Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up freeSalt water depth chart
Today's read
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
16,740-acre Balsfjord. Outer Norway saltwater fishing map with official Kartverket surveyed 50 m bathymetry, measured-only fishing spots, Institute of Marine Research fish evidence, seasonal forage guidance and public shore-access context. Outer Balsfjord and Tromsø-side approaches. The water tops out around 635 ft. The depth chart comes from Norwegian Mapping Authority (Kartverket) bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
Traced from the shoreline, Balsfjord - Outer runs 16,743 acres with 62.5 miles of edge. With a shoreline index of 3.4, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 2% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. Tip to tip the water measures near 19.8 mi with an 11.9-mi widest point. For a second option, Malangen - Inner lies 9 mi west.
The target roster combines named-water evidence where available with conservative, habitat-compatible official Norwegian coastal records. It documents occurrence context, not equal abundance, a catch rate or a promised catch. Closed targets are excluded and current rules control every trip. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| (Atlantic Cod) | official species listing | — |
| (Saithe (Coalfish)) | official species listing | — |
| (Haddock) | official species listing | — |
| (Atlantic Herring) | official species listing | — |
| (Atlantic Halibut) | official species listing | — |
| (Ling) | official species listing | — |
| (Cusk (Tusk)) | official species listing | — |
| (Sea Trout) | official species listing | — |
Official species-evidence source.
Spring atlantic cod on Balsfjord - Outer hold shallow, usually 20 to 100 ft. By summer they slide out to 45 to 180 ft, and by winter most fish are in 50 to 220 ft. The chart's best answer is Rock reef — rock pile, 12 ft, good for spring. Prime time lands in early morning. The summer box starts with a heavy metal jig or a large soft-plastic jig.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 20 to 100 ft | dawn | Rock reef (12 ft) | Diamond jig, Heavy bucktail |
| Summer | 45 to 180 ft | dawn | Sharp break (124 ft) | Heavy metal jig, Large soft-plastic jig |
| Fall | 25 to 140 ft | dawn | Rock reef (12 ft) | Diamond jig, Bucktail with teaser |
| Winter | 50 to 220 ft | midday | Rock reef (12 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: saithe (coalfish) in 15 to 160 ft. As the season builds they drop to 25 to 260 ft, wintering in 45 to 320 ft. Top water on the chart: Sharp break, a drop-off in the 124 ft range, prime in summer. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a speed jig or a heavy paddletail gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 160 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (88 ft) | Slim metal jig, Paddletail |
| Summer | 25 to 260 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (124 ft) | Speed jig, Heavy paddletail |
| Fall | 20 to 220 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (124 ft) | Metal jig, Baitfish swimbait |
| Winter | 45 to 320 ft | midday | Sharp break (124 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: haddock in 35 to 220 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 60 to 320 ft before dropping to 70 to 400 ft for winter. The spot to know is Kartverket measured flat, a feeding flat in about 88 ft of water that rates prime for haddock in fall. Plan around early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a compact metal jig or a bottom rig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 35 to 220 ft | dawn | Kartverket measured flat (88 ft) | Small bottom jig, Beaded trace |
| Summer | 60 to 320 ft | dawn | Sharp break (124 ft) | Compact metal jig, Bottom rig |
| Fall | 45 to 260 ft | midday | Kartverket measured flat (88 ft) | Small vertical jig |
| Winter | 70 to 400 ft | midday | Kartverket measured flat (88 ft) | Deep bottom jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: atlantic herring in 5 to 25 ft. As the season builds they drop to 15 to 50 ft, wintering in 20 to 60 ft. Top water on the chart: Rock reef, a rock pile in the 12 ft range, good in spring. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a herring feather rig or a small silver jig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Rock reef (12 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 |
Spring puts atlantic halibut in skinny water — 45 to 350 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 25 to 300 ft, and winter fish hold in 100 to 600 ft. Kartverket measured flat is the standout, a feeding flat at roughly 88 ft, rated prime for spring atlantic halibut. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A large swimbait or a slow metal jig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 45 to 350 ft | dawn | Kartverket measured flat (88 ft) | Large paddletail, Heavy bottom jig |
| Summer | 25 to 300 ft | dawn & dusk | Kartverket measured flat (88 ft) | Large swimbait, Slow metal jig |
| Fall | 45 to 380 ft | midday | Kartverket measured channel edge (347 ft) | Heavy paddletail, Bottom jig |
| Winter | 100 to 600 ft | midday | Deepest basin (627 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: ling in 80 to 450 ft. As the season builds they drop to 100 to 600 ft, wintering in 118 to 635 ft. Top water on the chart: Sharp break, a drop-off in the 124 ft range, prime in spring. Time it for midday. Summer baits: a heavy vertical jig gets it done.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 80 to 450 ft | midday | Sharp break (124 ft) | Heavy metal jig, Large soft-plastic jig |
| Summer | 100 to 600 ft | midday | Sharp break (124 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
| Fall | 90 to 520 ft | midday | Sharp break (124 ft) | Long metal jig |
| Winter | 118 to 635 ft chart-limited; documented 130 to 700 ft | midday | Deepest basin (627 ft) | Heavy deep jig |
Balsfjord - Outer also holds cusk (tusk) (107 to 635 ft in summer), sea trout (15 to 50 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Count 8 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deepest basin, sits near 627 ft.
Access data: Norwegian Environment Agency (Miljødirektoratet) — state-secured outdoor recreation areas. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Norway waters are set by the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries (sea-angling rules) — and special regulations can apply to Balsfjord - Outer specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish. Check the live national rules, protected species, minimum sizes, gear rules, local conservation areas and river-mouth restrictions before every trip. Directed Atlantic-halibut fishing is prohibited year-round south of 62°N; north of 62°N the current seasonal closure and size/release rules apply. A mapped shore-use lead does not establish fishing permission or safe access.
Check the official Norway fishing regulations →
Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries (current minimum sizes) →
Check special-area and water-specific rules →
Check official shore-access information →
Balsfjord - Outer is about 635 ft (194 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from Norwegian Mapping Authority (Kartverket) bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Official coastal monitoring from Institute of Marine Research Norwegian coastal ecosystem surveys informs the atlantic cod, saithe (coalfish), haddock, atlantic herring, atlantic halibut, ling, cusk (tusk), sea trout roster for Balsfjord - 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.
Sharp break is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 124 ft of water that rates prime for saithe (coalfish) in summer. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For atlantic cod, the summer bite is best in early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Balsfjord - Outer is regulated by the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries (sea-angling rules). Check the official Norway regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Malangen - Inner 9 mi · Balsfjord - Inner 13 mi · Laksvatnet 18 mi · Ytre Fiskelausvatnet 18 mi · Gisundet - North 18 mi · Storvatnet 19 mi · Josefvatnet 20 mi · Malangen - Outer 22 mi · Várevuoljávri 23 mi · Čáhppesjávri 24 mi · Ringvannet 25 mi · Heggevatnet 26 mi
See how Balsfjord - Outer stacks up: best sea trout lakes in Norway · best atlantic herring lakes in Norway · best atlantic cod lakes in Norway · best saithe (coalfish) lakes in Norway
Browse all Norway fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: Norwegian Mapping Authority (Kartverket) Bathymetry terrain models, surveyed 50 metre grid (Chart datum / sea-chart zero as distributed by Kartverket; 100% measured, 0% 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.