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Lac de Carcès is a scenic 50-hectare Provençal reservoir offering excellent carp potential alongside pike, zander and catfish—ideal if you're seeking something beyond the well-trodden northern French circuits. Night fishing is permitted for carp anglers, and boats are allowed, giving you flexibility to explore deeper summer zones in this warm southern setting. Located 555 miles from Calais in Var, you'll need to contact AAPPMA du Var to confirm night fishing conditions and obtain your mandatory fishing permit before arrival.
Night fishing at Lac de Carcès is permitted but with restrictions. Night carp in Var requires specific prefectoral authorisation on designated parcours. Check current authorised sites at pechevar.fr before fishing at night. Source: pechevar.fr
Bivouac & overnight camping is permitted at Lac de Carcès under standard French fishing law — one rod, within 10m of the water, no open fires.
Required permits & cards: Var card (CHI). Mandatory online peg reservation. No-kill for carp.
Managed by AAPPMA du Var. Always verify current rules with the AAPPMA before your session — regulations can change seasonally.
Lac de Carcès holds carp, pike, perch, zander, bream, catfish. 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 de Carcès — you will also need to be affiliated with AAPPMA du Var. Licences are available online before your trip.
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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 de Carcès, you need a valid Carte de Pêche (French fishing licence), available online at cartedepeche.fr before you leave the UK — affiliation with AAPPMA du Var is included in the purchase process. Annual, weekly and daily licences are all available online.
Var is home to numerous public fishing venues. Browse all venues in Var or explore all of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.
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.
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