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Fishing

The most beautiful fishing spots

If you’re a fishing enthusiast, you’ll love our lakes and rivers! The French Riviera’s mild climate, lush green valleys and high mountains give it great fishing potential. Here you’ll find a wide range of certified fishing lakes and rivers, accessible free of charge to all holders of a fishing license. Beautiful populations of Fario trout await both the initiated and the casual angler. Discover all our “discovery” and “no-kill” courses, in both fresh and white water, for intense fishing in an equally exceptional setting!

Where to fish

on the territory?

The Roya and Bévéra valleys offer 130 kilometers of fishing trails. Between gorges and mountain lakes, Menton, Riviera & Merveilles offers anglers a host of first-class fishing sites.

The Roya and Bévéra are the region’s two major mountain streams. Their bodies of water represent a real treasure trove for amateur and experienced anglers alike. Fishing routes are signposted along the riverbanks.

In the guide, you’ll find all the AAPPMA contacts for our villages, fishing card prices, the different routes and much more!

The Bévéra :

home of the Fario trout

The Bévéra is a Franco-Italian river that rises in the Authion massif at an altitude of 1,980 meters, south of the Mercantour National Park. The French part of the river is entirely classified as a 1st category fish river, and is 27 kilometers long.

It’s the kingdom of the Fario trout! From its source to downstream of the Gorges du Piaon, it is the only species to colonize this river. Below, it is accompanied by Blageon, Barbeau méridional, Vairon, as well as a few eels and even white-footed crayfish.

Adventurers beware!

The numerous tributaries of the Bévéra, though steep, offer a formidable playground for daredevil anglers in search of adventure and isolation.

Interactive map of the Bévéra

The Roya :

the most Italian of French rivers

The river of the same name rises at an altitude of 1,781 meters in the upper Roya valley, on the Col de Tende, and flows into the Mediterranean at Ventimiglia in Italy. It flows for a total length of 59 kilometers, the last 19 of which are Italian.

But did you know? Before 1860, the Roya was entirely within the kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia. It wasn’t until 1947 that the communes of Tende and La Brigue joined French territory, thus extending the Franco-Italian border.

A river rich in fish and a renowned fishing destination, the Roya is particularly popular with fly fishermen. Its fame is mainly due to its trophy fish.

INFO 2025

Fishing is open throughout the Roya, on all AAPPMA territories, excluding the commune of Tende.

Only two sections remain closed in 2025:

The Roya from the bridge of the wastewater treatment plant downstream of Fontan to its connection with the Ceva.
From the EDF water intake in the commune of St Dalmas de Tende to its connection with the Levenza.

As the Roya AAPPMAs are reciprocal, members with fishing cards from other departments affiliated to an AAPPMA can fish there without having to buy a new card on site.

The cross-border section is also open to reciprocal fishing from Breil to Fanghetto.

For all sectors of the Roya open post Alex, including Lac des Cygnes in Breil sur Roya, the following regulations are in force:

A regulatory catch size for fario trout: 25 cm
Number of salmonids per day and per angler: 3

Patraque de la Roya
President Alain Brunelli
Tel: 06 82 03 96 60
Mail: patraque.roya@gmail.com

Interactive map of La Roya

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Tende

Come and enjoy an unforgettable fishing experience!

France’s top fishing region, the commune of Tende nestles between the Piedmont and the Riviera, offering you a territory of wild scenery and special features that make it a unique and exceptional fishing spot.

With 120 km of waterways and some 30 lakes, the Tende area has everything you need for a 100% natural fishing experience.

This border territory with Italy is governed by the Association des Pêcheurs de Tende (APT), where all anglers wishing to fish in 1st category freshwater are required to purchase a special fishing card in addition to a federal fishing license.

From the upper reaches of the La Roya river in the valley furrow at Saint-Dalmas-de-Tende, to the lakes of the Vallée des Merveilles at an altitude of 2,500 m, via the many torrents with their alpine vegetation that rise from the highest peaks of the Mercantour National Park, our region abounds in extraordinary fishing sites, just a stone’s throw from the Côte d’Azur coastline.

Just 1h15 from Nice, less than 45 minutes from Menton and the Riviera, fishing in Wonderland opens the door to all its secrets…

So don’t delay – come and discover the charm of trout fishing in our mountains, with something for every taste and level of experience!

Association des Pêcheurs de Tende

Tel: 06 99 62 33 23
Mail: peche.tende@gmail.com
Website: https: //www.peche-tende.fr/

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Interactive map: Fishing limits on the Haute Roya

To reach the Roya Valley

Roya access
The Roya Valley and its villages are waiting for you! Road and rail access has been improved. Only the Col de Tende tunnel is currently closed.
Access to the Roya Valley

Course

“discovery

These are easy-to-access courses where fishing is facilitated by the regular supply of spill trout. They are designed for novice anglers who want to learn the ropes, as well as for experienced anglers who want to spend some quality time at the water’s edge.

Lac aux Cygnes discovery course – Breil
Sospel discovery trail – Under the village from Pont Sainte-Marie to Pont de la Source
La Brigue discovery trail – Village logis hôtel Le Mirval
Fontan discovery trail (for under-13s) *closed
Saint-Dalmas de Tende discovery trail *closed

Courses

No-kill

Over the last few years, there has been a growing trend towards fishing for the sheer pleasure of catching fish. As the name suggests, these are courses where it is compulsory to return certain fish to the water.

Moulinet no-kill course – Peira Cava
Sospel no-kill course – Village entre les 3 ponts
Cross-border no-kill course – Pont de l’Arme
Breil-sur-Roya no-kill course
La Brigue no-kill course – Village

Courses

“sport” courses

These high quality fish runs are renowned for their management and fish populations. They are managed on a heritage basis and the fish are 100% wild.

Gorges de Paganin “sport” course *closed

Regulations

Visit the Alpes-Maritimes Fishing Federation website to find out more about current regulations, and see the list of Associations Agréées pour la Pêche et la Protection du Milieu Aquatique (AAPPMA).

Water bodies

and sea fishing

Are you more of a sea angler? Or do you prefer the peace and quiet of a lake? In Menton, Riviera & Merveilles, in addition to its two flagship rivers, there’s also the possibility of varying your fishing sessions!

Sea fishing

In Menton

Departing from Menton’s old port, you can also make a fine catch in the crystal-clear waters between Monaco and Italy. Several companies offer boat hire with all the necessary equipment (rods, bait, etc.), accompanied by a fishing guide.

Bass, mackerel, cuttlefish, bonito, pollack, pelagic, dolphinfish and barracuda are the coastal species that frequent the Bay of Menton.