Night carp · 57

Night Carp Fishing in Moselle

Venues sourced from the prefectural decree in force.

venues
46
rivers and canals
26
public lakes
14
private waters
6

The essentials in 20 seconds

Night carp fishing is legal in Moselle on designated stretches defined by prefectural decree. Vegetable baits and boilies only, catch-and-release is mandatory. Geocarp lists 46 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

Verified venues

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

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Night fishing rules — Moselle

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

Official list — Moselle fishing federation

Frequently asked questions

Is night carp fishing legal in Moselle, 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 Moselle (57) a good destination for a night carp fishing trip from the UK?

It is a strong option if you want river and canal fishing plus access to the big Lorraine stillwaters. The prefectural order in force allows night fishing for carp only, with no seasonal closure, on lot-by-lot sectors of the canalised river Moselle from Ancy-sur-Moselle and Novéant through Metz and La Maxe down to the German border at Contz-les-Bains, and on the Sarre and its canals at Grosbliederstroff, Sarreguemines and Sarralbe (counter-towpath side only). Stillwaters include the Étang du Stock, Gondrexange and Le Houillon on their canal-side banks, plus Bruch, Juville, the Uckange pits, Réchicourt, Fossieux and the Étang des Cygnes. One stretch, the Nied Allemande at Faulquemont, is open only from 1 June to 15 October. Rules: plant baits only, no animal baits or raw seed groundbait, no baiting from a boat, a presence light at the swim, no carp kept or moved at night, and no live carp over 60 cm transported at any time.

Moselle is border country — Germany and Luxembourg are minutes away — and it offers a mix of big canalised river, canal and famous Lorraine stillwaters that few departments can match. The prefectural order in force permits night fishing for carp, and carp only, with no seasonal closure on designated sectors. On the river Moselle that means lot-by-lot access from Ancy-sur-Moselle and Novéant, through Metz and the EDF pool at La Maxe, down past Uckange and Thionville to the German border at Contz-les-Bains. On the Sarre and its canals, Grosbliederstroff, Sarreguemines and Sarralbe are open, strictly on the counter-towpath side. The stillwater list is the draw for many: the Étang du Stock, Gondrexange and Le Houillon, all fished from the canal-side bank, plus the federation's Bruch lake, Juville, the Uckange pits, Fossieux and the Étang des Cygnes at Sarralbe. Metz and Sarrebourg are practical bases, both easy off the A4 from Reims. Rules are detailed: plant baits only, no animal baits, no baiting or line-dropping from a boat, a presence light at your swim, no carp retained or moved at night, and no rod pods or brollies pitched on the towpath service tracks.