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376-acre Clinton Harbor fishing map with NOAA BlueTopo survey contours (99.47% measured, 100% assessed), charted rock and wreck structure, regional fish-survey occurrence, sourced forage timing and verified public access. The water tops out around 14 ft. The depth chart is built from real agency bathymetry referenced to NAVD88; directly measured coverage remains distinguished from source interpolation. The channels, holes and drop-offs come from the source data, not a distance-from-shore model. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
The drawn water covers 376 acres wrapped in 3.7 miles of bank. At index 1.4 the outline is almost a bowl — read the depth changes, not the shoreline. The whole water is littoral — nothing here runs deeper than ~15 ft, so it's all weed-and-bait territory. End to end it runs roughly 1.1 mi, about 0.7 mi across. If the bite dies, Duck Island Roads is 2 mi to the east.
In spring, striped bass run shallow here, mostly 4 to 14 ft. Summer keeps them at 4 to 14 ft, and they winter in 4 to 14 ft. Summer striped bass concentrate at Surveyed channel edge, a prime-rated drop-off around 5 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a flutter spoon (deep) or an umbrella rig (trolled) most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 14 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (5 ft) | Bucktail jig + trailer, Walking topwater (dawn) |
| Summer | 4 to 14 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (5 ft) | Flutter spoon (deep), Umbrella rig (trolled) |
| Fall | 4 to 14 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (5 ft) | Topwater walker, Jerkbait |
| Winter | 4 to 14 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (5 ft) | Alabama rig (slow), Flutter spoon |
Come spring, look for bluefish tight to the bank in 2 to 14 ft. Through summer count on 2 to 14 ft; the winter hold is 4 to 14 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Surveyed channel edge: a drop-off around 5 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A popper (early/late) or a metal jigs in the rips is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 14 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (5 ft) | Metal (Hopkins/Kastmaster), Pencil popper |
| Summer | 2 to 14 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (5 ft) | Popper (early/late), Metal jigs in the rips |
| Fall | 2 to 14 ft | dawn & midday | Surveyed channel edge (5 ft) | Pencil popper, Big metal |
| Winter | 4 to 14 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (5 ft) | Metal jig worked slow (southern waters) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: summer flounder (fluke) in 3 to 14 ft. The depth story barely changes: 3 to 14 ft through summer, 4 to 14 ft in winter. The spot to know is Surveyed channel edge, a drop-off in about 5 ft of water that rates prime for summer flounder (fluke) in summer. Plan around midday and early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a bucktail (1-3 oz by drift speed) or a gulp grub on jighead gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 14 ft | midday & dawn | Surveyed channel edge (5 ft) | Bucktail + Gulp swimming mullet, Hi-lo rig + squid strip |
| Summer | 3 to 14 ft | midday & dawn | Surveyed channel edge (5 ft) | Bucktail (1-3 oz by drift speed), Gulp grub on jighead |
| Fall | 4 to 14 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (5 ft) | Heavier bucktail on the lumps, Big Gulp 6" grub |
| Winter | 4 to 14 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (5 ft) | Slow bottom rig + strip |
In spring, black sea bass run shallow here, mostly 4 to 14 ft. Summer keeps them at 4 to 14 ft, and they winter in 4 to 14 ft. Spring black sea bass concentrate at NOAA charted underwater rock, a prime-rated rock pile around 7 ft. Fish it in midday and early morning and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a bucktail + grub or a diamond jig + squid teaser most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 14 ft | midday & dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (7 ft) | Hi-lo rig + squid, 1-2 oz bucktail + Gulp |
| Summer | 4 to 14 ft | midday & dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (7 ft) | Bucktail + grub, Diamond jig + squid teaser |
| Fall | 4 to 14 ft | midday | NOAA charted underwater rock (7 ft) | 3-4 oz vertical jig (deep), Double-teaser rig |
| Winter | 4 to 14 ft | midday | NOAA charted underwater rock (7 ft) | Heavy hi-lo rig on deep wrecks |
Early season tautog (blackfish) use the shallows, holding in 3 to 14 ft. Even in summer they hold at 4 to 14 ft; winter keeps them in 4 to 14 ft. Put NOAA charted underwater rock first on the milk run — a rock pile near 7 ft that grades prime for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Tie on a 1/2-1 oz tog jig + crab and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 14 ft | midday & dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (7 ft) | Tog jig + green crab half, Bare jig + clam (early) |
| Summer | 4 to 14 ft | dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (7 ft) | 1/2-1 oz tog jig + crab |
| Fall | 3 to 14 ft | midday | NOAA charted underwater rock (7 ft) | Tog jig + whole green crab, Old-school rig + double crab (deep) |
| Winter | 4 to 14 ft | midday | NOAA charted underwater rock (7 ft) | Heavy jig + crab on deep structure |
Count 13 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Wheeler Rock, sits near 12 ft.
Access data: Town of Clinton — Town Marina. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Connecticut waters are set by the Connecticut DEEP (marine fishing) — and special regulations can apply to Clinton Harbor specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Connecticut fishing regulations →
Clinton Harbor is about 14 ft (4 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart is built from real agency bathymetry referenced to NAVD88; directly measured coverage remains distinguished from source interpolation. The contours reflect measured and quality-assessed source depths.
Anglers target striped bass, bluefish, summer flounder (fluke), black sea bass, tautog (blackfish) on Clinton Harbor.
Surveyed channel edge is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 5 ft of water that rates prime for summer flounder (fluke) in summer. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
For striped bass, 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 Clinton Harbor is regulated by the Connecticut DEEP (marine fishing). Check the official Connecticut regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Duck Island Roads 2 mi · Messerschmidt Pond 6 mi · Guilford Harbor 7 mi · Cedar Lake 10 mi · Pataconk Reservoir 11 mi · Hamburg Cove 12 mi · Quonnipaug Lake 13 mi · Chapman Pond 13 mi · Uncas Lake 14 mi · Rogers Lake 14 mi · Pipes Cove 14 mi, NY · Norwich Pond 15 mi
See how Clinton Harbor stacks up: best striped bass lakes in Connecticut · best summer flounder (fluke) lakes in Connecticut · best bluefish lakes in Connecticut · best black sea bass lakes in Connecticut
Browse all Connecticut fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: NOAA BlueTopo (NAVD88; 99% measured, 1% 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.