Night Carp Fishing in Hautes-Pyrénées

The essentials in 20 seconds

Night carp fishing is legal in Hautes-Pyrénées on designated stretches defined by prefectural decree. Vegetable baits and boilies only, catch-and-release is mandatory. Geocarp lists 11 verified night venues in this department, with maps, access details and angler reports — in English.

The Hautes-Pyrénées put the Pyrenees on your horizon while you fish, and the permission is refreshingly simple: night carp fishing is allowed by derogation, strictly catch-and-release, on twelve designated stillwaters in the Adour plain below the mountains. Eight are open all year, including the whole of Lac de Gubinelli between Bours and Bazet, the right bank of Lac de Lourdes — with the pilgrimage town and the Pic du Jer above it — the large Arrêt-Darré reservoir spread across seven communes, the upper Gabas lake and the two Maubourguet lakes. The Adour at Hères is the only flowing-water beat, running from the Charutots dyke to the Gers boundary. Four more open from 1 February to 15 August: the main Gabas lake, Artagnan, Vic-Adour and Bazillac. Tarbes and Lourdes are the practical bases, both with rail and air links and both under an hour from the high Pyrenees. The rules are unambiguous and worth memorising: no animal baits, compulsory release, no storing or moving fish at all, bank fishing only, a light to mark your presence, four rods within three metres of bank, and no bait boats or drones at Gubinelli or the Louet lakes.

Verified venues

Status verified against the current prefectural decree.

Night fishing rules — Hautes-Pyrénées

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

Official list — Hautes-Pyrénées fishing federation

Frequently asked questions

Is night carp fishing legal in Hautes-Pyrénées, 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).

Are the Hautes-Pyrénées (65) a good destination for a night carp fishing trip from the UK?

Yes, if you want stillwater fishing with a mountain backdrop. The prefectural order in force allows night carp fishing by derogation, strictly catch-and-release, on twelve designated second-category stillwaters. Eight are open all year: Lac de Gubinelli at Bours and Bazet, the lower Bours-Bazet lake (left bank), Lac de Lourdes (right bank), the Arrêt-Darré reservoir across seven communes, the upper Gabas lake and the two Maubourguet lakes, plus the river Adour at Hères — the only flowing-water beat. Four more open from 1 February to 15 August: the main Gabas lake, Artagnan, Vic-Adour and Bazillac. Rules: no animal baits, compulsory release, no storing or transporting fish, bank fishing only, a light marking your presence, four rods within three metres of bank, no live carp over 60 cm moved at any time, and no bait boats or drones at Gubinelli or the Louet lakes. Tarbes and Lourdes are the natural bases.