Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up freeSalt water depth chart
Today's read
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
66,732-acre West Cotentin Coast. South 3 West 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 west angler-scale survey window. The water tops out around 122 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. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
The outline encloses 66,734 acres, worked by 64.3 miles of shoreline — 2 islands included. With a 1.8 development index there's bank structure worth casting at, in moderation. About 7% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. Tip to tip the water measures near 14.2 mi with a 10.1-mi widest point. If the bite dies, West Cotentin Coast - South 3 Central is 8 mi to the east.
West Cotentin Coast — South 3 West, France : carte SHOM officielle jusqu’à 37 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. Expect a summer slide to 2 to 30 ft, then a winter hold in 10 to 55 ft. Put Shoreline point first on the milk run — a point near 22 ft that grades good for fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in 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 (22 ft) | Paddle-tail soft plastic, Shallow minnow plug |
| Summer | 2 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (22 ft) | Surface lure, Paddle-tail soft plastic |
| Fall | 4 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (22 ft) | Slim metal lure, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 10 to 55 ft | midday | SHOM-grid channel edge (61 ft) | Slow soft-plastic shad, Suspending minnow |
In spring, atlantic mackerel run shallow here, mostly 5 to 45 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 15 to 80 ft, and winter fish settle into 30 to 120 ft. SHOM-grid current seam is the standout, a current seam at roughly 48 ft, rated prime for fall atlantic mackerel. Time it for early morning and the evening. 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 (48 ft) | Mackerel feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Summer | 15 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (62 ft) | Feather rig, Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 65 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid current seam (48 ft) | Compact silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 30 to 120 ft | midday | Deepest basin (115 ft) | Small deep jig |
In spring, atlantic pollock run shallow here, mostly 8 to 100 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 10 to 122 ft before dropping to 19 to 122 ft for winter. Summer atlantic pollock concentrate at Shoreline point, a prime-rated point around 22 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. 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 | 8 to 100 ft | dawn & dusk | Rock reef (5 ft) | Sandeel-pattern lure, Soft-plastic shad |
| Summer | 10 to 122 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (22 ft) | Surface plug, Baitfish swimbait |
| Fall | 11 to 122 ft | dawn | Rock reef (5 ft) | Metal jig, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 19 to 122 ft | midday | Sharp break (62 ft) | Slow metal jig, Weighted soft plastic |
Early season saithe (coalfish) use the shallows, holding in 11 to 122 ft. Even in summer they hold at 12 to 122 ft; winter keeps them in 17 to 122 ft. Put SHOM-grid current seam first on the milk run — a current seam near 48 ft that grades prime for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in 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 | 11 to 122 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid current seam (48 ft) | Slim metal jig, Paddletail |
| Summer | 12 to 122 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (62 ft) | Speed jig, Heavy paddletail |
| Fall | 11 to 122 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid current seam (48 ft) | Metal jig, Baitfish swimbait |
| Winter | 17 to 122 ft | midday | Deepest basin (115 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
In spring, atlantic cod run shallow here, mostly 20 to 100 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 31 to 122 ft before dropping to 28 to 122 ft for winter. Winter atlantic cod concentrate at Deepest basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 115 ft. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. 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 | 20 to 100 ft | dawn | Rock reef (5 ft) | Diamond jig, Heavy bucktail |
| Summer | 31 to 122 ft | dawn | Deepest basin (115 ft) | Heavy metal jig, Large soft-plastic jig |
| Fall | 22 to 122 ft | dawn | Rock reef (5 ft) | Diamond jig, Bucktail with teaser |
| Winter | 28 to 122 ft | midday | Deepest basin (115 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
Early season ling use the shallows, holding in 22 to 122 ft. Even in summer they hold at 20 to 122 ft; winter keeps them in 23 to 122 ft. Put Sharp break first on the milk run — a drop-off near 62 ft that grades prime for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in midday. Tie on a heavy vertical jig and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 22 to 122 ft | midday | Sharp break (62 ft) | Heavy metal jig, Large soft-plastic jig |
| Summer | 20 to 122 ft | midday | Sharp break (62 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
| Fall | 21 to 122 ft | midday | Sharp break (62 ft) | Long metal jig |
| Winter | 23 to 122 ft | midday | Deepest basin (115 ft) | Heavy deep jig |
West Cotentin Coast - South 3 West 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 3 West carries 8 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deepest basin, about 115 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 3 West 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 West is about 122 ft (37 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 West. 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 48 ft of water that rates prime for atlantic mackerel in fall. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
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 West 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 Central 8 mi · West Cotentin Coast - South 4 Central 11 mi · West Cotentin Coast - South 4 West 13 mi · West Cotentin Coast - South 2 West 14 mi · West Cotentin Coast - South 3 East 14 mi · West Cotentin Coast - South 2 Central 16 mi · West Cotentin Coast - South 2 East 20 mi · Cherbourg and Cap de la Hague - South West 24 mi · West Cotentin Coast - South 1 West 28 mi · West Cotentin Coast - South 1 Central 29 mi · West Cotentin Coast - South 1 East 31 mi · Baie de Saint-Brieuc - North West 4 31 mi
See how West Cotentin Coast - South 3 West 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.