You are allowed to fish from the top of a bridge only over watercourse considered non-navigable. Fishing from a bridge over a navigable waterway is therefore prohibited.

Unless otherwise indicated by specific signage, fishing from the bank is allowed in marinas.

However, the use of kayaks, float tubes, small boats, etc., for navigation or fishing within the marina is no longer permitted.

Naturally, it is important to show courtesy and consideration toward other marina users.

The float tube (which is not subject to any specific regulations) is considered a small recreational watercraft, like a kayak, canoe, paddleboard, or small inflatable boat.

As such, float tubes can be used on any body of water or watercourse where other small recreational craft are generally allowed.

However, there are a few watercourses where recreational boats (including float tubes) are prohibited for safety reasons—such as heavy barge traffic—in places like the Charleroi-Brussels Canal.

Unless there are clearly posted restrictions, float tubes can typically be used anywhere by default.

That said, the user must always be able to steer the float tube and quickly move out of the main navigational channel if boats are approaching (such as barges, yachts, tourist boats, etc.).

More information can be found on the page dedicated to boat fishing.

• Fishing by species group is permitted from the first Saturday in March until September 30 inclusive.
  
• Pike fishing is allowed from the first Saturday in March, but harvesting is prohibited until the first Saturday in June (minimum catch size: 60 cm).
  
• Only barbless hooks or hooks with flattened or pinched barbs are allowed.
  

• Only barbless hooks or hooks with flattened barbs are allowed.
  
• Starting from the opening on the first Saturday in March, fishing with dead minnows or gudgeons mounted on rigs specifically designed for this purpose, with a maximum length of 7 cm including the hook(s), is permitted. 
  
• Also from the first Saturday in March, fishing with artificial lures with a maximum length of 7 cm, including the hook(s), is permitted.
  

When pike fishing is closed in a watercourse, part of a watercourse, or a body of water, anglers are not allowed to use :

• Fish as bait, whether alive or dead, whole or in pieces, whether animated or not, regardless of the species.
  
• Artificial lures. 
  

Fishing is allowed in the backwaters of the Sambre. However, it is not permitted in the backwaters of the Meuse, except in the Hemlot backwater.

Night carp fishing, live bait fishing, and harvesting are prohibited there.

Yes, even though these cut-off channels are no longer connected to the river, these calm water areas are still subject to fishing regulations.

Night carp fishing, live bait fishing, and harvesting are prohibited there.

You can call 1718, the toll-free number for Wallonia's public service – S.O.S Environment.

You can also alert the police if it involves poaching, or the fire department in the case of pollution.

Authorization to install a fixed fishing platform along a waterway must be requested from the Operational General Directorate for Mobility and Waterways.

Information is available on the Waterways Department website (Rue Blondeau 1, 5000 Namur / +32 81 24 27 10).

To fish from a fixed platform, a type B fishing permit is mandatory.

Fishing permit can only be ordered through the official fishing permit website.

Having trouble placing your order?

If you’ve encountered any issues while ordering your license, made a mistake in your personal information, or are experiencing a payment problem, feel free to contact us:

By email : [email protected]

By phone: +32 81 411 570

(Morning: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM / Afternoon: 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM)

Le permis de pêche régional vous autorise à pêcher sur l’ensemble de cours d’eau navigable de Wallonie à savoir :

• The Meuse
• The Meuse diversion canal, from the Meuse in Liège to the Coronmeuse bridge
  
• The Sambre
• The Scheld (excluding its tributaries)
• The Dender, downstream from the confluence of the Western and Eastern Dender (in Ath)
  
• The canalized Haine
• The Lys
• All canals: Espierres, Ath-Blaton, Pommeroeul–Condé, Pommeroeul-Antoing, Nimy-Blaton, Antoing-Blaton, Ypres-Comines, Charleroi-Brussels (old and new), the Centre canal, Albert canal, Lanaye, Haccourt, Ourthe canal, etc.
  
• The "Grand Large" lakes at Péronnes and Mons
  
• The Semois downstream from the Deleau (or Nawés) mill in Herbeumont
  
• The Ourthe downstream from the Nisramont dam
  
• The Amblève downstream from the Remouchamps bridge
  
• The Lesse downstream from the first fixed dam
  
• The Eau d’Heure lakes
  
• The Nisramont lake
  

There are two options : 

• Either the child under 15 fishes while accompanied by an adult who holds a valid fishing permit—in which case, the child may fish under the same conditions as the adult's permit.
  
