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Since this Monday, January 26, 2026, pike fishing has been closed in the vast majority of départements. To continue fishing with lures, to catch catfish, pike-perch and black-bass for example, you have to juggle with regulations specific to each spot...
But as has been the case in Aveyron for the past seven years, all techniques are now authorized in the Tarn-et-Garonne département 365 days a year, in waters classified as second category. Prefectoral decree states: "it is possible (...) to fish with live fish, dead fish or artificial fish, spoons and other lures likely to catch pike in a non-accidental manner". Provided that a few simple rules are observed, such as releasing pike and black bass during their respective reproduction periods, or respecting the numerous temporary reserve zones (listed in the in Guide 2026 of the federation).
René Delcros, President of the Tarn-et-Garonne fishing federation, answered our questions:
The Tarn-et-Garonne fishing federation has started communicating on its social networks about this general opening. What are the first reactions from anglers?
René Delcros : "Initial feedback has been good, and they're happy to finally be able to fish all year round. We had already tested this regulation in 2025 on the Tarn and on the Balat-David lake. Both tests were conclusive. There were fears about pike-perch in particular, but there was no massacre or fishing pressure on the spawning grounds. I'm retired, I fish a lot, and I could hear this desire to move forward in the field. Today, I look at the comments and they're positive. The retailers are also happy, and there will be more presence at the water's edge to keep the cormorants away".
Why these new regulations?
"The aim was above all to simplify this stack of regulations. These were the criticisms we had from fishermen: we were so restrictive in the use of certain techniques that many were getting trapped. We took the opposite approach. We also had extensive discussions with the Aveyron fishing federation [which has been implementing these regulations since 2019, editor's note]. So we chose to extend the conditions tested in 2025 to the departmental level".
How do we get around the French Environmental Code, and in particular articles R436-6 and R436-33 on the opening period and authorized techniques?
"We don't have to get around them, the Environment Code only concerns pike. Of course, it's a bit limited when it comes to using lures. We've had a sympathetic ear from the technical fishing commission chaired by the prefect, with the DDT, the OFB, the gendarmerie... all those involved in the field. The Ministry of Ecology representatives said yes, we're covered. We had to convince everyone and we didn't get a single unfavorable opinion. As long as we protect the environment and the spawning grounds, they'll go along with us.
How does opening the second category 365 days a year work out in practice? By setting up reserves and increased surveillance?
"Absolutely. For the lakes, we focused mainly on pike-perch and their reproduction, with 20% of the surface area set aside as a temporary reserve zone. On the rivers, the AAPPMAs reported the spawning areas to us. On the canal, 2 of the 11 reaches have been set aside. There are signs and buoys in the field. On Geo-fishing here too, there is a simplification: the zones are the same for pike, zander and black-bass, until June 5.
They work in pairs all week, including weekends, and have a vehicle at their disposal. We cover the whole department. We had to be extra vigilant. The wardens also give recommendations: fishing without barbs, with only one tackle, fishing with dead hooks to be used as little as possible...
If you catch a pike between January 26 and April 24, you return it to the water. The same goes for black bass, between January 26 and June 5. I'd also like to remind you that since 2021, we've had a catch window for pike for the rest of the year; a quota of 3 carnivores per day, including just one pike; and many no-kill runs".
Aveyron was a pioneer in this regulation, and many other départements are now applying it to certain sectors. Do you think other departments will follow suit? Have you consulted the FNPF? Do you think that a general opening could be national?
"We've had calls from all over France, not just from neighboring departments. We'll give them feedback. We didn't consult the FNPF, but we're part of the Regional Association and there are four FNPF elected representatives who weren't against it. For years, we'd been asking the national federation to amend the Environment Code so that we wouldn't be at the limit, but that didn't happen. So we decided to go ahead.
