The Grand Pavois Fishing (GPF) is a not-to-be-missed event for the leisure fishing and sea angling sector, held every year as part of the Grand Pavois boat show in La Rochelle. It puts the spotlight on sport fishing at sea, with a dedicated area featuring brands of boats, fishing tackle, electronics and marine engines. These brands present their products and expertise to an enthusiastic clientele, whether on land or afloat, as a prelude to a fishing competition between brands!

This is because the Grand Pavois Fishing is also a ‘no kill’ sea angling tournament, bringing together around thirty boats comprising two or three sport anglers representing the brands active in the sector.

Since the creation of this competition in the late 2000s, the American engine manufacturer Mercury Marine has always been present at the Grand Pavois Fishing, with one or more teams entered.

This year, Jean Servant and Benjamin Duval will represent the Mercury Pro Team at the GPF 2024 for the fourth year running. Jean Servant, a state-qualified fishing guide instructor for the last ten years and Mercury ambassador since 2016, offers modern, fun fishing trips suitable for all levels. He mainly operates in well-known areas in the Bay of Arcachon known for their wealth of fish such as bass, meagre, pollack and bluefin tuna.

"It's a great source of pride for me to once again wear the Mercury colours alongside Benjamin and Tanguy. I hope we'll climb to the top of the podium after two days of intense fishing", he tells ActuNautique Yachting Art.

Benjamin Duval, for his part, is a sport sea angler and ambassador for the Mercury brand, who is preparing to take part in the Grand Pavois Fishing for the fourth time. For him, this event marks the end of his season of competitions at sea, after the Fécamp Open bar at the beginning of September and the Le Havre Open bar, which was finally cancelled due to weather conditions.

"The Grand Pavois Fishing remains a not-to-be-missed event for me every year. I'm always proud to be part of the Mercury Pro Team at such an event. This year, I'm arriving with big ambitions and I hope to reach at least the podium, but my ultimate goal remains first place", he explains.

A special guest this year

Accompanying the Mercury duo will be Tanguy Marlin, a leading figure in French sport fishing, who is Product Manager at Sert/Sakura, where he plays a key role in the development of new lures and tackle.

He will be taking part in his very first Grand Pavois Fishing event.

A fine mount for the tournament

The three anglers taking part in the Grand Pavois Fishing will be aboard Jean Servant's brand new boat, Pandion 3, a 10-metre RIB designed by Ribwest naval architect Vincent Duchatelet. This innovative boat is powered by two Mercury V10 5.7L outboard engines, each rated at 350hp.

Yann Diquerreau, Marketing Manager for Mercury Marine France, explains: "We are delighted to be continuing our adventure with Jean and Benjamin, who have represented the Mercury Pro Team at Grand Pavois Fishing for several years. We're also delighted to welcome such an experienced angler as Tanguy to the team. We're convinced that this trio will enable the brand to shine in this competition, especially as they'll be aboard a magnificent boat that's sure to be one of the finest in the field".