• Or the child fishes alone—in which case, they must have a J permit. This permit comes with a few conditions: it allows fishing during the day, every day of the year, using only one hand-held rod equipped with a single barbless hook or a hook with the barb flattened. Fishing is only allowed from the shore, including from a removable platform that is taken away after fishing, or with a maximum of five crayfish nets.
  

The J permit is free and available at www.permisdepeche.be

• The Semois downstream from the Deleau Mill (or Nawés) in Herbeumont
  
• The Ourthe downstream from the Nisramont dam
  
• The Amblève downstream from the Remouchamps bridge
  
• The Lesse downstream from the first fixed dam
  
• The Eau d’Heure lakes
  
• The Nisramont lake
  

An adult holding a fishing permit may supervise up to four children under the age of 15.

These children are then allowed to fish under the same conditions as the permit holder.

Yes, but you must be careful not to disturb the spawning of rheophilic cyprinids during this period.

However, in the Semois River, it is forbidden to enter the riverbed between the first Saturday of March and the first Saturday of June.

Yes, its use is permitted throughout Wallonia.

It is allowed in the main courses of the Meuse, the Sambre, and the Scheldt rivers, but it is prohibited outside these areas (e.g., backwaters, docks, hydraulic annexes, ports, etc.).

The use of a keepnet during night carp fishing is strictly prohibited, regardless of the location.

The use of a metal keepnet is prohibited.

Keeping the following species alive in a keepnet, basket, or any other container is not allowed :

• Pike
• Zander
• Brown trout

It is also forbidden to keep live fish or crayfish from group 4.

As for other species, you may keep them in a keepnet provided they meet the minimum size requirements and the maximum number of individuals allowed per angler per day.

Since gobies are not included in the list of fish species allowed to be used as live bait, using them alive is prohibited.

However, you may use a dead goby as bait.

During the closed season for pike, it is prohibited to use :

• whole fish as live or dead bait
• artificial lures
• birds, amphibians, or mammals, whether alive, dead, or whole

However, by way of exception :

• In mixed waters :

It is now permitted to fish with lures and dead bait (used with a rig) from the first Saturday in March to the first Saturday in June.

In this context, lures or rigs (including hooks and fish) must not exceed 7 cm in length. Only minnow and gudgeon may be used with a rig.

• In calm waters :

Fishing with artificial lures up to 7 cm in length and fitted with a single hook is allowed if used with fly-fishing equipment, from February 1st to the Friday preceding the first Saturday in June.

Daytime fishing is permitted from one hour before the official sunrise time until one hour after the official sunset time. To find the sunrise and sunset times, you can consult the Royal Meteorological Institute’s website.

Daytime fishing for fish and crayfish species, which are categorized into four groups, is prohibited outside the open seasons established for each group and depending on the type of water (calm, mixed, or fast).

With a category C permit and under certain conditions, night fishing is allowed from one hour after the official sunset time until one hour before the official sunrise time.

The number of single or multiple hooks is limited to three per handline.

Only the following species may be used as live bait :

•  Common bleak
• Spirlin
• Crucian carp
• Chub
• Common roach
• Gudgeon
• Rudd
• Minnow

Note: Colorful or ornamental varieties of these species, where they exist, are not permitted.

Regarding their use, it's important to note that some baitfish must meet the minimum legal size requirement. For example, a chub can only be used as live bait if it measures at least 30 cm.

Fish used as live bait cannot be released back into the water if they were not caught at the same location where they are being used.

Warning: Live bait fishing is prohibited in the river annexes of the Meuse, Sambre, and Scheldt.

The maximum number of crayfish nets allowed is 5.

Each net may not exceed a diameter of 60 cm.

Yes, provided that you are able to control all your fishing gear simultaneously.

It is strictly forbidden to transport live fish of Group 4.

However, transporting them is permitted when they are dead, with no restrictions on size or quantity.

You can find all the information related to the registration of a fishing vessel on the website mobilit.belgium.be