Public Fishing in Hauts-de-France, France

Carp Fishing in Hauts-de-France

Hauts-de-France is the closest region to the UK — several venues are within 30 miles of Calais, making it uniquely suited to day trips, overnighters and weekend sessions without a long drive. The region's flat canal network, including the Canal de la Sensée, Canal du Nord and numerous smaller waterways, holds excellent carp, bream and zander fishing under the standard Carte de Pêche. Night fishing is available on many canal sections. The proximity to Calais and ease of access make Hauts-de-France an ideal starting point for UK anglers new to fishing in France.

Species found across Hauts-de-France's public waters include Bream, Carp, Perch, Pike, Tench, Zander. A valid Carte de Pêche and affiliation with the local AAPPMA are required at all venues. Annual, weekly and daily licences are available online — buy before leaving the UK.

Planning a Trip to Hauts-de-France

Hauts-de-France is the closest French region to the UK — some venues are under 30 miles from Calais. It's ideal for a long weekend without a full travel day. The region's extensive canal network and river stretches on the Somme and Oise provide excellent public fishing. Carp fishing runs year-round on most waters, with summer evenings particularly productive. A Carte de Pêche is required — buy online before leaving.

Rivers & Canals in Hauts-de-France

The Somme, Oise, Authie and Scarpe provide extensive public river fishing across Hauts-de-France. The Somme in particular — both the river and its accompanying canal — holds good bream and carp on public stretches accessible under the Carte de Pêche. The Canal de Saint-Quentin links several river systems and offers easy bank access.

PiscaMaps covers 155 rivers and 39 canals in Hauts-de-France — each with full rules, night fishing details and local AAPPMA information.

Departments in Hauts-de-France

Select a department to see its fishing venues, night fishing rules and species information.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How many public fishing venues are there in Hauts-de-France?+
  Hauts-de-France has 140 public fishing venues listed on PiscaMaps, spanning 5 departments. These include lakes, reservoirs, rivers and canals — filter by species, night fishing and bivvy permissions on the map to find the right venue for your trip.
• Is night fishing allowed in Hauts-de-France?+
  13 venues in Hauts-de-France permit night fishing. Night carp rules in France are set at departmental level and can change seasonally — always check the individual venue page and verify with the local AAPPMA before planning an overnight session. A valid Carte de Pêche and AAPPMA affiliation are required for night fishing.
• What fish species can I catch in Hauts-de-France?+
  Public waters in Hauts-de-France hold Bream, Carp, Perch, Pike, Tench, Zander. Carp are the primary target for most visiting UK anglers — all carp must be handled carefully and returned. Species availability varies by venue, department and season.
• Can I bivvy camp at fishing venues in Hauts-de-France?+
  136 out of 140 venues in Hauts-de-France permit bivvy camping under standard French bivouac rules — one rod, within 10 metres of the water, no open fires. Check each venue page for specific conditions and any additional AAPPMA requirements.
• Do I need a fishing licence for Hauts-de-France?+
  Yes — all anglers fishing in France require a valid Carte de Pêche, available from cartedepeche.fr before you leave the UK. You also need to be affiliated with the local AAPPMA for the specific water you are fishing. Annual, weekly and daily licences are all available online.
• How do I find the best carp fishing in Hauts-de-France?+
  Use the PiscaMaps interactive map to filter venues in Hauts-de-France by species (select Carp), size, night fishing and bivvy permissions. All public venues with carp are listed with full rules, access notes and distance from Calais. Larger waters — reservoirs over 50ha — tend to produce the biggest carp on public banks.

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