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

October at the fish auction: king scallop returns, peak of gilthead sea bream, cuttlefish and red mullet; end of albacore and langoustine. Substitutes, prices.

Updated 5 min readLiveCriée editorial team

October: King scallop, Gilthead sea bream, Cuttlefish, Squid (encornet), Octopus, Red mulletJFMAMJJASONDIN SEASONOctoberKing scallopGilthead sea breamCuttlefishSquid (encornet)OctopusRed mullet
Contents
  1. What arrives at auction in October?
  2. What becomes scarce?
  3. Which substitutes for the menu?
  4. Points to watch on prices
  5. Frequently asked questions

In October, French seafood changes face: king scallop (coquille Saint-Jacques) comes back to the fish auctions, gilthead sea bream, cuttlefish and octopus reach their peak of the year and red mullet its autumn high season, while albacore, langoustine and European lobster end their season. It is a month of transition, when the summer menu must give way to the autumn one.

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 October?

SpeciesWhat auction sales showWhat to know when buying
King scallopReturn after the closure from 15 May to 30 September: more than 4,000 tonnes sold in October 2024Opening bed by bed, with regulated fishing days and hours. In 2026, the eastern English Channel (offshore zone), the Bay of Saint-Brieuc and Saint-Malo opened on Thursday 1 October; for the Bay of the Seine and southern Brittany, no text had been published as of 22 October 2026; in the Bay of the Seine, the opening is set every year by prefectoral order
Gilthead sea breamPeak of the year: about 220 tonnes in October 2024, four times a spring monthAverage auction price halved between August (about €17/kg) and October (about €9/kg)
CuttlefishPeak of the year (about 850 tonnes in October 2024)Stable price, around €4/kg at auction
Squid (encornet)Start of the peak of the year, from October to December: about 1,440 tonnes in October 2024, against 20 in MayLowest average price of the year, around €4.80/kg at auction
OctopusPeak in October and NovemberVolumes eight times those of August
Red mulletAutumn high season, from September to NovemberLower price than in spring
MackerelSecond peak of the year, in September and OctoberGood time to serve it raw or marinated
Red gurnardLate summer and autumnInexpensive species, useful for soups and dishes of the day
Common prawnStart of the season, volumes more than double between September and OctoberSeason running until January
Warty venus clamBack at auction since SeptemberPeak in December
Pacific oysterEnd of the summer milky periodSales rise until the holidays
Sea bassVolumes rise again after the summerPrice falling towards winter

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

What becomes scarce?

  • Albacore ends its season in October; there is none left at auction from November to May.
  • Langoustine is at the end of its season: about 35 tonnes in October 2024 against more than 400 in May, and an average price around €20/kg, almost double the spring price.
  • European lobster goes from about 42 tonnes in June to about ten in October.
  • Brown crab and European spiny lobster (langouste rouge) decline sharply.
  • Spider crab comes out of its September low, but stays far from its spring volumes.
  • Sardine still holds in October, then drops in November and almost disappears in December.

Which substitutes for the menu?

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

  • If you had on the menuAlbacore or tuna tatakiIn October, think ofLine-caught mackerel, as tartare or marinatedWhy : Mackerel at its second peak, albacore finished
  • If you had on the menuLangoustine as a starterIn October, think ofRaw or seared king scallop, grilled octopus, cuttlefishWhy : King scallop back, octopus and cuttlefish at their peak; langoustine expensive
  • If you had on the menuEuropean lobster or European spiny lobsterIn October, think ofCommon prawn, warty venus clamWhy : Seasons starting
  • If you had on the menuWild sea bass as a main courseIn October, think ofLarge wild gilthead sea breamWhy : Peak of the year and lowest price
  • If you had on the menuTurbotIn October, think ofRed mullet, pollackWhy : Turbot scarce outside spring and price rising towards December

Points to watch on prices

  1. King scallop: do not fix the menu on the first days. The first landings sell in a market that is just starting. In 2024, the average auction price of whole scallops in the shell rose from October to December, pulled up by the holidays. It is better to compare the price lists of several fish merchants for two or three weeks before fixing a selling price.
  2. Langoustine: winter prices. From August to December, langoustine costs about double its spring price. Keeping it on the menu in October means accepting a higher food cost.
  3. Turbot and brill start to rise to reach their maximum in December. A turbot dish costed in October must be reviewed before the holidays.
  4. Autumn weather: a gale empties the fish auctions for two or three days, and prices react straight away.

To check that a price is normal for the season, nothing replaces the history of your own purchases: the price list guide explains how to compare offers, 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 October?

Gilthead sea bream, red mullet, mackerel, red gurnard, sea bass, cuttlefish and octopus. For shellfish, king scallop comes back, as does warty venus clam; for crustaceans, common prawn starts its season.

Is king scallop available in October?

Yes. Fishing opens from 1 October, with dates set bed by bed. As early as October 2024, French fish auctions sold more than 4,000 tonnes of it.

Can you still serve langoustine in October?

Yes, but it is scarce and expensive: about €20/kg on average at auction, against €10 to €11 in spring. For a starter, king scallop or octopus are better value.

Which seafood to buy in October?

King scallop, warty venus clam, common prawn and oysters, which are coming out of the summer milky period.

Sources

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