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Retenue de Benquet is a compact 42-hectare reservoir in the Landes offering solid mixed coarse fishing with good carp and catfish populations alongside pike and zander. Day-only bank fishing keeps this intimate venue relatively quiet, making it ideal if you prefer a more relaxed pace without the pressure of night sessions. Located 506 miles south of Calais in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, it's best suited to a broader French tour rather than a dedicated trip—pick up a day ticket from the local AAPPMA and confirm current access arrangements before visiting.
At 506 miles from Calais, Retenue de Benquet 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 Retenue de Benquet is not permitted. Night carp not authorised on this lake. The Landes 2026 night carp arrêté covers: Cazaux-Sanguinet, Aureilhan, Léon, Soustons, Étang Hardy, Étang Blanc, Étang Turc, Étang Garros, and specific Adour/Gave river sections. This lake is not among them. Source: peche-landes.com Anglers must leave the bank before dark.
Bivouac & overnight camping is permitted at Retenue de Benquet under standard French fishing law — one rod, within 10m of the water, no open fires.
Required permits & cards: Landes card. Verify current opening status at peche-landes.com.
Managed by FDAAPPMA 40 / AAPPMA locale. Always verify current rules with the AAPPMA before your session — regulations can change seasonally.
Retenue de Benquet 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 Retenue de Benquet — you will also need to be affiliated with FDAAPPMA 40 / AAPPMA locale. 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 40 / 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 Retenue de Benquet, you need a valid Carte de Pêche (French fishing licence), available online at cartedepeche.fr before you leave the UK — affiliation with FDAAPPMA 40 / AAPPMA locale 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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