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Rating depth structure for atlantic herring.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
8,548-acre Blackwater Estuary. Inner and Middle fishing map with Environment Agency multibeam/SurfZone ODN contours (93.71% measured, 97.92% assessed), four measured spots, exact EA TraC occurrence, three dated survey cards, official access and current GOV.UK/applicable IFCA guidance. The water tops out around 48 ft. The depth chart comes from Environment Agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
The outline encloses 8,515 acres, worked by 160.1 miles of shoreline, broken up by 247 islands. An index of 12.4 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 85% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. Tip to tip the water measures near 9.3 mi with a 6.5-mi widest point. If the bite dies, Crouch Estuary - Inner to Burnham Reach is 10 mi to the south.
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 9 to 48 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Directly measured lower-channel shoulder: a channel edge around 11 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 (11 ft) | Paddle-tail soft plastic, Shallow minnow plug |
| Summer | 2 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Directly measured lower-channel shoulder (11 ft) | Surface lure, Paddle-tail soft plastic |
| Fall | 4 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Directly measured lower-channel shoulder (11 ft) | Slim metal lure, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 9 to 48 ft | midday | Deepest directly measured basin cell (48 ft) | Slow soft-plastic shad, Suspending minnow |
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 11 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 (4 ft) | Bread fly, Tiny algae-pattern fly |
| Summer | 1 to 18 ft | dawn & midday | Directly measured upper-flat transition (4 ft) | Bread fly, Small shrimp fly |
| Fall | 2 to 22 ft | dusk | Directly measured lower-channel shoulder (11 ft) | Bread fly |
| Winter | 8 to 35 ft | midday | Directly measured lower-channel shoulder (11 ft) |
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 14 to 48 ft. Top water on the chart: Directly measured upper-flat transition, a feeding flat in the 4 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 (4 ft) | Small bucktail dragged on bottom |
| Summer | 6 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Directly measured upper-flat transition (4 ft) | Bottom jig with spinner blade |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dusk | Strongest directly measured local depth transition (27 ft) | Compact bottom jig |
| Winter | 14 to 48 ft | midday | Deepest directly measured basin cell (48 ft) | Small bottom jig |
Spring puts thornback ray in skinny water — 12 to 48 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 7 to 48 ft, and winter fish hold in 14 to 48 ft. Fall thornback ray concentrate at Directly measured lower-channel shoulder, a prime-rated channel edge around 11 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 12 to 48 ft | dusk | Directly measured lower-channel shoulder (11 ft) | |
| Summer | 7 to 48 ft | dawn & dusk | Directly measured lower-channel shoulder (11 ft) | |
| Fall | 10 to 48 ft | dusk | Directly measured lower-channel shoulder (11 ft) | |
| Winter | 14 to 48 ft | midday | Deepest directly measured basin cell (48 ft) |
Come spring, look for atlantic herring tight to the bank in 5 to 25 ft. They move out to 14 to 48 ft in summer and finish the year down in 14 to 48 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deepest directly measured basin cell: a deep basin around 48 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 (4 ft) | Small herring feather rig, Micro jig rig |
| Summer | 14 to 48 ft | dawn & dusk | Deepest directly measured basin cell (48 ft) | Herring feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Fall | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Strongest directly measured local depth transition (27 ft) | Small feather rig, Compact silver spoon |
| Winter | 14 to 48 ft | midday | Deepest directly measured basin cell (48 ft) | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
Spring european plaice on Blackwater Estuary - Inner and Middle hold shallow, usually 8 to 35 ft. They move out to 6 to 40 ft in summer and finish the year down in 14 to 48 ft. Put Directly measured lower-channel shoulder first on the milk run — a channel edge near 11 ft that grades prime for fall. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a light spooned bottom rig or a beaded trace.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 35 ft | dusk | Directly measured lower-channel shoulder (11 ft) | Beaded flowing trace |
| Summer | 6 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Directly measured upper-flat transition (4 ft) | Light spooned bottom rig, Beaded trace |
| Fall | 10 to 48 ft | dusk | Directly measured lower-channel shoulder (11 ft) | Beaded bottom trace |
| Winter | 14 to 48 ft | midday | Deepest directly measured basin cell (48 ft) |
Blackwater Estuary - Inner and Middle also holds european smelt (14 to 48 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Count 12 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deepest directly measured basin cell, sits near 48 ft.
Access data: Maldon District Council. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Blackwater Estuary - Inner and Middle is about 48 ft (15 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 european seabass, thick-lipped grey mullet, european flounder, thornback ray, atlantic herring, european plaice, european smelt on Blackwater Estuary - Inner and Middle.
Directly measured lower-channel shoulder is the top-rated area: a channel edge in about 11 ft of water that rates prime for thornback ray in fall. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
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.
Crouch Estuary - Inner to Burnham Reach 10 mi · Hanningfield Reservoir 13 mi · Ardleigh Reservoir 15 mi · Blue Lagoon 15 mi · Stour Estuary 22 mi · Holbrook Lake 24 mi · Orwell Estuary 27 mi · North Pool 29 mi · North Pool, Marsh Work 29 mi · Bonnington Lake 31 mi · Deben Estuary 32 mi · North Metropolitan pit 34 mi
See how Blackwater Estuary - Inner and Middle stacks up: best atlantic herring lakes in United Kingdom · best european flounder lakes in United Kingdom · best european seabass lakes in United Kingdom · best european plaice 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); 94% measured, 4% 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.