  1. Langoustine: this is the time. Its average auction price falls from about €14/kg in February to €11.50 in April, then to €10 in May and June (2024). This is the window to feature it; from August, it doubles.
  2. King scallop: prepare the exit. Fishing is closed from 15 May to 30 September; after that, supply is frozen or imported. If king scallop carries a signature dish, decide now on its replacement or the fallback origin.
  3. Sea bass: the summer rise begins. Its average auction price went from about €12.50/kg in March to €17 in April 2024, before the €22 of July and August. A sea bass dish costed in winter needs to be reviewed.
  4. Easter and public holidays. Depending on the year, Easter falls in March or April (5 April in 2026, 28 March in 2027). In weeks with public holidays, ask your suppliers about the days without an auction, and bring your orders forward accordingly.

The size grade guide explains how to read langoustine size grades in pieces per kilo, and the price list guide how to compare offers.

Frequently asked questions

Which fish is in season in April?

Hake, monkfish, brill, John Dory, saithe and sea bass, back from the English Channel; cuttlefish; langoustine, spider crab and the first lobsters; king scallop and whelk for shellfish.

Is langoustine in season in April?

Yes. April opens its peak season, which runs until July with a peak in May. In 2024, its auction landings more than doubled between March and April, and its average price came down to around €11.50/kg.

Until when can fresh king scallops be found?

Until 14 May, the last day of fishing. Fishing is then closed from 15 May to 30 September inclusive; volumes are already falling sharply in April.

Is sea bass fished again in April?

Yes. In 2026, the February and March closure in the English Channel, North Sea and Celtic Sea ended on 1 April, and line-caught sea bass returns to price lists, at a price rising towards summer.

Sources

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