Night Carp Fishing in Sarthe

The essentials in 20 seconds

Night carp fishing is legal in Sarthe on designated stretches defined by prefectural decree. Vegetable baits and boilies only, catch-and-release is mandatory. Geocarp lists 18 verified night venues in this department, with maps, access details and angler reports — in English.

It is one of the few French departments that does not work from a list. Instead of naming individual beats, the prefectural order in force opens night carp fishing along the whole of the Loir and the whole of the Sarthe on public water, with a single exclusion: the regional nature reserve of the Cré-sur-Loir and La Flèche marshes. On top of that come the private-water beats set out in annexe 1 of the order, several of them lakes where you register by QR code on arrival — la Gèmerie, les Rouanneraies, Louplande, La Chartre-sur-le-Loir, La Flèche and Mamers. The Huisne adds one beat at Yvré-l'Évêque, from "la Maison Bleue" to the railway line, 750 m on the left bank. The second unusual point: you may fish from a boat as well as from the bank, provided the boat sits alongside the bank and is held by a weight — tying to the bank, to vegetation or to a stake is not allowed, and the boat must be positioned in daylight. Les Rouanneraies, eight hectares on the edge of Le Mans, only opens to multi-rod carp fishing on odd-numbered weeks, with compulsory release of carp and black bass. Code of conduct: bivvies only, no wild camping, no fires, and a light to show where you are.

Verified venues

Status verified against the current prefectural decree.

Night fishing rules — Sarthe

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

Official list — Sarthe fishing federation

Frequently asked questions

Is night carp fishing legal in Sarthe, 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 Sarthe (72) a good destination for a night carp fishing trip from the UK?

Yes, and for an unusual reason: there is no list to check. The prefectural order in force opens the entire Loir and the entire Sarthe on public water to night carp fishing, from the bank or from a boat, with one exclusion — the regional nature reserve of the Cré-sur-Loir and La Flèche marshes. That gives you long, navigable, easily accessed river rather than a handful of pegged beats. Private waters are listed separately in annexe 1, and several of them (la Gèmerie, les Rouanneraies, Louplande, La Chartre-sur-le-Loir, La Flèche, Mamers) require a QR-code registration on arrival. One beat is open on the Huisne at Yvré-l'Évêque. Boats must lie alongside the bank, held by a weight rather than tied off, and be positioned in daylight. Bivvies only, no wild camping, no fires, and a light to mark your swim.