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Petit Étang de Biscarrosse is a sizeable natural lake in the Landes offering solid mixed sport, with a healthy carp population alongside catfish, pike and tench across its 127 hectares — ideal for exploring something beyond the typical French carp lakes. Bank fishing only, and day-fishing restrictions mean you'll need to plan sessions carefully, though the variety of species keeps things interesting. You'll need an AAPPMA permit from Biscarrosse and a French fishing licence; it's roughly 475 miles south of Calais, so best combined with other Nouvelle-Aquitaine venues to justify the trip.
Petit Étang de Biscarrosse is 474 miles from Calais. For UK anglers willing to make the drive into Nouvelle-Aquitaine — a vast region stretching from the Dordogne to the Basque Country, with outstanding fishing across its many departments — the fishing is well worth it.
Night fishing at Petit Étang de Biscarrosse is not permitted. Night carp explicitly NOT authorised on Petit Étang de Biscarrosse. This lake is specifically excluded from the Landes night carp arrêté (DDTM/SPEMA/2025/1461) which covers other Biscarrosse lakes but not this one. Source: peche-landes.com Anglers must leave the bank before dark.
Boat fishing: Boats are permitted at Petit Étang de Biscarrosse. Boats permitted — summer engine restrictions may apply.
Bivouac & overnight camping is permitted at Petit Étang de Biscarrosse under standard French fishing law — one rod, within 10m of the water, no open fires.
Required permits & cards: Landes departmental card. Verify night carp parcours at peche-landes.com.
Managed by AAPPMA de Biscarrosse / FDAAPPMA 40. Always verify current rules with the AAPPMA before your session — regulations can change seasonally.
Petit Étang de Biscarrosse 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 Petit Étang de Biscarrosse — you will also need to be affiliated with AAPPMA de Biscarrosse / FDAAPPMA 40. 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 de Biscarrosse / 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 Petit Étang de Biscarrosse, you need a valid Carte de Pêche (French fishing licence), available online at cartedepeche.fr before you leave the UK — affiliation with AAPPMA de Biscarrosse / FDAAPPMA 40 is included in the purchase process. Annual, weekly and daily licences are all available online.
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.
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