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Lac de Sainte-Croix is a massive Provençal reservoir offering serious potential for carp up to 30kg across its 2,160 hectares of stunning Mediterranean scenery—roughly 536 miles south of Calais. Night fishing is permitted in designated 3,000m zones but requires advance booking, making this an excellent destination for extended sessions targeting carp alongside pike and zander. You'll need a valid French fishing licence and membership with one of the three managing AAPPMAs; boat access (electric or petrol up to 6hp) opens up less-pressured areas worth exploring.
At 536 miles from Calais, Lac de Sainte-Croix requires a longer journey from the UK, but Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur — a stunning region with mountain lakes, large reservoirs and excellent carp fishing in the south — rewards the trip.
Night fishing at Lac de Sainte-Croix 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
Boat fishing: Only electric motors are permitted — thermal engines are forbidden. Electric motors only — thermal motors strictly forbidden on Lac de Sainte-Croix. Classified as "grand lac intérieur" with specific prefectoral regulations. 8 launch ramps available around the lake. Boat practically essential due to the lake's size and depth. Fishing zones delimited by on-site signs.
Bivouac & overnight camping is not permitted at Lac de Sainte-Croix. Wild camping completely forbidden — Verdon is a classified natural domain (Parc Naturel Régional). Rangers and gendarmes patrol frequently, especially in summer. Two qualified fishing accommodation sites: Camping Clos de Barbey (Bauduen) and Chanteraine (Aiguines).
Required permits & cards: Var or Alpes-de-Haute-Provence departmental card required (lake spans both departments). Standard reciprocal card accepted. Catch logbook mandatory for trolling and certain species — verify with local AAPPMA Artignosc.
Managed by AAPPMA La Truite Varoise du Verdon / AAPPMA La Truite Moustierenne / FDAAPPMA 83-04. Always verify current rules with the AAPPMA before your session — regulations can change seasonally.
Lac de Sainte-Croix holds carp, pike, perch, zander, bream, black bass. Carp are the primary draw for visiting UK anglers — fish to 30kg have been recorded. All carp should be handled with care and returned promptly. A landing mat and unhooking mat are essential kit for any carp session.
Carp to 30kg+ (GoCarp)
A valid Carte de Pêche is required to fish Lac de Sainte-Croix — you will also need to be affiliated with AAPPMA La Truite Varoise du Verdon / AAPPMA La Truite Moustierenne / FDAAPPMA 83-04. Licences are available online before your trip.
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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 La Truite Varoise du Verdon / AAPPMA La Truite Moustierenne / FDAAPPMA 83-04) 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 de Sainte-Croix, you need a valid Carte de Pêche (French fishing licence), available online at cartedepeche.fr before you leave the UK — affiliation with AAPPMA La Truite Varoise du Verdon / AAPPMA La Truite Moustierenne / FDAAPPMA 83-04 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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