Salt water depth chart
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49,990-acre Aarhus Bay. Outer Denmark saltwater fishing map with official Danish Geodata Agency 50 m bathymetry, measured-only fishing spots, DTU-supported fish targets, seasonal forage guidance and public shore-access context. Outer Aarhus Bay toward Mols and Samsø, with measured banks, reefs and Kattegat-facing contour breaks. The water tops out around 165 ft. The depth chart comes from Danish Geodata Agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. The season-by-season read for each species follows, from the map's own numbers.
Traced from the shoreline, Aarhus Bay - Outer runs 49,997 acres with 38.5 miles of edge. The basin is a simple one (shoreline index 1.2) — close to a bowl, so the structure on the chart matters more than the bank. Roughly 6% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. Call it 11.1 mi long by 10.7 mi wide at the broadest reach. The nearest mapped water is Ebeltoft Vig, 13 mi to the east.
The target roster combines the named DTU monitoring area with conservative habitat-compatible Danish regional records. It documents observed or regionally supported occurrence, not equal abundance, a catch rate, or a promised catch in this child. European eel is omitted because recreational eel fishing is currently closed. The roster may combine exact-water monitoring with habitat-filtered official regional evidence; it does not imply that every species is equally abundant throughout the mapped section.
| Species | Evidence basis | Count / date |
|---|---|---|
| Havørred (Sea Trout) | official species listing | — |
| Sild (Atlantic Herring) | official species listing | — |
| Skrubbe (European Flounder) | official species listing | — |
| Hornfisk (Garfish) | official species listing | — |
| Rødspætte (European Plaice) | official species listing | — |
| Hvilling (Whiting) | official species listing | — |
| Makrel (Atlantic Mackerel) | official species listing | — |
| Tunge (Common Sole) | official species listing | — |
| Tyklæbet multe (Thick-lipped Grey Mullet) | official species listing | — |
| Slethvar (Brill) | official species listing | — |
| Sej (Saithe (Coalfish)) | official species listing | — |
Official species-evidence source.
Spring puts sea trout in skinny water — 3 to 20 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 15 to 50 ft; cold water stacks them in 5 to 30 ft. Shoreline point is the standout, a point at roughly 47 ft, rated good for summer sea trout. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A deep-running wobbler or a trolled spoon covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Slim coastal spoon, Shallow-running wobbler |
| Summer | 15 to 50 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (47 ft) | Deep-running wobbler, Trolled spoon |
| Fall | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Coastal wobbler, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 5 to 30 ft | midday | open water | Slow coastal spoon, Suspending wobbler |
Start shallow in spring: atlantic herring sit in 5 to 25 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 15 to 50 ft; cold water stacks them in 20 to 60 ft. Top water on the chart: DDM measured flat, a feeding flat in the 23 ft range, good in spring. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a herring feather rig or a small silver jig until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | DDM measured flat (23 ft) | Small herring feather rig, Micro jig rig |
| Summer | 15 to 50 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Herring feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Fall | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Small feather rig, Compact silver spoon |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | midday | open water | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
Come spring, look for european flounder tight to the bank in 5 to 25 ft. They move out to 6 to 35 ft in summer and finish the year down in 15 to 50 ft. If you only fish one area, make it DDM measured flat: a feeding flat around 23 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A bottom jig with spinner blade is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dusk | DDM measured flat (23 ft) | Small bucktail dragged on bottom |
| Summer | 6 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | DDM measured flat (23 ft) | Bottom jig with spinner blade |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dusk | DDM measured flat (23 ft) | Compact bottom jig |
| Winter | 15 to 50 ft | midday | DDM measured flat (23 ft) | Small bottom jig |
Spring puts garfish in skinny water — 1 to 15 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 2 to 20 ft; cold water stacks them in 20 to 60 ft. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A slim casting spoon or a surface-skipping fly covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 15 ft | dawn & midday | open water | Slim silver spoon, Small inline spinner |
