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Best atlantic cod lakes in France

97 France waters hold atlantic cod, 97 mapped with real state-agency depth surveys. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality, leading with the waters in our reviewed search catalog — open any water to see exactly where to fish it: depth contours, scored spots with plain-English reasons, seasonal windows and bait picks. A cold-water bottom predator associated with rock, ledges and wrecks from Massachusetts Bay through the Gulf of Maine.

1. Baie d’Audierne — South East — 342 ft max · survey depth data · Garfish, European Seabass, Common Sole, Thick-lipped Grey MulletWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites, 6 carry-in or shore-oriented
2. Iroise Sea — South West 3 — 203 ft max · survey depth data · Garfish, European Seabass, Common Sole, Thick-lipped Grey MulletWhy #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites, 3 carry-in or shore-oriented
3. Iroise Sea — North West 3 — 331 ft max · survey depth data · Garfish, European Seabass, Common Sole, Thick-lipped Grey MulletWhy #3: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites, 6 carry-in or shore-oriented
4. Côte de Granit Rose — North West — 257 ft max · survey depth data · Garfish, European Seabass, Common Sole, Thick-lipped Grey MulletWhy #4: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites, 2 carry-in or shore-oriented
5. Côte de Granit Rose — North Central — 251 ft max · survey depth data · Garfish, European Seabass, Common Sole, Thick-lipped Grey MulletWhy #5: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 5 public access sites, 5 carry-in or shore-oriented
6. Alabaster Coast — South West 1 — 112 ft max · survey depth data · Atlantic Herring, European Flounder, Garfish, European SeabassWhy #6: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites, 2 carry-in or shore-oriented
7. Alabaster Coast — North West 4 — 84 ft max · survey depth data · Atlantic Herring, European Flounder, Garfish, European SeabassWhy #7: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 5 public access sites, 5 carry-in or shore-oriented
8. Concarneau and Bénodet Coast — South West 2 — 211 ft max · survey depth data · Garfish, European Seabass, Common Sole, Thick-lipped Grey MulletWhy #8: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites, 6 carry-in or shore-oriented
9. Dunkirk and Flanders Coast — West — 120 ft max · survey depth data · Atlantic Herring, European Flounder, Garfish, European SeabassWhy #9: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites, 2 carry-in or shore-oriented
10. Baie d’Audierne — North Central — 262 ft max · survey depth data · Garfish, European Seabass, Common Sole, Thick-lipped Grey MulletWhy #10: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
11. Iroise Sea — South West 4 — 130 ft max · survey depth data · Garfish, European Seabass, Common Sole, Thick-lipped Grey MulletWhy #11: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites, 6 carry-in or shore-oriented
12. East Cotentin Coast — North West 2 — 197 ft max · survey depth data · Atlantic Herring, European Flounder, Garfish, European SeabassWhy #12: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
13. Lorient and Groix Coast — South West 2 — 238 ft max · survey depth data · Garfish, European Seabass, Common Sole, Thick-lipped Grey MulletWhy #13: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites, 4 carry-in or shore-oriented
14. Concarneau and Bénodet Coast — South West 3 — 202 ft max · survey depth data · Garfish, European Seabass, Common Sole, Thick-lipped Grey MulletWhy #14: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites, 6 carry-in or shore-oriented
15. Concarneau and Bénodet Coast — South West 1 — 291 ft max · survey depth data · Garfish, European Seabass, Common Sole, Thick-lipped Grey MulletWhy #15: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites, 4 carry-in or shore-oriented
16. Calais and Cap Gris-Nez — South West — 234 ft max · survey depth data · Atlantic Herring, European Flounder, Garfish, European SeabassWhy #16: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites, 4 carry-in or shore-oriented
17. Quiberon and Belle-Île — South West 1 — 268 ft max · survey depth data · Garfish, European Seabass, Common Sole, Thick-lipped Grey MulletWhy #17: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites, 2 carry-in or shore-oriented
18. Quiberon and Belle-Île — South West 2 — 215 ft max · survey depth data · Garfish, European Seabass, Common Sole, Thick-lipped Grey MulletWhy #18: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites, 4 carry-in or shore-oriented
19. Quiberon and Belle-Île — Middle West 3 — 84 ft max · survey depth data · Garfish, European Seabass, Common Sole, Thick-lipped Grey MulletWhy #19: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites, 6 carry-in or shore-oriented
20. Iroise Sea — Middle West 3 — 156 ft max · survey depth data · Garfish, European Seabass, Common Sole, Thick-lipped Grey MulletWhy #20: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites, 6 carry-in or shore-oriented
21. Alabaster Coast — North West 5 — 72 ft max · survey depth data · Atlantic Herring, European Flounder, Garfish, European SeabassWhy #21: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites, 3 carry-in or shore-oriented
22. Quiberon and Belle-Île — Middle West 4 — 85 ft max · survey depth data · Garfish, European Seabass, Common Sole, Thick-lipped Grey MulletWhy #22: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 5 public access sites, 5 carry-in or shore-oriented
23. Lorient and Groix Coast — South West 3 — 117 ft max · survey depth data · Garfish, European Seabass, Common Sole, Thick-lipped Grey MulletWhy #23: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites, 6 carry-in or shore-oriented
24. Alabaster Coast — South West 2 — 92 ft max · survey depth data · Atlantic Herring, European Flounder, Garfish, European SeabassWhy #24: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites, 4 carry-in or shore-oriented
25. Lorient and Groix Coast — South West 4 — 76 ft max · survey depth data · Garfish, European Seabass, Common Sole, Thick-lipped Grey MulletWhy #25: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites, 6 carry-in or shore-oriented

…plus 72 more France waters holding atlantic cod.

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When to fish atlantic cod in France

• Spring 20–100 ft — Work jigs or bait close to charted rock and ledges near the bay mouth; verify the current season and possession rules before targeting cod.
• Summer 45–180 ft — Warmer water pushes most cod deeper or offshore; inner-harbor spots should be read as low-confidence unless cold water and bait are present.
• Fall 25–140 ft — Probe the up-current face of ledges and charted rock with controlled bottom contact, and release prohibited or undersized fish promptly.
• Winter 50–220 ft — Most fishing is in deep offshore water and regulations can close or sharply limit harvest; the in-bay map is not an offshore forecast.

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