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66,304-acre West Cotentin Coast. South 1 Central 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 west Cotentin shore from Carteret to Granville, with islands, rock, sand banks and macrotidal channels. This page covers the south 1 central angler-scale survey window. The water tops out around 87 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:
West Cotentin Coast - South 1 Central maps at 66,243 acres behind 63.6 miles of shoreline, broken up by an island. A middling shoreline index (1.8) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. 6% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. The basin spans about 16.1 mi end to end and 13.9 mi across at its widest. Its nearest charted neighbour, West Cotentin Coast - South 1 East, is 6 mi to the east.
West Cotentin Coast — South 1 Central, France : carte SHOM officielle jusqu’à 27 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.
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 10 to 55 ft. If you only fish one area, make it SHOM-grid current seam: a current seam around 34 ft that scores prime in fall. 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.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (12 ft) | Paddle-tail soft plastic, Shallow minnow plug |
| Summer | 2 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid current seam (34 ft) | Surface lure, Paddle-tail soft plastic |
| Fall | 4 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid current seam (34 ft) | Slim metal lure, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 10 to 55 ft | midday | SHOM-grid channel edge (43 ft) | Slow soft-plastic shad, Suspending minnow |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: atlantic mackerel in 5 to 45 ft. As the season builds they drop to 15 to 80 ft, wintering in 22 to 87 ft. Top water on the chart: SHOM-grid current seam, a current seam in the 34 ft range, prime in fall. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a feather rig or a small vertical jig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid current seam (34 ft) | Mackerel feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Summer | 15 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (44 ft) | Feather rig, Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 65 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid current seam (34 ft) | Compact silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 22 to 87 ft | midday | Deepest basin (87 ft) | Small deep jig |
Start shallow in spring: atlantic pollock sit in 7 to 87 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 7 to 87 ft covers summer, 14 to 87 ft covers winter. Top water on the chart: Rock reef, a rock pile in the 7 ft range, prime in spring. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a surface plug or a baitfish swimbait until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 7 to 87 ft | dawn & dusk | Rock reef (7 ft) | Sandeel-pattern lure, Soft-plastic shad |
| Summer | 7 to 87 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (12 ft) | Surface plug, Baitfish swimbait |
| Fall | 8 to 87 ft | dawn | Rock reef (7 ft) | Metal jig, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 14 to 87 ft | midday | Sharp break (44 ft) | Slow metal jig, Weighted soft plastic |
When the water first warms, saithe (coalfish) slide up into 8 to 87 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 8 to 87 ft, winter 12 to 87 ft. If you only fish one area, make it SHOM-grid current seam: a current seam around 34 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a speed jig or a heavy paddletail rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 87 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid current seam (34 ft) | Slim metal jig, Paddletail |
| Summer | 8 to 87 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (44 ft) | Speed jig, Heavy paddletail |
| Fall | 8 to 87 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid current seam (34 ft) | Metal jig, Baitfish swimbait |
| Winter | 12 to 87 ft | midday | Deepest basin (87 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
Start shallow in spring: atlantic cod sit in 17 to 87 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 22 to 87 ft covers summer, 20 to 87 ft covers winter. Top water on the chart: Deepest basin, a deep basin in the 87 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.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 17 to 87 ft | dawn | Rock reef (7 ft) | Diamond jig, Heavy bucktail |
| Summer | 22 to 87 ft | dawn | Deepest basin (87 ft) | Heavy metal jig, Large soft-plastic jig |
| Fall | 16 to 87 ft | dawn | Rock reef (7 ft) | Diamond jig, Bucktail with teaser |
| Winter | 20 to 87 ft | midday | Deepest basin (87 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
When the water first warms, ling slide up into 15 to 87 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 14 to 87 ft, winter 16 to 87 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Sharp break: a drop-off around 44 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in midday. Keep a heavy vertical jig rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 87 ft | midday | Sharp break (44 ft) | Heavy metal jig, Large soft-plastic jig |
| Summer | 14 to 87 ft | midday | Sharp break (44 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
| Fall | 15 to 87 ft | midday | Sharp break (44 ft) | Long metal jig |
| Winter | 16 to 87 ft | midday | Deepest basin (87 ft) | Heavy deep jig |
West Cotentin Coast - South 1 Central 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.
West Cotentin Coast - South 1 Central carries 9 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deepest basin, about 87 ft down.
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 West Cotentin Coast - South 1 Central 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 →
West Cotentin Coast - South 1 Central is about 87 ft (27 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 West Cotentin Coast - South 1 Central. 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 34 ft of water that rates prime for european seabass in fall. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by 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 West Cotentin Coast - South 1 Central 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.
West Cotentin Coast - South 1 East 6 mi · Golfe Normand-Breton - North West 3 9 mi · West Cotentin Coast - South 1 West 9 mi · Golfe Normand-Breton - North West 4 10 mi · Saint-Malo and Rance - North East 11 mi · Golfe Normand-Breton - South West 3 13 mi · West Cotentin Coast - South 2 Central 14 mi · Golfe Normand-Breton - North West 2 14 mi · West Cotentin Coast - South 2 East 15 mi · West Cotentin Coast - South 2 West 16 mi · Saint-Malo and Rance - North West 18 mi · Golfe Normand-Breton - North West 1 22 mi
See how West Cotentin Coast - South 1 Central 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.