Opening of the 2023 fishing season: All opening dates by species

The opening of the 2023 fishing season is still eagerly awaited by anglersWhether it's the pike fishing or the trout fishing. As every year, it is important to respect the rules in force for the opening of fishing season. Here are the dates and rules to follow for the opening of the 2023 fishing season.

Firstly, there are two types of watercourse in France: the 1st category waters and the 2nd category waters. The opening dates for trout fishing and pike fishing therefore depend on the category of watercourse.

2nd category watercourses vs 1st category watercourses: What are the differences?

A 1st category river is mainly made up of fish belonging to the salmonids. This family includes fish such as the trout, the common shadow, Arctic char, the salmon or the huchon. These are often referred to as "trout rivers" because trout are often dominant in these waters.

Conversely, a 2nd category river is mainly made up of fish belonging to the cyprinidae. Also known as "white fish", this family includes the roach, bleak, the carp, the chub or the bream . For these fish, There is no opening or closing period for fishing in 2023. However, these rivers often have carnivorous fish such as the pike, the pike perch, the black bass, the pole and the catfish. Fishing opening and closing dates do exist for these species...

Why are there opening and closing dates for fishing?

The opening dates for the 2023 fishing season are based primarily on fish reproduction cycles. These cycles are known as spawning periods. It is therefore essential to respect these reproduction periods when fishing is closed in order to protecting our fish. Failure to comply with these rules may result in financial penalties.

The opening dates for fishing mentioned below may vary from one area to another. We therefore recommend that you contact an approved association for fishing and protection of the aquatic environment (AAPPMA) in your département. This will enable you to find out the exact opening and closing dates for the 2023 fishing season in your region. This will ensure that you comply with the rules in force.

Trout fishing opens in 2023

Trout fishing always opens on the first day of the year.. In the 1st category, trout fishing opens in all French departments on the second Saturday in March, as it does every year, Saturday 11 March 2023. Fishing for trout in 2023 will close on sunday 17 september 2023, i.e. third Sunday in September.

Note that the opening period for trout may be shifted by a few weeks in mountain lakes, to April, May or even June depending on the department. Each river has its own characteristics. So be sure to check the specific rules in force with your local AAPPMA or fishing federation.

Here is some additional information to be aware of when trout fishing opens:

Fishing opens half an hour before sunrise
Catch quotas can vary from 3 to 10 fish depending on the rules in force.
The minimum catch size can also vary from 20 to 23 cm, or even more on some rivers.
Some AAPPMAs are also experimenting with the "catch window", so it's important to find out before you go fishing.

Opening of pike fishing in 2023

Pike fishing opens in 2023 is the second most important date in the angler's calendar. In 2nd category, pike fishing in 2023 opens on the last weekend in April, 29 April 2023. The closing date for pike fishing in 2023 is the last weekend in January of the following year, i.e. 28 January 2024.

Pike-perch, perch, black-bass and catfish are not officially protected by an opening or even a closing period for fishing in 2023. In theory, you can fish for these species all year round. The only condition is that you do not use techniques to catch pike during the closed season.

So, for example, you can fish with worms during the closed season for pike.

However, more and more federations are taking measures to protect pike-perch, black-bass, perch and catfish locally. The opening and closing dates for fishing in 2023 are therefore different from the national dates, depending on the reproduction periods of the various fish.

You should therefore contact the fishing federation in your département for more information.

Opening of grayling fishing 2023

The 2023 grayling fishing season opens on of the 3^th Saturday in May, i.e. 20 May 2023. Closure is scheduled for Sunday 17 September 2023, in 1st category.. In 2nd category, the opening and closing periods for common grayling in 2023 are from 20 May 2023 to 31 December 2023.

Opening of fishing season 2023 for other species

Salmon fishing opens in the same way as trout fishing, or from Saturday 11 March 2023 at Sunday 17 September 2023.

For shad, eel, salmon and other migratory fish, specific fishing provisions exist at the local level.

You should therefore contact the fishing federation in your département or the place where you fish.

When can we fish? Legal hours for fishing

It is important to clarify this point in conjunction with the opening and closing dates for fishing. You can fish a half an hour before sunrise and an half an hour after going to bed.

Night fishing is generally prohibited but may be authorised under prefectoral decree.

Summary of opening dates for fishing and catch sizes at national level *.

fishing opening dates and catch sizes at national level

*Numerous derogations exist concerning the opening dates for fishing and catch sizes. For example, fishing is not closed in Aveyron, but reserves have been set up in places where carnivores reproduce.

Please check with your AAPPMA.