Don't shoot the messenger, I know it's illegal.

I have just heard that a party of Anglers heading to a commercial fishery in France got stopped at St Malo by customs and had their bait openly on show, they were given a choice of handing over the bait and a 500 euro fine or, keep the bait and be on the next ferry back.

The main reason I will never use that route and take my chances elsewhere.

In reply to Post #1
Thanks for the heads up. Anyone else had any recent usage of this port, positive or negative re bait?

In reply to Post #2
It is always that Port that I hear of problems.

In reply to Post #3
Yes, I've heard of this a couple times before...it was even suggested maybe someone in customs over there was a carp angler (and they get their bait for 'free'!)

In reply to Post #4
This would actually make a lot of sense. You could easily get a couple of hundred kilos over a few days I imagine.

I believe that St Malo is a custom training facility where custom officers go for hands on training. Maybe a case of grandstanding for the trainees. I've heard constant reports of St Malo and bait problems. We avoid it like the plague and use Le Havre, Caen or Roscoff if we are coming in via that area.

In reply to Post #6
I'm doing st Malo on Friday will let you know what happens as taking pop ups with me.

In reply to Post #7
Apparently, they even took hookbaits.
I would just bury them and say I had none.

In reply to Post #7
Would be easier to hide them in little bags rather than pop up tubs Ÿ‘

Was it always like this or since brexit ?

In reply to Post #7
Hopefully you get a minute to give some up to date information

In reply to Post #10
Not st malo but anyone had any issues with bait going through the tunnel?
Im off in 4 weeks.....

In reply to Post #11
No issues at the tunnel. Just make sure its buried and not on show.

Never had issues at the tunnel even going through the scanner

Their more interested in explosives

Anyone had any recent experience with bait entering via Caen?

Last 4 years has been fine, last time through was Sept 2025 with no issues.

I think you can attract the wrong sort of attention to customs, like wearing full camo or fishing related clothes, something I've never done, but you see it, espesh on the ferries, little gaggles of like minded people, nowt wrong with it but it draws attention.

Came through on saterday said bonjour to the security person asked if I had bait I said no he said OK and waved us on

In reply to Post #17
Which port ?

In reply to Post #18
Malo, post 7

Edit, in another thread on EES it says not in operation at St Malo & Dieppe.

In reply to Post #19
What's not in operation?

In reply to Post #20
European exit entry system

In reply to Post #20
See here

LINKY POO™ https://www.carpforum.co.uk/Shared/Messages.asp?TopicID=446767

yes ST Malo has always been bad for confiscation , they search every carp angler now, iv been ST Malo 5 times in the last few years and each and every time they search for bait avoid "if" you can

In reply to Post #23
Fascinating, been through St Malo loads of times and never had a problem.

In reply to Post #24
Is it obvious your a fisherman though ? Camo, carp stickers, gear on view in car, holdall on roof etc etc....obv target.

In reply to Post #25
Non of those lol.

In reply to Post #25
few years ago yes but always go plain clothed now, but they still seem to get me, made it through all the customs this year but then the police were waiting in the layby on the right hand side as you leave the last passport check , before you hit the public road 3 police cars , wanting to look in the back , its all luck of the draw tho and still chance it ,

In reply to Post #26


@roosterbooster ...sods law!

In reply to Post #28
if its any help - we passed through Le tunnel (Calais) with no issues.

Plenty of carp vans also going through - also no stops....

In reply to Post #29
tunnel is sound most of the time

In reply to Post #29
Similar to me, I sat there thinking, if I was gonna smuggle owt it would be this, never saw any security and that was Saturday morning

It’s nailed on that some **** is confiscating it there and flogging it on

You could always write or email them, tell them it’s bird food, they might bust the ****s. The more who do it the quicker it may happen

In reply to Post #1
Went through St Malo 2 weeks ago... We got pulled but we didn't carry anything over with us.
They can spot us a mile away.
There used to be loads of anglers on that route but there was only 1 other group on our trip and they, like us, will not be using it again.

out of curiosity, why aren't you allowed to take bait to france?

In reply to Post #33
Brexit.
Used AI to save me typing it all out (copy/paste instead)

"Since the UK left the EU, it's classed as a "third country," and the EU applies strict sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) controls on animal by-products entering the bloc — the same category as meat, dairy, and other food imports. Most boilies, pellets, and groundbaits contain animal by-products, which is why they get caught by these rules. Carpsocial

Bait with animal by-products (fishmeal, egg, milk protein, blood products — i.e. most boilies) technically requires a veterinary health certificate and a formal declaration at a recognised Border Control Post, and is classified as "high risk." That's not realistically achievable for an individual angler — certification has to be per-consignment, tested and signed off by a DEFRA vet, and you need to register as an authorised EU exporter. So in practice this bait just isn't legally takeable.

Particle baits without animal by-products (hemp, etc.) are generally allowed but restricted to around 2kg, based on guidance anglers have gotten from bait manufacturers and APHA.

The legal basis is the same general EU rule that stops you bringing meat, dairy, cheese, etc. into France for personal food consumption — bait just falls under the identical animal by-products regime rather than a fishing-specific rule."