Recreational angling in fresh water
Verified 19 June 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)
Do you have to join an association to angling in fresh water ? We tell you what you need to know.
Yes, for angling in so-called "open waters", you must have a valid fishing card on the area where you fish.
However, you do not need a fishing card if you are angling in bodies of water qualified as enclosed waters.
FYI
The fishing card is not mandatory when annual fisheries promotion day, fixed on 1er sunday of june.
You must meet the following conditions to fish angling in so-called "open waters" :
- Be a member of a approved association Fisheries and Aquatic Environment Protection Authority (AAPPMA)
- Have paid the contribution statutory
- Have paid the fee for the protection of aquatic environments
- Credit Memo the authorization of the holder of the fishing right.
Have the fishing card proves that you meet the first 3 conditions.
In the non-federal bodies of water (private domain), the right to fish belongs to the owner of the land.
In the non-federal waterways (private domain), the riparian owners have, each on their own, the right to fish up to the middle of the watercourse.
In the federal waterways (national public inland waterway), the right to fish belongs to the State.
Each approved fishing association freely sets the price from the fishing card.
The price includes 3 elements :
- Aquatic Fisheries Contribution (CPMA) managed by the National Federation of Fisheries and Aquatic Environment Protection
- Statutory contributions corresponding to the amounts owed by the fisherman for his membership of the approved association and the departmental federation
- Aquatic Environmental Protection Charge (AMR) donated to the Water Agencies.
The RMA: titleContent shall be fixed each year, per person, within the following ceilings:
- Fishing throughout the year: €10
- Fishing for 7 consecutive days: €4
- Fishing for 1 day: €1
For salmon and sea trout fishing, a supplement of €20 is to be paid.
Of options may be added. For example, to be able to fish on fishing territories other than that of your association. That's what we call the reciprocity.
You can buy online the fishing card on the website cartedepeche.fr:
Recreational fishing in fresh water: buy a fishing card
You can also buy the fishing card with the licensed fishing association of which you are a member, or at a custodian (fishing retailer, press, coffee shop, convenience store displaying "Here, fishing cards").
Freshwater fishing rules at national level are adapted to local level.
Ask the departmental federations of fishing and protection of aquatic environments.
Authorized locations
With your fishing card, you can fish in the open waters following:
- Fishing lots from your licensed fishing association
- Fishing lots managed by a licensed fishing association with which yours has a reciprocal agreement
- Everywhere in France, in waters where the right to fish belongs to the State (public domain) but only to a single line
- Non-state watercourses or bodies of water (private domain) if the holder of the fishing right authorizes you to do so.
Forbidden places
Fishing is forbidden in the following places:
- In the fishing reserves fixed by prefectural decree
- In devices ensuring the circulation of fish
- In pertuis, vannages and in water passages inside buildings
- From and 50 meters downstream of dams and locks, with the exception of fishing with a line
- On all properties where you do not have the authorization of the right holder to fish.
Fishing hours
Fishing can take place 1/2 hour before sunrise and up to 1/2 hour after sunset.
Of exceptions are however possible, by prefectural decree, concerning the following species:
- The fishing of the sea trout may be authorized from half an hour before sunrise until 2 hours after sunset in certain sea trout rivers listed by ministerial order.
- Fishing for shad, of flounder, lampreys and the mule may be authorized from 2 hours before sunrise until 2 hours after sunset in public waters where the right to fish belongs to the State.
- The fishing of the carp may be authorized at any time on specific routes set by prefectural decree.
Fishing period
The opening period of the fishery depends on the classification in 1re or 2e category of open waters.
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Waters classified in 1st category
Rivers, bodies of water and lakes mainly inhabited by trout or in which this species must be protected
Fishing is permitted from 2e saturday of march at 3e sunday of september included.
However, the fishing of the common shadow is allowed of 3e saturday of may at 3e sunday of september included.
Moreover, everything pike captured from 2e saturday from march to the last friday of april must be immediately released.
Waters classified in 2nd category
Rivers, canals and bodies of water not classified in 1era category
Fishing is allowed there all year round.
However, the opening period for fishing is limited for the following species:
- Fishing for pike is authorized from 1er January to the last Sunday of January and from the last Saturday of April to 31 December inclusive.
- Fishing for the common shadow is authorized from 3e saturday from may to december 31st included.
- Fishing for Fario trout, char or brook salmon, arctic char and cristivomer is authorized from 2e saturday from march to 3e sunday of september included.
- The fishing of the rainbow trout in rivers or parts of rivers classified as salmon or sea trout, is authorized from 2e saturday from march to 3e sunday of september included.
Recreational Freshwater Yellow Eel Fishery Opening Period for the 2025-2026 Season
The closure of the recreational fishery for yellow eel is set at 31 by July 2026.
Eel Management Units (AMUs) and Sectors | 1re category | 2from category |
|---|---|---|
Artois-Picardie | From 2e saturday from march to july 15 | From 15 February to 15 July |
Seine-Normandy | From 2e saturday from march to july 15 | From 15 February to 15 July |
Bretagne | From 1er april to July 31 | From 1er april to July 31 |
Loire, Coastal Vendée and Sèvre niortaise: Loire downstream of the Pont Anne de Bretagne in Nantes | Not concerned | From 1 May as at 30 june |
Loire, Coastal Vendée and Sèvre niortaise: other sectors | From 1er april to July 31 | From 1er april to July 31 |
Garonne, Dordogne, Charente, Seudre, Leyre: Arcachon basin except civeliers | Not concerned | Not concerned |
Garonne, Dordogne, Charente, Seudre, Leyre: Other sectors and elvers of the Arcachon basin | From 1er May to July 31 | From 1er May to July 31 |
Adour - Coastal waterways | From 1er april to July 31 | From 1er april to July 31 |
Rhine - Meuse | From 15 April to July 31 | From 15 April to July 31 |
Rhône Mediterranean and Corsica basins | Fishing forbidden | Fishing forbidden |
Between June 14 and July 31, 2026, recreational anglers must declare their catches of yellow eels within 24 hours .
One online service allows the declaration to be made:
Mandatory reporting of catches of yellow eels by amateur anglers
In case of difficulties to file the declaration online, you must send your declaration on free paper the departmental federation for fisheries and the protection of the aquatic environment concerned.
Please note
Depending on the local characteristics of the aquatic environment, the prefect may prohibit fishing for one or more species of fish in certain parts of watercourses or bodies of water. To know the species concerned and the duration of the ban, ask the departmental federations of fishing and protection of aquatic environments.
Who shall I contact
Fishing without a fishing card
Fishing without a fishing card is punishable by a fine of up to €450.
If you fish without your fishing card, you risk a fine of €38.
Fishing in a prohibited place
Fishing in a prohibited place is punished by a fine of up to €750.
Fishing during prohibited periods
Failure to respect the opening periods of the fishery shall be punished by a fine of up to €450.
Fishing during the hours of prohibition
Failure to respect the authorized hours to fish is punished by a fine of up to €450.
On the same subject
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
Fee for protection of the aquatic environment
Open waters (Article L431-3)
Enclosed waters (Article L431-4)
Organization of recreational fishing
Conditions for the exercise of the right to fish
Membership in an amateur fishermen's association
Conditions for the exercise of the right to fish
Amounts of fines