Filter by species, size, night fishing, boats and bivvy. Find venues near Landes and across all of France.
Lac d'Aureilhan is a vast 332-hectare natural lake in the Landes offering excellent opportunities for carp and catfish alongside pike, zander and bream—ideal if you're after variety in a sprawling French venue. Night fishing is permitted on designated linear stretches, and electric-motor boats provide access to productive deeper areas, though it's a substantial 486-mile haul from Calais. You'll need to contact the local AAPPMA or FDAAPPMA 40 for current night-fishing zones, season dates and permit requirements before planning your trip.
Night fishing at Lac d'Aureilhan is authorised under Landes regulations. Night carp confirmed — AAPPMA Mimizan manages Étang d'Aureilhan with two marked linear bank sections on the lakeside. Season: 1 January–31 December 2026. Bank sections materialised by signage on the lake banks. Bank/bankside fishing only. Vegetable baits/boilies only (no maggots, worms, live/dead fish). Immediate release — no keep-sack. No fires. Shelter (neutral colour, portable) permitted for fishing only. Source: peche-landes.com (Arrêté DDTM/SPEMA/2025/1461)
Boat fishing: Boat access is restricted at Lac d'Aureilhan. Daytime boat fishing permitted (max 9.9CV, 10 km/h). Night boat fishing strictly forbidden. Municipal navigation vignette required. Multiple prohibited navigation zones — see on-site signage.
Bivouac & overnight camping is permitted at Lac d'Aureilhan under standard French fishing law — one rod, within 10m of the water, no open fires. Standard French bivouac law applies on bank night carp sectors.
Required permits & cards: Landes departmental card. Municipal navigation vignette required for boats. Night carp bank only.
Managed by AAPPMA locale / FDAAPPMA 40. Always verify current rules with the AAPPMA before your session — regulations can change seasonally.
Lac d'Aureilhan holds carp, catfish, pike, perch, zander, bream, black bass. Carp are the primary draw for visiting UK anglers. All carp should be handled with care and returned promptly. A landing mat and unhooking mat are essential kit for any carp session.
A valid Carte de Pêche is required to fish Lac d'Aureilhan — you will also need to be affiliated with AAPPMA locale / FDAAPPMA 40. Licences are available online before your trip.
Join to unlock full rules, night sectors, access notes and local camping spots for Lac d'Aureilhan and 96,200+ venues across France, Belgium, Netherlands, UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, Spain, Portugal, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Czechia.
2nd Category water. Carp/coarse: open all year. Pike: 25 Apr 2026–31 Jan 2027 (closed Feb–Apr). Zander/Perch/Catfish: all year. Pike season as above.
Always verify current rules with the local AAPPMA (AAPPMA locale / FDAAPPMA 40) before fishing. French fishing regulations can change seasonally.
France is the closest mainland European fishing destination for UK anglers. The Channel Tunnel (Folkestone–Calais, ~35 min) is the fastest crossing, while P&O Ferries (Dover–Calais, ~90 min) offer good value for heavy kit. Most northern French venues are within 2–4 hours of Calais; southern venues require a full day of driving.
A Carte de Pêche (French fishing licence) is required for all freshwater fishing. Buy online at cartedepeche.fr before you travel. Annual, weekly and daily options are available and include your AAPPMA affiliation for the selected department.
To fish Lac d'Aureilhan, you need a valid Carte de Pêche (French fishing licence), available online at cartedepeche.fr before you leave the UK — affiliation with AAPPMA locale / FDAAPPMA 40 is included in the purchase process. Annual, weekly and daily licences are all available online.
Night fishing is permitted at Lac d'Aureilhan — always check the current rules with AAPPMA locale / FDAAPPMA 40 before your session, as night carp regulations can change seasonally and vary by sector on larger waters.
Landes is home to numerous public fishing venues. Browse all venues in Landes or explore all of Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
France offers outstanding fishing year-round. The main coarse close season applies to some rivers (typically January–March for certain species), but still-water carp fishing on private and AAPPMA-managed lakes is available throughout the year. Spring (March–June) is the classic French carp season, with fish actively feeding and moving into shallow margins. Summer nights (June–August) are ideal for big-fish sessions on the large public reservoirs and rivers. Autumn (September–November) is particularly productive on the Auvergne and Languedoc lakes as temperatures drop. The Loire and Saône river systems produce excellent catfish sport from June through September, while the Dordogne and its tributaries fish well for chub, barbel and trout from spring through autumn.
Other public fishing venues near Lac d'Aureilhan on PiscaMaps: