Fishing on the Côte d'Azur

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Fishing on the Côte d'Azur

River & Lake Fishing

Fishing is a widely practiced, popular sport in the many rivers and lakes of the Riviera which provide prime fishing. Most commonly caught are fountain salmon, pike and rainbow trout. The sport is, however, strictly policed for ecological reasons, and all restrictions must be adhered to.

Fishing areas fall into two categories, each of which has different permit requirements and seasons. You may not fish without a fishing permit (Carte de Pêche). The local Mairie provides dates for the season and information on where to buy a permit. 

The different kinds of Carte de Pêche available are: 

• Taxe Complète, an annual permit for category 1 fishing
• Taxe Réduite, an annual permit for category 2 fishing
• Carte d'exonéré de la taxe for someone accompanying the fisher
• Carte Journalière, a day pass
• Carte Jeune for the under 16s
• Carte Vacances, for the holiday period, 1 June to 30 September (although there is a limit of 15 consecutive days)

There are many local fishing associations and clubs throughout the Alpes-Maritmes and Var, which are affiliated with the Club Halieutique. This is an organisation which helps in the monitoring of legal fishing. If you wish to be a regular fisher, it is advisable to join your local group.

For more details on local information, contact the Fédération Départementale de Pêche (English may not be spoken).

Alpes Maritimes Fishing Facts & Contacts

The local angling federation has a comprehensive website in English with extensive information on the rules and regulations on angling, the open seasons, available catches and minimum size, the protection of aquatic animals and much more. 

It also has full details on local fishing organisations and locations, with a map and further information on each place. See the website Pêche Côte d'Azur.

• Alpes-Maritimes Contacts
  Féderation des Alpes-Maritimes pour la Pêche et la Protection du Milieu Aquatique
  At: 455 Promenade des Anglais, "Le Quadra", Nice
  Open: Monday to Friday 08:30-11:30 and 13:30-17:30
  Tel: 04 93 72 06 04
  Fax: 04 93 72 55 56
  e-mail
  Website
• Category 1 fishing
  1,200 Km of river fishing
  340 ha of lake fishing with a concentration of rainbow trout, river salmon and char
  One line permitted
• Category 2 fishing
  220 Km of river fishing
  25 ha of lake fishing with pike, black bass, perch and roach
  Four lines permitted
• Category Map

Var Fishing Facts & Contacts

• Fédération du Var pour la Pêche et la Protection du Milieu Aquatique
  At: Immeuble Foch, Rue des Déportés, BP 104, 83172 Brignols CEDEX
  Tel: 04 94 69 05 56
  Fax: 04 94 69 26 80
  Website
• Category 1 fishing
  600 Km of river fishing
  One line permitted
• Category 2 fishing
  300 Km of river fishing
  2,100 ha of lake fishing
  Four lines permitted
• Commonly found fish are trout and rainbow trout, chub, pike, carp, roach, grey mullet and perch
• Category Map

Deep Sea Fishing

Fishing is generally permitted between 30 and 50 nautical miles from the coast with tuna and swordfish being the most commonly-targeted prey. Licensed fishing parties generally use the ports of Sainte-Maxime, Sanary and Cogolin Marina. For more info (in French, usually) contact: 

• Comité PACA de la Fédération Francaise de Pêche en Mer 
  Tel: 04 91 72 63 96
• French Deep Sea Fishing Federation (Fédération Francaise de Pêche en Mer)

Spear Fishing 

This sport is heavily legislated regarding what can be caught, where and when. Information (in French) from:

• Nice
  Tel: 04 92 00 41 50
• Toulon 
  Tel: 04 94 46 92 00
• French Underwater Sports and Studies Federation (Fédération Française d'Etudes et de Sports Sous-Marins)