Night carp fishing is legal in Manche on designated stretches defined by prefectural decree. Vegetable baits and boilies only, catch-and-release is mandatory. Geocarp lists 3 verified night venues in this department, with maps, access details and angler reports — in English.
Land at Cherbourg and you are already in the Manche, which makes this one of the shortest crossings-to-swim in France. The prefectural order in force — a permanent one, so it will not change under your feet — allows carp fishing at any hour on eleven venues, all slow, marshy, characterful water in the Cotentin and Bessin. The Douve gives three stretches through the Marais du Cotentin regional park, from Beuzeville-la-Bastille down to the Barquette flood gates at Carentan. The Vire gives four more, one of them running through Saint-Lô itself, and the Taute is open on both banks between Montmartin-en-Graignes and Carentan. Add a short marked beat on the Sienne at Quettreville and two stillwaters — the Étang du Goulet at Fresville and the Canal du Gravier at Carentan. This is D-Day country, with Utah Beach and Sainte-Mère-Église minutes from the Douve beats, so the trip works for non-anglers too. Rules: no baits containing animal products at night, compulsory release of every carp, and no carp held or moved during the night hours. Check the reserve zones around the weirs before setting up.
Status verified against the current prefectural decree.
Lac/Étang
Les étangs de Fierville, situés dans le Calvados, offrent un cadre naturel paisible propice à la détente et à l'observation de la faune locale. À proximité, la ville de Caen et ses sites historiques, comme le château ducal et l'abbaye aux Hommes, constituent un attrait culturel majeur.
Explore on the Geocarp mapLac/Étang
Le principal intérêt touristique proche du parcours de pêche de la Ramade (23) est le patrimoine naturel du Plateau de Millevaches, réputé pour ses paysages préservés et ses sentiers de randonnée. La région offre également la découverte de villages typiques de la Creuse et de leur architecture traditionnelle.
Explore on the Geocarp mapLac/Étang
Le Lac Clément, situé dans la Manche, est apprécié pour son cadre naturel paisible, idéal pour la détente et les activités de plein air. Il offre également un environnement propice à l'observation de la faune et de la flore locales.
Explore on the Geocarp mapAlways check the departmental fishing federation's official list before your session.
Yes, on designated stretches defined by prefectural decree. Geocarp lists these venues with maps, access details and angler reports.
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).
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).
It is one of the quickest to reach, with Cherbourg inside the department. The permanent prefectural order in force allows carp fishing at any hour on eleven venues. Three are on the river Douve through the Cotentin marshes, from Beuzeville-la-Bastille to the Barquette flood gates at Carentan; four are on the Vire, including a stretch through Saint-Lô and others at Pont-Hébert, Airel and Saint-Fromond. The Taute is open on both banks between Montmartin-en-Graignes and Carentan, and the Sienne has a marked 300 m beat at Quettreville. Two stillwaters complete the list: the Étang du Goulet at Fresville, where motorised craft are banned, and the Canal du Gravier at Carentan, where boats may not be used for fishing. Rules: no animal-based baits at night, compulsory release of every carp, and no carp retained or moved during the night hours. Several reserve zones around weirs overlap the beats.