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Rating depth structure for atlantic cod.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
1,024-acre Blind Bay fishing map with contributor-qualified CHS NONNA survey contours (73.68% measured, 99.75% assessed), four measured island, channel and basin spots, regional DFO cod, mackerel and forage evidence, water-arrival anchorage guidance, and current groundfish, mackerel and CSSP rules. The water tops out around 61 ft. The depth chart comes from CHS bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Here's the year, species by species, as the scoring engine sees it.
The drawn water covers 1,022 acres wrapped in 17.9 miles of bank, broken up by 16 islands. A development index of 4 means a maze of bays and points: far more casting targets than a round bowl of the same size. About 39% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. Call it 2 mi long by 1.5 mi wide at the broadest reach. Big Lake sits 2 mi northwest — the closest neighbouring chart.
Start shallow in spring: atlantic cod sit in 12 to 61 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 15 to 61 ft covers summer, 14 to 61 ft covers winter. Top water on the chart: Blind Bay surveyed central basin, a deep basin in the 32 ft range, prime in winter. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. Throw a heavy metal jig or a large soft-plastic jig until the fish tell you otherwise.
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 | 12 to 61 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 100 ft | dawn | Blind Bay surveyed central basin (32 ft) | Diamond jig, Heavy bucktail |
| Summer | 15 to 61 ft chart-limited; documented 45 to 180 ft | dawn | Blind Bay surveyed central basin (32 ft) | Heavy metal jig, Large soft-plastic jig |
| Fall | 11 to 61 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 140 ft | dawn | Christians Gut surveyed channel edge (9 ft) | Diamond jig, Bucktail with teaser |
| Winter | 14 to 61 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 220 ft | midday | Blind Bay surveyed central basin (32 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: atlantic mackerel in 5 to 45 ft. As the season builds they drop to 11 to 61 ft, wintering in 15 to 61 ft. Top water on the chart: Blind Bay surveyed central basin, a deep basin in the 32 ft range, prime in summer. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a feather rig or a small 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 | 5 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | Christians Gut surveyed channel edge (9 ft) | Mackerel feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Summer | 11 to 61 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | Blind Bay surveyed central basin (32 ft) | Feather rig, Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 9 to 61 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 65 ft | dawn & dusk | Blind Bay surveyed central basin (32 ft) | Compact silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 15 to 61 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 120 ft | midday | Blind Bay surveyed central basin (32 ft) | Small deep jig |
In spring, winter flounder run shallow here, mostly 2 to 18 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 8 to 30 ft before dropping to 3 to 20 ft for winter. Spring winter flounder concentrate at Christians Gut surveyed channel edge, a prime-rated channel edge around 9 ft. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a light scented jig worked slowly most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Christians Gut surveyed channel edge (9 ft) | Small bucktail tipped with worm, Scented grub on a light jig |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn | Christians Gut surveyed channel edge (9 ft) | Light scented jig worked slowly |
| Fall | 6 to 25 ft | midday | Christians Gut surveyed channel edge (9 ft) | Small bucktail + worm, Scented bottom jig |
| Winter | 3 to 20 ft | midday | Christians Gut surveyed channel edge (9 ft) | Small bucktail tipped with worm |
In spring, striped bass run shallow here, mostly 5 to 20 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 25 to 60 ft, and winter fish settle into 20 to 50 ft. Blind Bay surveyed central basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 32 ft, rated prime for summer striped bass. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a topwater walker at low light or a paddletail on a light jig most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge 2 (20 ft) | 3-5 inch baitfish swimbait, Suspending minnow plug |
| Summer | 25 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Blind Bay surveyed central basin (32 ft) | Topwater walker at low light, Paddletail on a light jig |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Blind Bay surveyed central basin (32 ft) | Baitfish swimbait, Metal jig |
| Winter | 20 to 50 ft | midday | Blind Bay surveyed central basin (32 ft) | Slow paddletail, Bucktail near bottom |
Blind Bay carries 8 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Blind Bay surveyed deepest basin cell, about 61 ft down.
Access data: Canadian Hydrographic Service — Sailing Directions ATL 105. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Nova Scotia waters are set by the Nova Scotia sportfishing rules — and special regulations can apply to Blind Bay specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Nova Scotia fishing regulations →
Blind Bay is about 61 ft (19 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from CHS bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target atlantic cod, atlantic mackerel, winter flounder, striped bass on Blind Bay. The list combines the water's survey records with habitat-filtered species from broader official evidence; those additions are plausible occurrences, not exact-water abundance or guaranteed catches.
Blind Bay surveyed central basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 32 ft of water that rates prime for atlantic cod in winter. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each 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 Blind Bay is regulated by the Nova Scotia sportfishing rules. Check the official Nova Scotia regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Big Lake 2 mi · Cranberry Lake 11 mi · Governor Lake 11 mi · Lewis Lake 12 mi · Kidston Lake 12 mi · Long Lake 12 mi · Sambro Harbour 13 mi · Hubbards Cove 14 mi · Chocolate Lake 14 mi · Williams Lake 14 mi · Kearney Lake 14 mi · Paper Mill Lake 16 mi
See how Blind Bay stacks up: best striped bass lakes in Nova Scotia · best winter flounder lakes in Nova Scotia · best atlantic mackerel lakes in Nova Scotia · best atlantic cod lakes in Nova Scotia
Browse all Nova Scotia fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: CHS NONNA 10 (CHS Chart Datum (CD); 74% measured, 26% 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.