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11,045-acre Baie de Bourgneuf. North West France saltwater fishing map with official SHOM 100 m bathymetry, source-qualified fishing spots, official regional fish evidence, seasonal forage guidance, public shore-use context and current-rule links. Bourgneuf Bay and Noirmoutier approaches, with shallow channels, shellfish grounds and tidal-flat structure. This page covers the north west angler-scale survey window. The water tops out around 30 ft. The depth chart comes from Shom (Service hydrographique et océanographique de la Marine) 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.
Baie de Bourgneuf - North West maps at 11,043 acres behind 25.8 miles of shoreline. With a 1.7 development index there's bank structure worth casting at, in moderation. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 86% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. The basin spans about 7.2 mi end to end and 4.7 mi across at its widest. If the bite dies, Loire Estuary - South West 2 is 10 mi to the northeast.
Baie de Bourgneuf — North West, France : carte SHOM officielle jusqu’à 9 m; spots pour bar commun, sole commune. Pour préparer la pêche, jamais pour naviguer. Les profondeurs et les points de structure proviennent de la grille bathymétrique officielle du Shom. Les données servent à préparer la pêche et ne doivent jamais être utilisées pour la navigation.
Regional occurrence supports a search target, not equal abundance, child-specific catch rate, retention permission or a promised catch. Current national, EU, regional, protected-area and species rules always control. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| bar commun (European Seabass) | official species listing | — |
| sole commune (Common Sole) | official species listing | — |
| flet commun (European Flounder) | official species listing | — |
| plie commune (European Plaice) | official species listing | — |
| merlan (Whiting) | official species listing | — |
| orphie (Garfish) | official species listing | — |
| maquereau commun (Atlantic Mackerel) | official species listing | — |
| mulet lippu (Thick-lipped Grey Mullet) | official species listing | — |
| mulet cabot (Flathead Grey Mullet) | official species listing | — |
| barbue (Brill) | official species listing | — |
| raie bouclée (Thornback Ray) | official species listing | — |
| anguille européenne (European Eel) | official species listing | — |
| saumon atlantique (Atlantic Salmon) | official species listing | — |
Official species-evidence source.
Early season european seabass use the shallows, holding in 3 to 25 ft. Expect a summer slide to 2 to 30 ft, then a winter hold in 5 to 30 ft. Put SHOM-grid current seam first on the milk run — a current seam near 12 ft that grades prime for summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a surface lure or a paddle-tail soft plastic and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid current seam (12 ft) | Paddle-tail soft plastic, Shallow minnow plug |
| Summer | 2 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid current seam (12 ft) | Surface lure, Paddle-tail soft plastic |
| Fall | 3 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid current seam (12 ft) | Slim metal lure, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 5 to 30 ft | midday | Deepest basin (29 ft) | Slow soft-plastic shad, Suspending minnow |
Start shallow in spring: common sole sit in 6 to 30 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 3 to 30 ft covers summer, 9 to 30 ft covers winter. Top water on the chart: Feeding flat, a feeding flat in the 8 ft range, prime in spring. Fish it in the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a light rolling-lead rig until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 6 to 30 ft | dusk | Feeding flat (8 ft) | Tiny bottom jig |
| Summer | 3 to 30 ft | dusk | Feeding flat (8 ft) | Light rolling-lead rig |
| Fall | 6 to 30 ft | dusk | SHOM-grid channel edge (15 ft) | Compact bottom jig |
| Winter | 9 to 30 ft | night | Deepest basin (29 ft) |
In spring, european flounder run shallow here, mostly 5 to 25 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 5 to 30 ft, and winter fish settle into 9 to 30 ft. Feeding flat is the standout, a feeding flat at roughly 8 ft, rated prime for spring european flounder. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a bottom jig with spinner blade most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dusk | Feeding flat (8 ft) | Small bucktail dragged on bottom |
| Summer | 5 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Feeding flat (8 ft) | Bottom jig with spinner blade |
| Fall | 6 to 30 ft | dusk | Sharp break (15 ft) | Compact bottom jig |
| Winter | 9 to 30 ft | midday | Deepest basin (29 ft) | Small bottom jig |
When the water first warms, european plaice slide up into 7 to 30 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 5 to 30 ft, winter 9 to 30 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Feeding flat: a feeding flat around 8 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a light spooned bottom rig or a beaded trace rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 7 to 30 ft | dusk | Feeding flat (8 ft) | Beaded flowing trace |
