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

November at the fish auction: sea bass, king scallop, herring, common prawn, octopus. End of sardine and summer crustaceans. Substitutes and prices.

Updated 4 min readLiveCriée editorial team

November: Sea bass, King scallop, Common prawn, Octopus and cuttlefish, Red mullet, Warty venus clamJFMAMJJASONDIN SEASONNovemberSea bassKing scallopCommon prawnOctopus and cuttlefishRed mulletWarty venus clam
Contents
  1. What arrives at auction in November?
  2. What becomes scarce?
  3. Which substitutes for the menu?
  4. Points to watch on prices
  5. Frequently asked questions

In November, king scallop (coquille Saint-Jacques), common prawn, octopus and cuttlefish are in full season, sea bass is still well present, and herring, a winter fish, enters its season at Boulogne-sur-Mer; sardine, European lobster, brown crab and langoustine become scarce. It is also the month when holiday purchases are prepared: December prices can already be read in the November trends.

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 November?

SpeciesWhat auction sales showWhat to know when buying
Sea bassVolumes rise again after the summer (about 330 tonnes in November 2023; 177 in 2024, against 135 to 145 from May to August)Average auction price around €14 to €15/kg, far from the €22 of the summer
King scallopMore than 4,000 tonnes in November 2024Opening bed by bed. In 2026, the eastern English Channel (offshore zone), the Bay of Saint-Brieuc and Saint-Malo opened on 1 October; for the Bay of the Seine and southern Brittany, no text had been published as of 22 October 2026
Common prawnAt its highest, with DecemberLower average price than in summer
Octopus and cuttlefishEnd of their autumn peakVolumes still high
Red mulletLast month of its autumn high seasonVariable sizes, to check on the price list
Warty venus clamRising towards the December peak
HerringWinter fish, from November to March, with a clear peak in November; about 400 tonnes sold per year at the Boulogne-sur-Mer fish auctionOily fish, inexpensive: €0.60 to €0.70/kg on average at Boulogne in 2024 and 2025
Pacific oysterSales rising towards the holidaysTime to discuss your December volumes with your suppliers
Pollack, hake, haddockPresent, with no particular peakSafe choices for dishes of the day

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

What becomes scarce?

  • Sardine drops: about 500 tonnes in November 2024 against nearly 1,900 in August.
  • Mackerel leaves its autumn peak, and its price rises again until December.
  • Langoustine is at its lowest: about thirty tonnes in November 2024, for an average price around €19/kg.
  • European lobster falls to a few tonnes a month, and European spiny lobster (langouste rouge) becomes almost impossible to find at auction.
  • Brown crab and turbot decline; the turbot price starts its rise towards December.
  • Monkfish has its weakest month of the year by volume (less than 600 tonnes in 2024), just before the December price rise.
  • Saithe becomes very scarce at the end of the year.

Which substitutes for the menu?

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

  • If you had on the menuTurbotIn November, think ofLarge line-caught sea bassWhy : Sea bass plentiful, low price; turbot scarce and rising
  • If you had on the menuGrilled or marinated sardineIn November, think ofFresh herring, mackerelWhy : Sardine at the end of its season, herring in season
  • If you had on the menuEuropean lobster or langoustineIn November, think ofKing scallop, warty venus clam, common prawnWhy : Full season for shellfish and prawns
  • If you had on the menuMonkfishIn November, think ofPollack, line-caught hakeWhy : Monkfish at its lowest volume, price about to rise
  • If you had on the menuGilthead sea breamIn November, think ofSea bass, red mulletWhy : End of the October sea bream peak

Points to watch on prices

  1. Prepare for the holidays from November. In December 2024, the average auction price of turbot was close to €40/kg, European lobster €42/kg and monkfish more than €9/kg, well above their autumn levels. Year-end menus are costed now, with a margin for the rise.
  2. Discuss your volumes early. For oysters, king scallop and premium species, discuss your holiday volumes with your suppliers from November. It is not a firm booking, but they will be able to plan better for Christmas week.
  3. Sea bass is the buy of the month. Its volumes rise again and its average auction price is about a third lower than in summer: it is the right time to put it on as a main course.
  4. The weather rules. November storms can deprive the fish auctions of inshore catches for several days in a row: plan a fallback species for each dish.

The price list guide explains how to compare the offers of several suppliers, and the food cost guide how to pass a price on to the recipe costing sheet.

Frequently asked questions

Which fish is in season in November?

Sea bass, red mullet, herring, pollack, hake, cuttlefish and octopus. For shellfish, king scallop and warty venus clam; for crustaceans, common prawn.

Is sea bass cheaper in November?

On average, yes. In 2024, its average auction price was around €14 to €15/kg in November, against about €22 in July and August. Volumes rise again as winter approaches.

When to buy oysters for the holidays?

Discuss your holiday volumes with the oyster farmer or the fish merchant from November, without waiting for December. The size grade and the category ("fine", "spéciale") are chosen according to use; the size grade guide gives the correspondences.

Can you find European lobster in November?

At auction, very little: a few tonnes a month for the whole of France, against more than 40 in June. It can still be found at fish merchants and in holding tanks, at a price that rises until Christmas.

Sources

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