Night Carp Fishing in Aude

The essentials in 20 seconds

Night carp fishing is legal in Aude on designated stretches defined by prefectural decree. Vegetable baits and boilies only, catch-and-release is mandatory. Geocarp lists 13 verified night venues in this department, with maps, access details and angler reports — in English.

The Aude is the department where you can legally night-fish the Canal du Midi — a UNESCO World Heritage waterway lined with plane trees, running through Cathar country between Carcassonne and the sea. The prefectural order in force allows carp fishing at any hour, all year, on four sections of it: the Alzonne lot over 16.85 km, the Marseillette pound over 8.7 km down to Trèbes, the Saint-Roc pound, and the grand bassin at Castelnaudary. The Canal de la Robine adds another 14.3 km through Narbonne. If you would rather fish open water, the river Aude is open from the anti-salt barrage up to Limoux, and there are stillwaters at La Ganguise, Montbel, Laure-Minervois, La Pène and Arques. Carcassonne and Narbonne are the obvious bases, both with budget flights and both an easy hop from the Mediterranean beaches and the Corbières vineyards — this is a strong choice if you are travelling with people who are not fishing. Rules: plant-based baits and groundbait only, you must mark your swim with a light, no carp kept or moved at night, no live carp over 60 cm transported at any time, and nothing fished from a lock or weir or within 50 m below it.

Verified venues

Status verified against the current prefectural decree.

Night fishing rules — Aude

Always check the departmental fishing federation's official list before your session.

Official list — Aude fishing federation

Frequently asked questions

Is night carp fishing legal in Aude, France?

Yes, on designated stretches defined by prefectural decree. Geocarp lists these venues with maps, access details and angler reports.

Do I need a French fishing licence?

Yes. A valid French fishing licence (carte de pêche) is mandatory and can be bought online at cartedepeche.fr. Some venues require an additional night carp option from the local angling club (AAPPMA).

What baits are allowed at night in France?

Vegetable baits and boilies only. Any carp caught at night must be released immediately — keeping or transporting carp at night is prohibited by French law (decree 2004-599).

Is the Aude (11) a good destination for a night carp fishing trip from the UK?

It is, and it is unusual: the Aude lets you night-fish the Canal du Midi. The prefectural order in force allows carp fishing at any hour, all year, on the Alzonne lot (16.85 km), the Marseillette pound (8.7 km), the Saint-Roc pound (4.5 km) and the grand bassin at Castelnaudary, plus 14.3 km of the Canal de la Robine through Narbonne. The river Aude is open from the anti-salt barrage to Limoux, and stillwaters include La Ganguise, Montbel, Laure-Minervois, La Pène and Arques. Carcassonne and Narbonne are well served by low-cost flights and sit between the Mediterranean and Cathar castle country. Rules: plant-based baits and groundbait only, a light must mark your swim, no carp kept or transported at night, no live carp over 60 cm moved at any time, and no fishing from or within 50 m below locks and weirs.