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Rating depth structure for atlantic herring.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
2,829-acre Alde-Ore Estuary fishing map with Environment Agency multibeam/SurfZone ODN contours (92.45% measured, 97.77% assessed), four measured spots, exact EA TraC occurrence, three dated survey cards, official access and current GOV.UK/Eastern IFCA guidance. The water tops out around 39 ft. The depth chart comes from Environment Agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. The rest of this page walks each species through its year, using the map's own scoring.
The drawn water covers 2,816 acres wrapped in 92.9 miles of bank, with 45 islands in the mix. With a shoreline index of 12.5, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. 97% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. Tip to tip the water measures near 9.9 mi with a 5.5-mi widest point. If the bite dies, Deben Estuary is 9 mi to the southwest.
Come spring, look for atlantic herring tight to the bank in 5 to 25 ft. They move out to 12 to 39 ft in summer and finish the year down in 12 to 39 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deepest directly measured basin cell: a deep basin around 39 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A herring feather rig or a small silver jig is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Directly measured upper-flat transition (6 ft) | Small herring feather rig, Micro jig rig |
| Summer | 12 to 39 ft | dawn & dusk | Deepest directly measured basin cell (39 ft) | Herring feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Fall | 10 to 39 ft | dawn & dusk | Deepest directly measured basin cell (39 ft) | Small feather rig, Compact silver spoon |
| Winter | 12 to 39 ft | midday | Deepest directly measured basin cell (39 ft) | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
Come spring, look for european seabass tight to the bank in 3 to 25 ft. They move out to 2 to 30 ft in summer and finish the year down in 7 to 39 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Directly measured lower-channel shoulder: a channel edge around 17 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A surface lure or a paddle-tail soft plastic is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Directly measured lower-channel shoulder (17 ft) | Paddle-tail soft plastic, Shallow minnow plug |
| Summer | 2 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Directly measured lower-channel shoulder (17 ft) | Surface lure, Paddle-tail soft plastic |
| Fall | 4 to 39 ft | dawn & dusk | Directly measured lower-channel shoulder (17 ft) | Slim metal lure, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 7 to 39 ft | midday | Deepest directly measured basin cell (39 ft) | Slow soft-plastic shad, Suspending minnow |
In spring, european smelt run shallow here, mostly 3 to 25 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 12 to 39 ft before dropping to 12 to 39 ft for winter. Summer european smelt concentrate at Deepest directly measured basin cell, a prime-rated deep basin around 39 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a tiny vertical spoon or a micro jig most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | night & dusk | Strongest directly measured local depth transition (1 ft) | Micro silver jig, Tiny feather rig |
| Summer | 12 to 39 ft | dawn & dusk | Deepest directly measured basin cell (39 ft) | Tiny vertical spoon, Micro jig |
| Fall | 11 to 39 ft | dusk | Deepest directly measured basin cell (39 ft) | Micro jig, Tiny silver spoon |
| Winter | 12 to 39 ft | dusk | Deepest directly measured basin cell (39 ft) | Tiny glow jig, Micro ice spoon |
Start shallow in spring: european flounder sit in 5 to 25 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 6 to 35 ft; cold water stacks them in 12 to 39 ft. Top water on the chart: Directly measured upper-flat transition, a feeding flat in the 6 ft range, prime in spring. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a bottom jig with spinner blade until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dusk | Directly measured upper-flat transition (6 ft) | Small bucktail dragged on bottom |
| Summer | 6 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Directly measured upper-flat transition (6 ft) | Bottom jig with spinner blade |
| Fall | 8 to 39 ft | dusk | Directly measured upper-flat transition (6 ft) | Compact bottom jig |
| Winter | 12 to 39 ft | midday | Deepest directly measured basin cell (39 ft) | Small bottom jig |
Spring puts common sole in skinny water — 6 to 30 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 3 to 30 ft, and winter fish hold in 11 to 39 ft. Spring common sole concentrate at Directly measured upper-flat transition, a prime-rated feeding flat around 6 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around the evening. A light rolling-lead rig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 6 to 30 ft | dusk | Directly measured upper-flat transition (6 ft) | Tiny bottom jig |
| Summer | 3 to 30 ft | dusk | Directly measured upper-flat transition (6 ft) | Light rolling-lead rig |
| Fall | 8 to 39 ft | dusk | Directly measured lower-channel shoulder (17 ft) | Compact bottom jig |
| Winter | 11 to 39 ft | night | Deepest directly measured basin cell (39 ft) |
Come spring, look for thick-lipped grey mullet tight to the bank in 1 to 15 ft. They move out to 1 to 18 ft in summer and finish the year down in 8 to 35 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Directly measured lower-channel shoulder: a channel edge around 17 ft that scores prime in fall. Best bite is early morning and midday. A bread fly or a small shrimp fly is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 15 ft | dusk | Directly measured upper-flat transition (6 ft) | Bread fly, Tiny algae-pattern fly |
| Summer | 1 to 18 ft | dawn & midday | Directly measured upper-flat transition (6 ft) | Bread fly, Small shrimp fly |
| Fall | 2 to 22 ft | dusk | Directly measured lower-channel shoulder (17 ft) | Bread fly |
| Winter | 8 to 35 ft | midday | Directly measured lower-channel shoulder (17 ft) |
Alde-Ore Estuary also holds european plaice (6 to 39 ft in summer), european eel (6 to 28 ft in summer), whiting (11 to 39 ft in summer), thornback ray (6 to 39 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Count 14 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deepest directly measured basin cell, sits near 39 ft.
Access data: New Orford Town Trust. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Alde-Ore Estuary is about 39 ft (12 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from Environment Agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target atlantic herring, european seabass, european smelt, european flounder, common sole, thick-lipped grey mullet, european plaice, european eel, whiting, thornback ray on Alde-Ore Estuary.
Deepest directly measured basin cell is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 39 ft of water that rates prime for atlantic herring in summer. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For atlantic herring, 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.
Deben Estuary 9 mi · Orwell Estuary 15 mi · Holbrook Lake 17 mi · Stour Estuary 19 mi · Barnby Broad 25 mi · Ardleigh Reservoir 27 mi · Upton Broad 39 mi · Sea Mere or Hingham Sea Mere 39 mi · The Springs or Rackheath Springs Lake 40 mi · Blackwater Estuary - Inner and Middle 41 mi · Scoulton Mere or Saham Toney Mere 41 mi · Decoy Broad 41 mi
See how Alde-Ore Estuary stacks up: best atlantic herring lakes in United Kingdom · best european flounder lakes in United Kingdom · best european seabass lakes in United Kingdom · best common sole lakes in United Kingdom
Browse all United Kingdom fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: Environment Agency Multibeam Bathymetry + SurfZone DEM 2019 (Ordnance Datum Newlyn (ODN); 92% measured, 5% 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.