Bocholt-Herentals Canal is a canal in Antwerp/Limburg, Flanders, Belgium. The water holds Carp, Bream, Roach, Tench, Pike, Perch — carp fishing is the primary draw for visiting UK anglers.
Night fishing is permitted at Bocholt-Herentals Canal. Night fishing permitted with groot visverlof. Running east from Herentals to Bocholt (Dutch border). Excellent carp canal — part of INBO fish survey coverage. Connects to Zuid-Willemsvaart near Dutch border.. Regarding boats: Boats permitted on navigable waterways. Float tubes allowed. Stay clear of commercial navigation..
At just 146 miles from Calais, Bocholt-Herentals Canal is one of the closest quality fishing venues to the UK. Flanders — a flat, canal-rich landscape within easy reach of the Channel Tunnel — makes an excellent short-break destination.
Night fishing is permitted at Bocholt-Herentals Canal. Night fishing permitted with groot visverlof. Running east from Herentals to Bocholt (Dutch border). Excellent carp canal — part of INBO fish survey coverage. Connects to Zuid-Willemsvaart near Dutch border.
Boats: Boats permitted on navigable waterways. Float tubes allowed. Stay clear of commercial navigation.
Permits required: Vlaams visverlof (groot visverlof, ~€14.50/year from Natuur en Bos) required for all Flemish public waterways. Buy online at natuurenbos.vlaanderen.be or at the post office. Valid 1 Jan–31 Dec. Klein visverlof (~€6/year) for daytime only, 1 rod, no lures. Some waters require additional local fishing club membership card.
Fishing in Flanders requires a VISpas (Flemish fishing permit, groot visverlof), available from Sportvisserij Vlaanderen. Night fishing permissions are built into site-specific rules — no separate night permit is required in Flanders.
Local authority: Agentschap Natuur en Bos (ANB) · www.visverlof.be
Bocholt-Herentals Canal holds carp, bream, roach, tench, pike, perch. Carp fishing is the primary draw for visiting UK anglers.
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All year for most species on public waterways. Ecologically valuable waters: NO fishing 16 April–31 May (spawning). From 1 March–15 April in ecologically valuable waters: no bait fish or lures >2cm. Pike: closed 1 March–last Saturday April. Zander/Perch: closed 1 April–last Saturday April. Mandatory no-kill: Eel/Paling (full ban — immediate release). Waterlopen Zwalm and IJse: full mandatory no-kill all year, no bait fish.
Antwerp/Limburg is home to a number of public fishing venues accessible with a valid Belgian fishing permit. Use PiscaMaps to find all venues in Antwerp/Limburg and across Flanders.