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Lac de Sainte-Marie is a compact 12-hectare reservoir in the Tarn offering intimate bank fishing for carp, tench and pike in a peaceful Occitanie setting—ideal if you prefer shorter sessions without the pressure of larger waters. Day fishing only means early starts and evening finishes, but the small size makes it easy to locate fish and find sheltered swims. You'll need an AAPPMA day ticket from the local Fédération Pêche Tarn office (81) before fishing.
At 515 miles from Calais, Lac de Sainte-Marie requires a longer journey from the UK, but Occitanie — a region of warm summers and excellent coarse fishing, particularly for carp and catfish — rewards the trip.
Night fishing at Lac de Sainte-Marie is not permitted. Night carp not confirmed on this lake. Tarn's designated night carp plans d'eau are: La Borde-basse, Lac du Lézert, La Piscine and Le Camping (Dourgne), Les Roques and Lac de Técou (Gaillac), and river sections. Check pechetarn.fr/reglementation-activite-de-peche-tarn-81.php for the full current list. Source: pechetarn.fr Anglers must leave the bank before dark.
Bivouac & overnight camping is permitted at Lac de Sainte-Marie under standard French fishing law — one rod, within 10m of the water, no open fires.
Managed by FDAAPPMA 81 / Fédération Pêche Tarn. Always verify current rules with the AAPPMA before your session — regulations can change seasonally.
Lac de Sainte-Marie holds carp, pike, perch, tench, 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 de Sainte-Marie — you will also need to be affiliated with FDAAPPMA 81 / Fédération Pêche Tarn. 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 (FDAAPPMA 81 / Fédération Pêche Tarn) 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-Marie, you need a valid Carte de Pêche (French fishing licence), available online at cartedepeche.fr before you leave the UK — affiliation with FDAAPPMA 81 / Fédération Pêche Tarn is included in the purchase process. Annual, weekly and daily licences are all available online.
Tarn is home to numerous public fishing venues. Browse all venues in Tarn or explore all of Occitanie.
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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