Salt water depth chart
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95,929-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 208 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 95,842 acres with 85.3 miles of edge, broken up by an island. The shoreline is moderately structured (index 2) — enough points and pockets to pattern. Roughly 12% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. Call it 19.3 mi long by 11.9 mi wide at the broadest reach. The nearest mapped water is Great Belt - Kattegat Approach West, 16 mi to the southeast.
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 | — |
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. 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 | open water | 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. 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 | open water | 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 source-backed depth reference (29 ft): a feeding flat around 29 ft that scores prime in summer. 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 source-backed depth reference (29 ft) (29 ft) | Small bucktail dragged on bottom |
| Summer | 6 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | DDM source-backed depth reference (29 ft) (29 ft) | Bottom jig with spinner blade |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dusk | DDM source-backed depth reference (29 ft) (29 ft) | Compact bottom jig |
| Winter | 15 to 50 ft | midday | DDM source-backed depth reference (29 ft) (29 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 source-backed depth reference (29 ft), a feeding flat in about 29 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 source-backed depth reference (29 ft) (29 ft) | Beaded flowing trace |
| Summer | 6 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | DDM source-backed depth reference (29 ft) (29 ft) | Light spooned bottom rig, Beaded trace |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk | DDM source-backed depth reference (29 ft) (29 ft) | Beaded bottom trace |
| Winter | 25 to 80 ft | midday | open water |
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. 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 | open water | Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 60 ft | dusk | open water | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 15 to 70 ft | dusk | open water | Compact vertical jig |
Aarhus Bay - Outer also holds atlantic mackerel (15 to 80 ft in summer), common sole (3 to 30 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 208 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.
Check the official Denmark fishing regulations →
Aarhus Bay - Outer is about 208 ft (63 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 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 source-backed depth reference (29 ft) is the top-rated area: a feeding flat in about 29 ft of water that rates prime for european flounder in summer. 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.
Great Belt - Kattegat Approach West 16 mi · Horsens Fjord - Inner Survey Reach 26 mi · Great Belt - Kattegat Approach East 27 mi · Great Belt - Kalundborg West 32 mi · Odense Fjord 38 mi · Vejle Fjord - Inner Survey Reach 41 mi · Little Belt - North 44 mi · Great Belt - Bridge West 47 mi · Isefjord - Middle 47 mi · Little Belt - Middle 61 mi · Great Belt - Smålandsfarvandet 68 mi · Little Belt - South 76 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); 65% measured, 35% 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.