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2,420-acre Colne Estuary fishing map with Environment Agency multibeam/SurfZone ODN contours (97.58% measured, 97.63% assessed), four measured spots, clearly labeled regional Cefas/Defra fish evidence, official Brightlingsea access context and current UK guidance. The water tops out around 37 ft. The depth chart comes from Environment Agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. The rest of this page walks each species through its year, using the map's own scoring.
The drawn water covers 2,422 acres wrapped in 130.2 miles of bank — 112 islands included. A development index of 18.9 means a maze of bays and points: far more casting targets than a round bowl of the same size. Roughly 97% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. End to end it runs roughly 7.9 mi, about 6.4 mi across. Ardleigh Reservoir sits 6 mi north — the closest neighbouring chart.
When the water first warms, european seabass slide up into 3 to 25 ft. By summer they slide out to 2 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 7 to 37 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Directly measured lower-channel shoulder: a channel edge around 8 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a surface lure or a paddle-tail soft plastic rigged through the warm months.
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 | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Directly measured lower-channel shoulder (8 ft) | Paddle-tail soft plastic, Shallow minnow plug |
| Summer | 2 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Directly measured lower-channel shoulder (8 ft) | Surface lure, Paddle-tail soft plastic |
| Fall | 4 to 37 ft chart-limited; documented 4 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Directly measured lower-channel shoulder (8 ft) | Slim metal lure, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 7 to 37 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 55 ft | midday | Deepest directly measured basin cell (37 ft) | Slow soft-plastic shad, Suspending minnow |
Start shallow in spring: atlantic cod sit in 7 to 37 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 9 to 37 ft covers summer, 8 to 37 ft covers winter. Top water on the chart: Deepest directly measured basin cell, a deep basin in the 37 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 | 7 to 37 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 100 ft | dawn | Directly measured lower-channel shoulder (8 ft) | Diamond jig, Heavy bucktail |
| Summer | 9 to 37 ft chart-limited; documented 45 to 180 ft | dawn | Deepest directly measured basin cell (37 ft) | Heavy metal jig, Large soft-plastic jig |
| Fall | 7 to 37 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 140 ft | dawn | Directly measured lower-channel shoulder (8 ft) | Diamond jig, Bucktail with teaser |
| Winter | 8 to 37 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 220 ft | midday | Deepest directly measured basin cell (37 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
When the water first warms, thick-lipped grey mullet slide up into 1 to 15 ft. By summer they slide out to 1 to 18 ft, and by winter most fish are in 8 to 35 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Directly measured lower-channel shoulder: a channel edge around 8 ft that scores prime in fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and midday. Keep a bread fly or a small shrimp fly rigged through the warm months.
| 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 (8 ft) | Bread fly |
| Winter | 8 to 35 ft | midday | Directly measured lower-channel shoulder (8 ft) |
Early season european plaice use the shallows, holding in 8 to 35 ft. Expect a summer slide to 6 to 37 ft, then a winter hold in 11 to 37 ft. Put Directly measured lower-channel shoulder first on the milk run — a channel edge near 8 ft that grades prime for fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a light spooned bottom rig or a beaded trace and you're in the game.
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 | 8 to 35 ft | dusk | Directly measured lower-channel shoulder (8 ft) | Beaded flowing trace |
| Summer | 6 to 37 ft chart-limited; documented 6 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Directly measured upper-flat transition (4 ft) | Light spooned bottom rig, Beaded trace |
| Fall | 7 to 37 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 50 ft | dusk | Directly measured lower-channel shoulder (8 ft) | Beaded bottom trace |
| Winter | 11 to 37 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 80 ft | midday | Deepest directly measured basin cell (37 ft) |
In spring, common sole run shallow here, mostly 6 to 30 ft. Summer keeps them at 3 to 30 ft, and they winter in 11 to 37 ft. Summer common sole concentrate at Directly measured upper-flat transition, a prime-rated feeding flat around 4 ft. Fish it in the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a light rolling-lead rig most summer days.
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 | 6 to 30 ft | dusk | Directly measured upper-flat transition (4 ft) | Tiny bottom jig |
| Summer | 3 to 30 ft | dusk | Directly measured upper-flat transition (4 ft) | Light rolling-lead rig |
| Fall | 7 to 37 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 40 ft | dusk | Directly measured lower-channel shoulder (8 ft) | Compact bottom jig |
| Winter | 11 to 37 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 70 ft | night | Deepest directly measured basin cell (37 ft) |
Count 9 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deepest directly measured basin cell, sits near 37 ft.
Access data: Tendring District Council. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Colne Estuary is about 37 ft (11 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, atlantic cod, thick-lipped grey mullet, european plaice, common sole on Colne Estuary. This isn't a survey of the water — none is published for it — but an informed estimate from the species common to the region, narrowed by this water's depth, size and each species' range.
Deepest directly measured basin cell is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 37 ft of water that rates prime for atlantic cod in winter. 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.
Ardleigh Reservoir 6 mi · Stour Estuary 11 mi · Blackwater Estuary - Inner and Middle 12 mi · Holbrook Lake 12 mi · Orwell Estuary 15 mi · Crouch Estuary - Inner to Burnham Reach 20 mi · Deben Estuary 20 mi · Hanningfield Reservoir 25 mi · Blue Lagoon 26 mi · Alde-Ore Estuary 29 mi · North Pool 36 mi · North Pool, Marsh Work 36 mi
See how Colne Estuary stacks up: best european seabass lakes in United Kingdom · best common sole lakes in United Kingdom · best european plaice lakes in United Kingdom · best thick-lipped grey mullet 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); 98% 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.