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63,984-acre West Cotentin Coast. South 3 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 3 central angler-scale survey window. The water tops out around 89 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. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
West Cotentin Coast - South 3 Central maps at 63,921 acres behind 42.9 miles of shoreline. The basin is a simple one (shoreline index 1.2) — close to a bowl, so the structure on the chart matters more than the bank. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 8% of this chart. Tip to tip the water measures near 15.8 mi with a 12-mi widest point. Its nearest charted neighbour, West Cotentin Coast - South 3 East, is 7 mi to the southeast.
West Cotentin Coast — South 3 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.
Early season european seabass use the shallows, holding in 3 to 25 ft. Summer is a 2 to 30 ft game here, winter a 10 to 55 ft one. The chart's best answer is SHOM-grid current seam — current seam, 36 ft, prime for fall. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a surface lure or a paddle-tail soft plastic and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (6 ft) | Paddle-tail soft plastic, Shallow minnow plug |
| Summer | 2 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid current seam (36 ft) | Surface lure, Paddle-tail soft plastic |
| Fall | 4 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid current seam (36 ft) | Slim metal lure, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 10 to 55 ft | midday | SHOM-grid channel edge (45 ft) | Slow soft-plastic shad, Suspending minnow |
In spring, atlantic mackerel run shallow here, mostly 5 to 45 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 15 to 80 ft before dropping to 22 to 89 ft for winter. Fall atlantic mackerel concentrate at SHOM-grid current seam, a prime-rated current seam around 36 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a feather rig or a small vertical jig most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid current seam (36 ft) | Mackerel feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Summer | 15 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (56 ft) | Feather rig, Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 65 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid current seam (36 ft) | Compact silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 22 to 89 ft | midday | Deepest basin (89 ft) | Small deep jig |
In spring, atlantic pollock run shallow here, mostly 7 to 89 ft. Summer keeps them at 7 to 89 ft, and they winter in 14 to 89 ft. Sharp break is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 56 ft, rated prime for winter atlantic pollock. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a surface plug or a baitfish swimbait most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 7 to 89 ft | dawn & dusk | Rock reef (2 ft) | Sandeel-pattern lure, Soft-plastic shad |
| Summer | 7 to 89 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (6 ft) | Surface plug, Baitfish swimbait |
| Fall | 8 to 89 ft | dawn | Rock reef (2 ft) | Metal jig, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 14 to 89 ft | midday | Sharp break (56 ft) | Slow metal jig, Weighted soft plastic |
Early season saithe (coalfish) use the shallows, holding in 8 to 89 ft. Even in summer they hold at 9 to 89 ft; winter keeps them in 13 to 89 ft. The chart's best answer is SHOM-grid current seam — current seam, 36 ft, prime for spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a speed jig or a heavy paddletail and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 89 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid current seam (36 ft) | Slim metal jig, Paddletail |
| Summer | 9 to 89 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (56 ft) | Speed jig, Heavy paddletail |
| Fall | 8 to 89 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid current seam (36 ft) | Metal jig, Baitfish swimbait |
| Winter | 13 to 89 ft | midday | Deepest basin (89 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
In spring, atlantic cod run shallow here, mostly 18 to 89 ft. Summer keeps them at 22 to 89 ft, and they winter in 20 to 89 ft. Deepest basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 89 ft, rated prime for winter atlantic cod. Time it for early morning. You won't need more than a heavy metal jig or a large soft-plastic jig most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 18 to 89 ft | dawn | Sharp break (56 ft) | Diamond jig, Heavy bucktail |
| Summer | 22 to 89 ft | dawn | Deepest basin (89 ft) | Heavy metal jig, Large soft-plastic jig |
| Fall | 16 to 89 ft | dawn | Rock reef (2 ft) | Diamond jig, Bucktail with teaser |
| Winter | 20 to 89 ft | midday | Deepest basin (89 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
Early season ling use the shallows, holding in 16 to 89 ft. Even in summer they hold at 15 to 89 ft; winter keeps them in 17 to 89 ft. The chart's best answer is Sharp break — drop-off, 56 ft, prime for spring. Best bite is midday. Tie on a heavy vertical jig and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 16 to 89 ft | midday | Sharp break (56 ft) | Heavy metal jig, Large soft-plastic jig |
| Summer | 15 to 89 ft | midday | Sharp break (56 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
| Fall | 15 to 89 ft | midday | Sharp break (56 ft) | Long metal jig |
| Winter | 17 to 89 ft | midday | Deepest basin (89 ft) | Heavy deep jig |
West Cotentin Coast - South 3 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.
The chart marks 9 structure features on West Cotentin Coast - South 3 Central; the deepest is Deepest basin at about 89 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 West Cotentin Coast - South 3 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 3 Central is about 89 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 3 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 36 ft of water that rates prime for european seabass in fall. 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 West Cotentin Coast - South 3 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 3 East 7 mi · West Cotentin Coast - South 3 West 8 mi · West Cotentin Coast - South 4 Central 12 mi · West Cotentin Coast - South 2 Central 13 mi · West Cotentin Coast - South 2 East 15 mi · West Cotentin Coast - South 2 West 15 mi · West Cotentin Coast - South 4 West 16 mi · Cherbourg and Cap de la Hague - South West 26 mi · West Cotentin Coast - South 1 Central 27 mi · West Cotentin Coast - South 1 East 27 mi · West Cotentin Coast - South 1 West 28 mi · Cherbourg and Cap de la Hague - South East 31 mi
See how West Cotentin Coast - South 3 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.