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7,085-acre East Cotentin Coast. South West 2 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. The eastern Cotentin coast from Utah Beach to Barfleur, including roadstead, harbor and tide-race structure. This page covers the south west 2 angler-scale survey window. The water tops out around 60 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. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
Drawn out, this is 7,086 acres of water rimmed by 18.6 miles of bank. Index 1.6 on the shoreline: a few honest points and pockets, nothing labyrinthine. 53% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. Call it 7.3 mi long by 3 mi wide at the broadest reach. The nearest mapped water is East Cotentin Coast - Middle West 2, 7 mi to the north.
East Cotentin Coast — South West 2, France : carte SHOM officielle jusqu’à 18 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 | — |
| plie commune (European Plaice) | official species listing | — |
| sole commune (Common Sole) | official species listing | — |
| flet commun (European Flounder) | official species listing | — |
| merlan (Whiting) | official species listing | — |
| orphie (Garfish) | official species listing | — |
| hareng (Atlantic Herring) | official species listing | — |
| barbue (Brill) | official species listing | — |
| raie bouclée (Thornback Ray) | official species listing | — |
| mulet lippu (Thick-lipped Grey Mullet) | official species listing | — |
| lieu jaune (Atlantic Pollock) | official species listing | — |
| cabillaud (Atlantic Cod) | official species listing | — |
Official species-evidence source.
In spring, european seabass run shallow here, mostly 3 to 25 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 2 to 30 ft before dropping to 10 to 55 ft for winter. Summer european seabass concentrate at SHOM-grid current seam, a prime-rated current seam around 24 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a surface lure or a paddle-tail soft plastic most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid current seam (24 ft) | Paddle-tail soft plastic, Shallow minnow plug |
| Summer | 2 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid current seam (24 ft) | Surface lure, Paddle-tail soft plastic |
| Fall | 4 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid current seam (24 ft) | Slim metal lure, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 10 to 55 ft | midday | SHOM-grid channel edge (30 ft) | Slow soft-plastic shad, Suspending minnow |
Early season atlantic mackerel use the shallows, holding in 5 to 45 ft. Summer is an 11 to 60 ft game here, winter a 15 to 60 ft one. The chart's best answer is Deepest basin — deep basin, 58 ft, prime for summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a feather rig or a small vertical jig and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid current seam (24 ft) | Mackerel feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Summer | 11 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Deepest basin (58 ft) | Feather rig, Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 9 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid current seam (24 ft) | Compact silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 15 to 60 ft | midday | Deepest basin (58 ft) | Small deep jig |
Spring puts european plaice in skinny water — 8 to 35 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 6 to 40 ft, wintering in 18 to 60 ft. Summer european plaice concentrate at SHOM-grid flat, a prime-rated feeding flat around 6 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. A light spooned bottom rig or a beaded trace covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 35 ft | dusk | SHOM-grid flat (6 ft) | Beaded flowing trace |
| Summer | 6 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid flat (6 ft) | Light spooned bottom rig, Beaded trace |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk | SHOM-grid channel edge (30 ft) | Beaded bottom trace |
| Winter | 18 to 60 ft | midday | Deepest basin (58 ft) |
When the water first warms, common sole slide up into 6 to 30 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 3 to 30 ft, winter 17 to 60 ft. If you only fish one area, make it SHOM-grid flat: a feeding flat around 6 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in the evening. Keep a light rolling-lead rig rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 6 to 30 ft | dusk | SHOM-grid flat (6 ft) | Tiny bottom jig |
| Summer | 3 to 30 ft | dusk | SHOM-grid flat (6 ft) | Light rolling-lead rig |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dusk | SHOM-grid channel edge (30 ft) | Compact bottom jig |
| Winter | 17 to 60 ft | night | Deepest basin (58 ft) |
Early season european flounder use the shallows, holding in 5 to 25 ft. Summer is a 6 to 35 ft game here, winter a 15 to 50 ft one. The chart's best answer is SHOM-grid flat — feeding flat, 6 ft, prime for spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a bottom jig with spinner blade and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dusk | SHOM-grid flat (6 ft) | Small bucktail dragged on bottom |
| Summer | 6 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid flat (6 ft) | Bottom jig with spinner blade |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dusk | Sharp break (33 ft) | Compact bottom jig |
| Winter | 15 to 50 ft | midday | Sharp break (33 ft) | Small bottom jig |
Spring puts whiting in skinny water — 15 to 55 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 17 to 60 ft, wintering in 13 to 60 ft. Spring whiting concentrate at SHOM-grid channel edge, a prime-rated channel edge around 30 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning. A small vertical jig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 55 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid channel edge (30 ft) | Small silver jig, Two-hook feather rig |
| Summer | 17 to 60 ft | dawn | Deepest basin (58 ft) | Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 60 ft | dusk | SHOM-grid channel edge (30 ft) | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 13 to 60 ft | dusk | Deepest basin (58 ft) | Compact vertical jig |
East Cotentin Coast - South West 2 also holds garfish (2 to 20 ft in summer), atlantic herring (15 to 50 ft in summer), brill (6 to 50 ft in summer), thornback ray (9 to 60 ft in summer), thick-lipped grey mullet (1 to 18 ft in summer), atlantic pollock (5 to 60 ft in summer), atlantic cod (15 to 60 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Structure-wise the chart holds 9 features, led in depth by Deepest basin at roughly 58 ft.
No official 2025 EEA designated bathing-water point matched within 400 metres of this SHOM-grid shoreline. This is an access-evidence gap, not a statement that public fishing access does not exist. Verify local fishing rights, land ownership, posted restrictions, protected areas, tidal and surf safety, and municipal permission before entry.
Private land and private launches need the owner's permission — please ask first.
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 East Cotentin Coast - South West 2 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 →
East Cotentin Coast - South West 2 is about 60 ft (18 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, european plaice, common sole, european flounder, whiting, garfish, atlantic herring, brill, thornback ray, thick-lipped grey mullet, atlantic pollock, atlantic cod roster for East Cotentin Coast - South West 2. 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 24 ft of water that rates prime for european seabass in summer. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each 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 East Cotentin Coast - South West 2 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.
East Cotentin Coast - Middle West 2 7 mi · East Cotentin Coast - South West 3 9 mi · East Cotentin Coast - Middle West 3 11 mi · East Cotentin Coast - Middle West 1 11 mi · East Cotentin Coast - South West 4 18 mi · East Cotentin Coast - Middle West 4 19 mi · East Cotentin Coast - North West 2 19 mi · East Cotentin Coast - North West 3 21 mi · East Cotentin Coast - North West 1 25 mi · East Cotentin Coast - North West 4 26 mi · Cherbourg and Cap de la Hague - South East 28 mi · Baie de Seine - South West 28 mi
See how East Cotentin Coast - South West 2 stacks up: best atlantic herring lakes in France · best european flounder lakes in France · best garfish lakes in France · best european seabass 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.