Night Carp Fishing in Somme

The essentials in 20 seconds

Night carp fishing is legal in Somme on designated stretches defined by prefectural decree. Vegetable baits and boilies only, catch-and-release is mandatory. Geocarp lists 108 verified night venues in this department, with maps, access details and angler reports — in English.

The Somme, in northern France, offers night carp fishing along the river valley and its canals. The Canal de la Somme and the Canal du Nord open long navigable stretches, from Rouy-le-Grand to Ham and down to the Saint-Valéry estuary. The upper Somme, around Bray-sur-Somme and Péronne, mixes peat-bog lakes with river backwaters, while the central valley from Amiens to Picquigny holds the club-managed lakes (Glisy, Argœuves, Ailly-sur-Somme). The lower valley, from Long to Condé-Folie and Longpré-les-Corps-Saints, lines up private and municipal étangs. Fishing is bank-only, on stretches designated by prefectural decree.

Verified venues

Status verified against the current prefectural decree.

Night fishing rules — Somme

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

Official list — Somme fishing federation

Frequently asked questions

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

Yes. It is one of the closest French departments to the Channel ports — under an hour from Calais or Boulogne — and combines legal night fishing on the Canal de la Somme, the Canal du Nord and dozens of valley lakes with the Baie de Somme coast. Amiens, Péronne and Abbeville make convenient bases, with bank stretches designated by prefectural decree.