Fishing in France
Freshwater needs a carte de pêche through a local AAPPMA association. Sea fishing from shore or boat requires no licence at all.
10 researched spots — 5 Freshwater, 3 Saltwater, 2 Fly Fishing.
Species you can target
- Arctic char
- Atlantic salmon
- European bass
- amberjack
- barbel
- bluefin tuna
- brown trout
- carp
- chub
- dorado
- lake trout
- mackerel
- northern pike
- perch
- pollack
- sea trout
- wels catfish
- zander
Fishing spots in France
- River Loire — Tours, Centre-Val de Loire. Freshwater, Intermediate. Target species: wels catfish, zander, northern pike.
- Brittany Bass Coast — Finistère, Brittany. Saltwater, Intermediate. Target species: European bass, pollack, mackerel.
- Sète Offshore — Sète, Occitanie. Saltwater, Advanced. Target species: bluefin tuna, dorado, amberjack.
- River Dordogne — Argentat, Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Freshwater, Intermediate. Target species: barbel, chub, brown trout.
- Gave de Pau — Pyrénées-Atlantiques. Fly Fishing, Advanced. Target species: Atlantic salmon, brown trout, sea trout.
- Lake Annecy — Haute-Savoie. Freshwater, Intermediate. Target species: Arctic char, lake trout, perch.
- Rhône near Avignon — Provence. Freshwater, Advanced. Target species: wels catfish, zander, carp.
- Cotentin Peninsula — Normandy. Saltwater, Intermediate. Target species: European bass, mackerel, pollack.
- Ariège Mountain Streams — Ariège, Occitanie. Fly Fishing, Intermediate. Target species: brown trout.
- Lac du Der — Champagne. Freshwater, Intermediate. Target species: northern pike, zander, carp.
Licence requirements and closed seasons change regularly. Always confirm with the relevant fisheries authority before you fish — each spot page links to its source.