Fishing in France: the licence and the rules, for visiting anglers
To fish public waters in France you need a “carte de pêche”, bought online on cartedepeche.fr: it makes you a member of a local association and pays the national fees. In 2026 the day card cost between €12 and €22 and the weekly card €36.5 to €40 in the departments we recorded. This guide explains which card to choose, the national rules for 2026-27 and the stricter rules of each department, with sources.
Format: 26-page A4 PDF, to print or keep on your phone, plus the online version.
What the guide contains
- Which card to buy (day, week, year, inter-federal) and the 2026 prices actually recorded
- Buying the card online, step by step, and what to carry
- The national rules translated and cited: 2026 and 2027 season dates, hours, rods, sizes, bag limits
- Private lakes, night carp and the pike closure: the three traps for visitors
- All 96 departments: federation website, 2026 open seasons, local sizes and bag limits; card prices for the 23 departments where they were recorded
- A French-English glossary of the signs and words you will meet on the bank
- Three costed trip examples and a pre-departure checklist
Delivery: instant access, right after payment.
For anglers from the UK and elsewhere planning a fishing trip or holiday in France.
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The reference guide to freshwater fishing rules, zone by zone
- 279regulated zones
- 22countries covered
- 1,069sources cited, line by line
- 32species followed
- 7languages
Figures for the whole site (all countries, all zones), counted in our data when it is built. Texts last checked: 22 October 2026. Our method
Checked51 automated checks on every site update, texts last checked on 22 October 2026
Method
- Primary sources: official texts of fishing authorities
- Every rule linked to its source, line by line
- Check date shown on every page
SourcesThe whole site: 1,069 cited sources, in 22 countries
This guide: official texts checked on 23 September 2026 (the date above is for the whole site).
In pictures
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Illustrative photos, published by their authors under free licences.
Contents
- France in one minute
- Which card to buy, and what it costs
- Buying the card online, step by step
- The national rules for 2026 and 2027
- Three traps for visitors
- Card prices by department
- Seasons, sizes and bag limits by department
- Glossary of the bank
- Three costed examples and a checklist
- Sources and method
Free extract: which card to buy, and the first departments
| Card | What it is | Price 2026 recorded |
|---|---|---|
| Personne majeure | Annual adult card: one year, in the department of the chosen association (AAPPMA) | €82 – €101 |
| Interfédérale | Annual inter-federal card: the annual card extended to the departments of the reciprocity groups (EHGO, URNE, CHI); check the group map before you buy | €114 |
| Hebdomadaire | Weekly card: 7 consecutive days | €36.50 – €40 |
| Journalière | Day card: one day | €12 – €22 |
| Department | Annual adult | Weekly | Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 Ain | €87 | €36.50 | €15 |
| 02 Aisne | €87 | €36.50 | €13 |
| 03 Allier | €87 | €36.50 | €14 |
| 04 Alpes-de-Haute-Provence | €87 | €36.50 | €17 |
| 05 Hautes-Alpes | €82 | €36.50 | €17 |
| 06 Alpes-Maritimes | — | €36.50 | — |
Who it is for
- The angler on holiday in France who wants the right card and no surprise from the water bailiff
- The carp or predator angler choosing between a day, week and annual card
- Anyone who reads French signs with difficulty: the glossary covers the words on the bank
Who it is not for
- Sea fishing: the guide covers freshwater only
- Anglers looking for spots or tactics
- Night carp department by department: that is the separate Pescatlas night carp guide
How to use the guide
It is not an official document: the prefectoral order of the department and the regulations of the association or fishery are binding, and the French wording prevails over our translation. Where a price or rule was not published, the guide says so instead of guessing. Card prices were recorded for 2026; the 2027 cards go on sale around December.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a fishing licence in France?
Yes, to fish public freshwater you need a carte de pêche, which includes membership of a local association (AAPPMA) and the national fees. Some private lakes and fish farms (“eaux closes”) set their own rules and are not bound by the national dates (art. R436-9 of the Environment Code): ask the owner which permit applies.
How much is a French fishing licence?
In the departments recorded for 2026: day card €12-22, weekly card €36.5-40, adult annual card €82-101, inter-federal annual card €114. The guide lists the price department by department.
Can I buy it online in English?
Cards are sold online on cartedepeche.fr, the national platform of the fishing federations: you choose the department and the association, the card type, then pay and keep the card as a PDF on your phone.
How up to date is the guide?
The data were recorded on 23/09/2026, from the Environment Code and the 2026 orders and federation pages. The 2027 season dates are calculated from the permanent national rule and marked as such.
€24.00 · £20.90 · $26.90 VAT included, one-off payment
Instant access after payment · card, Apple Pay or Google Pay on Stripe’s secure page, your card details never touch our servers.
For €55.00 more, the bundle: 4 PDF guides, €19.75 per guide. →