| Summer | 5 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Feeding flat (8 ft) | Light spooned bottom rig, Beaded trace |
| Fall | 6 to 30 ft | dusk | SHOM-grid channel edge (15 ft) | Beaded bottom trace |
| Winter | 9 to 30 ft | midday | Deepest basin (29 ft) |
When the water first warms, whiting slide up into 8 to 30 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 9 to 30 ft, winter 6 to 30 ft. If you only fish one area, make it SHOM-grid channel edge: a channel edge around 15 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Keep a small vertical jig rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid channel edge (15 ft) | Small silver jig, Two-hook feather rig |
| Summer | 9 to 30 ft | dawn | Deepest basin (29 ft) | Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 5 to 30 ft | dusk | SHOM-grid channel edge (15 ft) | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 6 to 30 ft | dusk | Deepest basin (29 ft) | Compact vertical jig |
Spring garfish on Baie de Bourgneuf - North West hold shallow, usually 1 to 15 ft. They move out to 2 to 20 ft in summer and finish the year down in 9 to 30 ft. Put Shoreline point first on the milk run — a point near 3 ft that grades prime for spring. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a slim casting spoon or a surface-skipping fly.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 15 ft | dawn & midday | Shoreline point (3 ft) | Slim silver spoon, Small inline spinner |
| Summer | 2 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (3 ft) | Slim casting spoon, Surface-skipping fly |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid current seam (12 ft) | Weighted slim spoon, Small silver jig |
| Winter | 9 to 30 ft | midday | Deepest basin (29 ft) |
Baie de Bourgneuf - North West also holds atlantic mackerel (6 to 30 ft in summer), thick-lipped grey mullet (1 to 18 ft in summer), flathead grey mullet (1 to 22 ft in summer), brill (4 to 30 ft in summer), thornback ray (5 to 30 ft in summer), european eel (6 to 28 ft in summer), atlantic salmon (9 to 30 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Structure-wise the chart holds 8 features, led in depth by Deepest basin at roughly 29 ft.
Access data: European Environment Agency — 2025 Bathing Water Directive Sites (France). Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for France waters are set by the Légifrance (current French recreational sea-fishing minimum sizes) — and special regulations can apply to Baie de Bourgneuf - North West specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish. French recreational sea-fishing rules combine current national and European species measures with façade, prefectural, marine-protected-area, harbour and local access controls. Check live minimum sizes, quotas, seasonal or method closures, marking requirements and any no-take zone before every trip. A SHOM contour, fishing-spot marker or designated bathing-water lead is planning context only and never permission to fish, retain a catch, park, launch or enter restricted shore or port property.
Check the official France fishing regulations →
French Ministry for Ecological Transition — recreational sea fishing →
Check special-area and water-specific rules →
Check official shore-access information →
Baie de Bourgneuf - North West is about 30 ft (9 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from Shom (Service hydrographique et océanographique de la Marine) bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Official coastal monitoring from Ifremer EVHOE and PELGAS regional survey evidence informs the european seabass, common sole, european flounder, european plaice, whiting, garfish, atlantic mackerel, thick-lipped grey mullet, flathead grey mullet, brill, thornback ray, european eel, atlantic salmon roster for Baie de Bourgneuf - North West. 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.
SHOM-grid current seam is the top-rated area: a current seam in about 12 ft of water that rates prime for european seabass in summer. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For european seabass, 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 Baie de Bourgneuf - North West is regulated by the Légifrance (current French recreational sea-fishing minimum sizes). Check the official France regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Loire Estuary - South West 2 10 mi · Baie de Bourgneuf - South West 10 mi · Loire Estuary - South West 1 12 mi · Baie de Bourgneuf - South Central 18 mi · Vilaine Estuary - South East 21 mi · Vilaine Estuary - South Central 22 mi · Vendée and Île d’Yeu Coast - North West 1 23 mi · Vendée and Île d’Yeu Coast - North West 2 24 mi · Loire Estuary - North West 2 27 mi · Vendée and Île d’Yeu Coast - North West 3 28 mi · Loire Estuary - North West 3 28 mi · Quiberon and Belle-Île - South West 4 30 mi
See how Baie de Bourgneuf - North West stacks up: best european flounder lakes in France · best garfish lakes in France · best european seabass lakes in France · best common sole lakes in France
Browse all France fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry: published agency survey data. 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.