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6,455-acre Cherbourg and Cap de la Hague. South East 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. Cherbourg roadstead and the Cap de la Hague approaches, with breakwaters, reefs and powerful Channel current. This page covers the south east angler-scale survey window. The water tops out around 69 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. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
The drawn water covers 6,456 acres wrapped in 19.8 miles of bank, broken up by an island. With a 1.8 development index there's bank structure worth casting at, in moderation. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 25% of this chart. Figure 6.6 mi of water from one end to the other, 2.7 mi at the beam. Its nearest charted neighbour, Cherbourg and Cap de la Hague - North East, is 6 mi to the north.
Cherbourg and Cap de la Hague — South East, France : carte SHOM officielle jusqu’à 21 m; spots pour bar commun, maquereau commun. 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 | — |
| maquereau commun (Atlantic Mackerel) | official species listing | — |
| lieu jaune (Atlantic Pollock) | official species listing | — |
| lieu noir (Saithe (Coalfish)) | official species listing | — |
| cabillaud (Atlantic Cod) | official species listing | — |
| lingue (Ling) | official species listing | — |
| orphie (Garfish) | official species listing | — |
| barbue (Brill) | official species listing | — |
| raie bouclée (Thornback Ray) | official species listing | — |
| sole commune (Common Sole) | official species listing | — |
| mulet lippu (Thick-lipped Grey Mullet) | official species listing | — |
| mulet cabot (Flathead Grey Mullet) | official species listing | — |
| anguille européenne (European Eel) | official species listing | — |
Official species-evidence source.
Spring european seabass on Cherbourg and Cap de la Hague - South East hold shallow, usually 3 to 25 ft. By summer they slide out to 2 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 10 to 55 ft. The chart's best answer is SHOM-grid current seam — current seam, 28 ft, prime for summer. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a surface lure or a paddle-tail soft plastic.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid current seam (28 ft) | Paddle-tail soft plastic, Shallow minnow plug |
| Summer | 2 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid current seam (28 ft) | Surface lure, Paddle-tail soft plastic |
| Fall | 4 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid current seam (28 ft) | Slim metal lure, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 10 to 55 ft | midday | SHOM-grid channel edge (35 ft) | Slow soft-plastic shad, Suspending minnow |
Spring puts atlantic mackerel in skinny water — 5 to 45 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 13 to 69 ft, wintering in 17 to 69 ft. Summer atlantic mackerel concentrate at Deepest basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 64 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. A feather rig or a small vertical jig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid current seam (28 ft) | Mackerel feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Summer | 13 to 69 ft | dawn & dusk | Deepest basin (64 ft) | Feather rig, Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 65 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid current seam (28 ft) | Compact silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 17 to 69 ft | midday | Deepest basin (64 ft) | Small deep jig |
Spring puts atlantic pollock in skinny water — 6 to 69 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 6 to 69 ft, and winter fish hold in 11 to 69 ft. Shoreline point is the standout, a point at roughly 23 ft, rated prime for summer atlantic pollock. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A surface plug or a baitfish swimbait covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 6 to 69 ft | dawn & dusk | Rock reef (3 ft) | Sandeel-pattern lure, Soft-plastic shad |
| Summer | 6 to 69 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (23 ft) | Surface plug, Baitfish swimbait |
| Fall | 6 to 69 ft | dawn | Rock reef (3 ft) | Metal jig, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 11 to 69 ft | midday | Sharp break (37 ft) | Slow metal jig, Weighted soft plastic |
Spring saithe (coalfish) on Cherbourg and Cap de la Hague - South East hold shallow, usually 6 to 69 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 7 to 69 ft in summer, 10 to 69 ft once it turns cold. The chart's best answer is SHOM-grid current seam — current seam, 28 ft, prime for spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a speed jig or a heavy paddletail.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 6 to 69 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid current seam (28 ft) | Slim metal jig, Paddletail |
| Summer | 7 to 69 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (37 ft) | Speed jig, Heavy paddletail |
| Fall | 6 to 69 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid current seam (28 ft) | Metal jig, Baitfish swimbait |
| Winter | 10 to 69 ft | midday | Deepest basin (64 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
Spring puts atlantic cod in skinny water — 14 to 69 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 17 to 69 ft, and winter fish hold in 16 to 69 ft. Deepest basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 64 ft, rated prime for winter atlantic cod. Plan around early morning in the warm months. A heavy metal jig or a large soft-plastic jig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 14 to 69 ft | dawn | Sharp break (37 ft) | Diamond jig, Heavy bucktail |
| Summer | 17 to 69 ft | dawn | Deepest basin (64 ft) | Heavy metal jig, Large soft-plastic jig |
| Fall | 12 to 69 ft | dawn | Rock reef (3 ft) | Diamond jig, Bucktail with teaser |
| Winter | 16 to 69 ft | midday | Deepest basin (64 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
Spring ling on Cherbourg and Cap de la Hague - South East hold shallow, usually 12 to 69 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 12 to 69 ft in summer, 13 to 69 ft once it turns cold. The chart's best answer is Sharp break — drop-off, 37 ft, prime for spring. Prime time lands in midday. The summer box starts with a heavy vertical jig.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 12 to 69 ft | midday | Sharp break (37 ft) | Heavy metal jig, Large soft-plastic jig |
| Summer | 12 to 69 ft | midday | Sharp break (37 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
| Fall | 12 to 69 ft | midday | Sharp break (37 ft) | Long metal jig |
| Winter | 13 to 69 ft | midday | Deepest basin (64 ft) | Heavy deep jig |
Cherbourg and Cap de la Hague - South East also holds garfish (2 to 20 ft in summer), brill (6 to 50 ft in summer), thornback ray (10 to 65 ft in summer), common sole (3 to 30 ft in summer), thick-lipped grey mullet (1 to 18 ft in summer), flathead grey mullet (1 to 22 ft in summer), european eel (6 to 28 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
8 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deepest basin, around 64 ft, is the deepest of them.
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 Cherbourg and Cap de la Hague - South East 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 →
Cherbourg and Cap de la Hague - South East is about 69 ft (21 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 CGFS and coastal estuary monitoring regional survey evidence informs the european seabass, atlantic mackerel, atlantic pollock, saithe (coalfish), atlantic cod, ling, garfish, brill, thornback ray, common sole, thick-lipped grey mullet, flathead grey mullet, european eel roster for Cherbourg and Cap de la Hague - South East. 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 28 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 Cherbourg and Cap de la Hague - South East 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.
Cherbourg and Cap de la Hague - North East 6 mi · Cherbourg and Cap de la Hague - North Central 9 mi · East Cotentin Coast - North West 1 11 mi · East Cotentin Coast - Middle West 1 17 mi · Cherbourg and Cap de la Hague - South West 17 mi · Cherbourg and Cap de la Hague - North West 17 mi · East Cotentin Coast - North West 2 20 mi · West Cotentin Coast - South 4 Central 22 mi · East Cotentin Coast - Middle West 2 22 mi · West Cotentin Coast - South 4 West 23 mi · East Cotentin Coast - South West 2 28 mi · East Cotentin Coast - North West 3 30 mi
See how Cherbourg and Cap de la Hague - South East stacks up: best garfish lakes in France · best european seabass lakes in France · best common sole lakes in France · best thick-lipped grey mullet 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.