Night carp · 44

Night Carp Fishing in Loire-Atlantique

Venues sourced from the prefectural decree in force.

venues
45
rivers and canals
24
public lakes
16
private waters
5

The essentials in 20 seconds

Night carp fishing is legal in Loire-Atlantique on designated stretches defined by prefectural decree. Vegetable baits and boilies only, catch-and-release is mandatory. Geocarp lists 45 verified night venues in this department, with maps, access details and angler reports — in English.

Positions shown to within 1 km. The precise swim map is for members.See the map

Featured — largest lake

Lac de barrage du Grand Vioreau

Joué-sur-Erdre · 220 ha

See the venue

Verified venues

Venues sourced from the current prefectural decree; private estates follow their operator's rules.

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Night fishing rules — Loire-Atlantique

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

Official list — Loire-Atlantique fishing federation

Frequently asked questions

Is night carp fishing legal in Loire-Atlantique, 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 Loire-Atlantique a good destination for a carp fishing trip from the UK?

Yes. It is an easy drive from the western Channel ports and combines legal night fishing on the Sèvre Nantaise, the Erdre, the Loire and the Acheneau with the city of Nantes and the Atlantic coast around Saint-Nazaire and the Loire estuary. Nantes and Ancenis make convenient bases, with accessible bank stretches designated by prefectural decree.

Loire-Atlantique, on France's Atlantic coast around Nantes, offers night carp fishing across rivers, canals and lakes. South of Nantes the Sèvre Nantaise holds a string of bank parcours — Le Pallet, La Haie-Fouassière, Vertou — while the Erdre runs north from Carquefou to Sucé-sur-Erdre. The Loire itself opens stretches from Ancenis to Oudon and around Vair-sur-Loire, and the Acheneau winds through the southern marshes from Port-Saint-Père to La Tancherie. Several canals — the Canal de Nantes à Brest, the Canal de la Martinière and the Canal Maritime de la basse Loire — add big, steady water, alongside quieter rivers like the Don, the Havre and the Boulogne. For lake sessions, the Grand Réservoir de Vioreau, the Étang de Choisel near Châteaubriant and a number of municipal lakes are open at night. Fishing is bank-only, on stretches designated by prefectural decree.