Filter by species, size, night fishing, boats and bivvy. Find venues near Pyrénées-Atlantiques and across all of France.
Lac du Gabassot is a compact 40-hectare reservoir in the Pyrenees offering excellent carp alongside catfish, pike and zander—ideal if you want variety without the crowds of larger venues. Night fishing is permitted in designated zones, though you'll be working exclusively from the bank as boats are prohibited. Located 521 miles south of Calais, this is a serious road trip, but worth planning around if you're exploring southern France; you'll need a fishing licence and must check current AAPPMA 64 regulations before arrival.
At 521 miles from Calais, Lac du Gabassot ou de Garlin requires a longer journey from the UK, but Nouvelle-Aquitaine — a vast region stretching from the Dordogne to the Basque Country, with outstanding fishing across its many departments — rewards the trip.
Night fishing at Lac du Gabassot ou de Garlin is authorised under Pyrénées-Atlantiques regulations. Night carp confirmed — Lac du Gabas (Gardères/Luquet). Grand lac: 1 Feb–15 Aug only. Petit lac amont: year-round. No-kill. Vegetable baits only. No-kill mandatory. Source: federation-peche64.fr guide 2024/2025 + association-peche-le-pesquit.fr
Bivouac & overnight camping is permitted at Lac du Gabassot ou de Garlin under standard French fishing law — one rod, within 10m of the water, no open fires.
Required permits & cards: Pyrénées-Atlantiques card (CHI).
Managed by FDAAPPMA 64 / AAPPMA locale. Always verify current rules with the AAPPMA before your session — regulations can change seasonally.
Lac du Gabassot ou de Garlin holds carp, catfish, pike, perch, zander, tench, 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 du Gabassot ou de Garlin — you will also need to be affiliated with FDAAPPMA 64 / AAPPMA locale. Licences are available online before your trip.
Join to unlock full rules, night sectors, access notes and local camping spots for Lac du Gabassot ou de Garlin 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 (FDAAPPMA 64 / AAPPMA locale) 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 du Gabassot ou de Garlin, you need a valid Carte de Pêche (French fishing licence), available online at cartedepeche.fr before you leave the UK — affiliation with FDAAPPMA 64 / AAPPMA locale is included in the purchase process. Annual, weekly and daily licences are all available online.
Night fishing is permitted at Lac du Gabassot ou de Garlin — always check the current rules with FDAAPPMA 64 / AAPPMA locale before your session, as night carp regulations can change seasonally and vary by sector on larger waters.
Pyrénées-Atlantiques is home to numerous public fishing venues. Browse all venues in Pyrénées-Atlantiques 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 du Gabassot ou de Garlin on PiscaMaps: