Night Carp Fishing in Seine-Maritime

The essentials in 20 seconds

Night carp fishing is legal in Seine-Maritime on designated stretches defined by prefectural decree. Vegetable baits and boilies only, catch-and-release is mandatory. Geocarp lists 29 verified night venues in this department, with maps, access details and angler reports — in English.

If you arrive by ferry at Dieppe or Le Havre, you are already in Seine-Maritime — no other French department is easier to reach from the UK, and the prefectural order in force allows carp fishing at any hour, all year, on a multi-year authorisation that will not change under your feet. The river Seine is open on three long public-domain sections either side of Rouen, tidal and industrial in places, wide and impressive throughout. Around a dozen club and federation lakes fill in the rest: two at Fécamp on the alabaster coast, the Epinay and Andelle lakes at the spa town of Forges-les-Eaux, waters at Saint-Aubin-le-Cauf and Saint-Denis-d'Aclon just inland from Dieppe, five lakes at Blangy-sur-Bresle, and the Bédanne, Saint-Hellier and Cléon ponds. The Varenne valley lakes at Saint-Aubin-le-Cauf are twenty minutes from the ferry, which makes an overnight session genuinely practical. Rules are simple: no animal baits and no artificial lures for carp at night, and everything caught between half an hour after sunset and half an hour before sunrise goes straight back, carp included. Four rods maximum.

Verified venues

Status verified against the current prefectural decree.

Night fishing rules — Seine-Maritime

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

Official list — Seine-Maritime fishing federation

Frequently asked questions

Is night carp fishing legal in Seine-Maritime, 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 Seine-Maritime (76) a good destination for a night carp fishing trip from the UK?

It is the easiest department in France to reach from the UK, with Dieppe and Le Havre both inside its boundaries, and the authorisation runs for several years rather than being renewed annually. The prefectural order in force allows carp fishing at any hour, all year, on three public-domain sections of the river Seine either side of Rouen, plus around a dozen club and federation lakes: two at Fécamp, the Epinoy at Monchaux-Soreng, the Epinay and Andelle at Forges-les-Eaux, waters at Saint-Aubin-le-Cauf and Saint-Denis-d'Aclon near Dieppe, five lakes at Blangy-sur-Bresle, and the ponds at Bédanne, Saint-Hellier and Cléon. The Varenne valley waters are twenty minutes from the Dieppe ferry, so an overnight session on arrival is realistic. Rules: no animal baits and no artificial lures for carp at night, immediate release of everything caught in the night hours including carp, four rods maximum.