| Summer | 2 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Slim casting spoon, Surface-skipping fly |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Weighted slim spoon, Small silver jig |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | midday | open water |
Start shallow in spring: european plaice sit in 8 to 35 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 6 to 40 ft, and winter fish settle into 25 to 80 ft. The spot to know is DDM measured flat, a feeding flat in about 23 ft of water that rates prime for european plaice in spring. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a light spooned bottom rig or a beaded trace until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 35 ft | dusk | DDM measured flat (23 ft) | Beaded flowing trace |
| Summer | 6 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | DDM measured flat (23 ft) | Light spooned bottom rig, Beaded trace |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk | DDM measured flat (23 ft) | Beaded bottom trace |
| Winter | 25 to 80 ft | midday | DDM measured channel edge (82 ft) |
Start shallow in spring: whiting sit in 15 to 55 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 20 to 70 ft, and winter fish settle into 15 to 70 ft. The spot to know is DDM measured current seam, a current seam in about 71 ft of water that rates good for whiting in summer. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning. Throw a small vertical jig until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 55 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Small silver jig, Two-hook feather rig |
| Summer | 20 to 70 ft | dawn | DDM measured current seam (71 ft) | Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 60 ft | dusk | DDM measured current seam (71 ft) | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 15 to 70 ft | dusk | DDM measured channel edge (82 ft) | Compact vertical jig |
Aarhus Bay - Outer also holds atlantic mackerel (15 to 80 ft in summer), common sole (3 to 30 ft in summer), thick-lipped grey mullet (1 to 18 ft in summer), brill (6 to 50 ft in summer), saithe (coalfish) (16 to 165 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Aarhus Bay - Outer carries 8 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deepest basin, about 164 ft down.
Access data: European Environment Agency - 2025 Bathing Water Directive Sites (Denmark). Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Denmark waters are set by the Danish Agency for Green Transition and Aquatic Environment (current recreational fishing rules) — and special regulations can apply to Aarhus Bay - Outer specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish. Most anglers using light hand gear need the applicable Danish angling licence, subject to the official age exemptions. Check live species rules, the mapped and unmapped 500-metre stream-mouth conservation belts, local fishing rights, protected areas and posted shore access before every trip. Recreational European eel fishing is currently prohibited, so eel is not promoted as a target here.
Check the official Denmark fishing regulations →
Danish fishing-licence portal →
Check special-area and water-specific rules →
Aarhus Bay - Outer is about 165 ft (50 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from Danish Geodata Agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Official coastal monitoring from DTU Aqua key-fisher monitoring, 2020–2022 informs the sea trout, atlantic herring, european flounder, garfish, european plaice, whiting, atlantic mackerel, common sole, thick-lipped grey mullet, brill, saithe (coalfish) roster for Aarhus Bay - Outer. The mixed roster combines exact-water records where available with habitat-filtered regional evidence; not every species is documented at this exact water, and it is not a promise of equal abundance or a catch on a particular trip.
DDM measured flat is the top-rated area: a feeding flat in about 23 ft of water that rates prime for european flounder in spring. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
For sea trout, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Aarhus Bay - Outer is regulated by the Danish Agency for Green Transition and Aquatic Environment (current recreational fishing rules). Check the official Denmark regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Ebeltoft Vig 13 mi · Great Belt - Kattegat Approach West 14 mi · Sejerø Bay - Samsø Side 19 mi · Horsens Fjord - Inner Survey Reach 23 mi · Sejerø Bay - Sejerø Island 25 mi · Great Belt - Kalundborg West 29 mi · Djursland Coast - Grenaa South 32 mi · Sejerø Bay - Middle 33 mi · Odense Fjord 36 mi · Vejle Fjord - Inner Survey Reach 38 mi · Little Belt - North 41 mi · Great Belt - Bridge West 45 mi
See how Aarhus Bay - Outer stacks up: best sea trout lakes in Denmark · best atlantic herring lakes in Denmark · best european flounder lakes in Denmark · best garfish lakes in Denmark
Browse all Denmark fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: Danish Geodata Agency Denmark's Depth Model, 50 m resolution (DKMSL(2022) / mean sea level (EPSG:10547); 69% measured, 31% source-interpolated). How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.