Fishing gear

In L’Estartit, the beach was not only a place to rest—it was also the workshop for fishermen. The boats were left on the beach, and fishing nets were spread out to dry and mend. During bad weather, when the fishermen couldn’t go out to sea, they would repair holes in the nets. A group of women would sit on the sand, using their nimble fingers to mend the nets better than the men.

Beach art was a form of fishing practiced in L’Estartit until the early 20th century. This technique involved spreading a large net in the water with the help of a boat, and both men and women would pull the net hard from the beach to trap the fish.

Another method was the use of loose nets, designed to trap fish as they passed through. These nets were not fully secured, allowing fish to become trapped in the mesh.

Additional fishing tools included the junquillo, the volantín, and the rall.

• The junquillo was a rod with a lead-free fishing line and a hook, used for fishing between rock crevices.
• The volantín was a piece of wood around which the line was wrapped. At the end of the line, several hooks were placed, separated by lead that hung from the bottom, used for deep-water fishing.
• The rall was a small circular net with leads that opened when thrown into the water. When it was pulled back in, the net closed, trapping the fish inside.

These methods were a testament to the resourcefulness and hard work of the fishermen and women of L’Estartit, preserving local traditions while shaping the town’s rich seafaring culture.