Opening of the 2020 fishery: all dates by species

Theopening of fishing 2020 is for many fishermen the most important of the season, and whether for the opening of trout fishing or the opening of predator fishing. However, the opening of the fishery obeys well-defined rules that it is important to specify for this opening 2020. Here are the details to know for the opening of the 2020 fishery.

Ouverture de la pêche 2020

For people wishing to learn about fishing, firstly know that our French waters are divided into two categories. 1st category waters and 2nd category waters. Theopening of fishing will therefore be different between these two categories of watercourses.

The difference between 1st and 2nd category

A first category watercourse corresponds to a river, lake or pond mainly comprising salmonids. There are fish such as the trout, salmon or common oombre, ...
This type of watercourse is commonly called " trout river »Or salmonid river.

A second category watercourse  corresponds to a river, stream, lake or pond comprising mainly cyprinids or “white fish”. We find for example roach, carp or chub. They also mainly include predators like the pikepike perch, black bass, pole in core catfish. We usually talk about white fish. For white fish (and not predators), there is no opening period in 2020, no closing. However, there are exceptions for certain species and in certain regions.

Ouverture pêche 2020

In 1st category, the opening period of fishing is limited to part of the year in 2020.

The opening dates take into account the reproduction cycles of the species concerned. We call this spawning period. Failure to adhere to these firmer fishing periods can result in heavy fines.

Please note, the fishing opening dates indicated below can be modified locally. In particular, the prefect has the power to extend or reduce the authorized fishing periods. It is therefore advisable to get information from a fishing association approved in your department. This will allow you to know the exact applicable opening and closing dates. at your house.

Ouverture de la pêche à la truite 2020

The opening of trout fishing 2020

The opening of trout fishing is the first opening of the year in 2020. It announces the start of the trout fishing season in France.

For 1st category waters (mainly populated with trout), the opening period starts on 2nd Saturday of March, i.e. Saturday March 14, 2020.

2020 trout fishing closure takes place third Sunday in September, i.e. Sunday 20 September 2020

The opening of the 2020 pike fishery

The opening of the pike fishery represents the second largest date in the fisherman's calendar. In 2nd category, the opening period of pike fishing in 2020 takes place on April 25, 2020. The closure of the 2020 pike fishery is therefore the penultimate Sunday of January, be the January 24, 2021.

Ouverture de la pêche au brochet 2020

On a national level, all the other predators (pike perch, perch, catfish and black-bass) are not “supposed” to be protected by a period of opening and closing of fishing in 2020. These can be fished throughout the year. year provided you do not use fishing techniques likely to catch pike during the closed period: lure fishing, live fishing, ...

Be careful though. Some federations are taking local measures to protect predator fish. They offer opening and closing dates specific to each department and each species.

For example, given the distinct reproduction periods for pike and pike-perch, some federations choose to request a specific opening period for pike and pike-perch.

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It is therefore advisable to get information from a fishing association approved in your department.

The opening of the 2020 grayling fishery

The opening of the grayling fishery in 2020 starts on Saturday May 16 until Sunday September 20, 2020 in 1st category waters. For 2nd category waters, the opening periods of the common shade in 2020 go from Saturday May 16, 2020 to December 31, 2020.

What about the other fish?

Salmonid fishing (brown trout, char, arctic char and cristivomer) and rainbow trout fishing open up new possibilities. Saturday March 14, 2020 to Sunday September 20, 2020 in 2nd category waters.

Regarding eel and migratory fish (Atlantic salmon, shad, shad, sea lamprey, river lamprey and sea trout), as vulnerable species, specific fishing provisions exist at the local level.

It is therefore advisable to get information from an approved fishing association in your department to know the exact opening dates of the 2020 fishery applicable near you.

When can we fish?

For those who wonder until what time fishing is allowed, the law should be clarified. Fishing is allowed one half an hour before sunrise and an half an hour after going to bed.

The prefect can however locally authorize night fishing for certain species (carp for example). Special schedules can also be adopted for certain species.

Summary of dates at national level *

Ouverture de la pêche 2020

* Numerous exceptions exist concerning the opening dates and catch sizes according to the departmental federations. For example, Haute-Garonne has just switched black-bass to “No-kill”. it is therefore forbidden to take it regardless of the size of the catch. In Aveyron, there is no closure of fishing but rather the establishment of reserves on the breeding grounds of predators

Please check with your AAPPMA.

Opening of fishing 2020

  • March 14, 2020 : Opening of trout fishing in 1st category
  • April 25, 2020 : Opening of pike fishing
  • April 25, 2020 :Opening of pike-perch fishing 
  • May 16, 2020 : Opening of the grayling fishery
  • April 25, 2020 : Opening of black bass fishing

Fishing closure 2020

  • September 20, 2020 : Closure of 1st category trout fishing
  • January 24, 2021 : Closure of pike fishing 
  • September 20, 2020 : Closure of the grayling fishery
  • January 24, 2021 : Closure of pike-perch fishing
  • January 24, 2021 : Fishing closure black-bass

Legal catch sizes 2020

  • 30 cm for trout
  • 60 cm for pike
  • 30 cm for the black-bass
  • 50 cm for pike-perch
  • 30cm for common shade
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Useful links for a successful opening in 2020:

Learn to fish with a fishing guide

Start lure fishing

Find a fishing guide

Enjoy the opening of fishing with a fishing guide by clicking here

To read the other Rodmaps articles, it's here