Salt water depth chart
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17,915-acre Cwb-Ii-3A. Central Portugal coastal fishing map with an exact official national water-body boundary, EMODnet 2024 CDI-audited Portuguese hydrographic and research-survey/composite DTM contours, source-assessed fishing spots, official regional fish evidence, seasonal forage guidance, public-access review and current-rule links. Official Portuguese WFD named coastal or transitional assessment water in Central Portugal Atlantic Coast. This child is clipped to the exact source polygon and a trip-scale ownership window. Coverage classes and uncertainty limits are disclosed; this is a fishing-planning chart, not a navigation chart or catch forecast. The water tops out around 125 ft. The depth chart comes from EMODnet, with national hydrographic source-reference audit bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
The outline encloses 17,918 acres, worked by 24.3 miles of shoreline. A shoreline index of 1.3 says round and simple: fish relate to depth changes here, not shoreline features. About 11% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. Figure 9.3 mi of water from one end to the other, 4.6 mi at the beam. Cwb-Ii-3A - Central West sits 4 mi west — the closest neighbouring chart.
Occurrence evidence does not promise a catch or establish that retention is legal. Current seasons, closures, protected species, gear rules and local restrictions 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 |
|---|---|---|
| (European Seabass) | official species listing | — |
| (Gilthead Seabream) | official species listing | — |
| (Meagre) | official species listing | — |
| (Atlantic Mackerel) | official species listing | — |
| (Atlantic Bonito) | official species listing | — |
| (Garfish) | official species listing | — |
| (Common Sole) | official species listing | — |
| (Thick-lipped Grey Mullet) | 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 17 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 (17 ft) | Paddle-tail soft plastic, Shallow minnow plug |
| Summer | 2 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (17 ft) | Surface lure, Paddle-tail soft plastic |
| Fall | 4 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (17 ft) | Slim metal lure, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 10 to 55 ft | midday | open water | Slow soft-plastic shad, Suspending minnow |
In spring, gilthead seabream run shallow here, mostly 3 to 35 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 2 to 45 ft, and winter fish settle into 20 to 100 ft. Deepest basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 121 ft, rated good for winter gilthead seabream. Time it for early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 35 ft | dusk | open water | see map |
| Summer | 2 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | see map |
| Fall | 6 to 65 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | see map |
| Winter | 20 to 100 ft | midday | Deepest basin (121 ft) | see map |
In spring, meagre run shallow here, mostly 12 to 80 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 8 to 100 ft before dropping to 28 to 125 ft for winter. Winter meagre concentrate at Deepest basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 121 ft. Fish it in the evening and you'll meet the bite.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 12 to 80 ft | dusk | open water | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 100 ft | dusk | Deepest basin (121 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 14 to 125 ft | dusk | Deepest basin (121 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 28 to 125 ft | midday | Deepest basin (121 ft) | see map |
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. Deepest basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 121 ft, rated prime for winter 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 | Shoreline point (17 ft) | Mackerel feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Summer | 15 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (17 ft) | Feather rig, Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 65 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (17 ft) | Compact silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 30 to 120 ft | midday | Deepest basin (121 ft) | Small deep jig |
Come spring, look for atlantic bonito tight to the bank in 15 to 100 ft. Through summer count on 5 to 90 ft; the winter hold is 28 to 125 ft. Start at Deepest basin. It's a deep basin holding about 121 ft of water and rates prime come winter. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 100 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (17 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 5 to 90 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (17 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 120 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (17 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 28 to 125 ft | midday | Deepest basin (121 ft) | see map |
Spring garfish on Cwb-Ii-3A - Central hold shallow, usually 1 to 15 ft. They move out to 2 to 20 ft in summer and finish the year down in 20 to 60 ft. Put Shoreline point first on the milk run — a point near 17 ft that grades good for summer. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a slim casting spoon or a surface-skipping fly.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 15 ft | dawn & midday | Shoreline point (17 ft) | Slim silver spoon, Small inline spinner |
| Summer | 2 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (17 ft) | Slim casting spoon, Surface-skipping fly |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (17 ft) | Weighted slim spoon, Small silver jig |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | midday | Sharp break (28 ft) |
Cwb-Ii-3A - Central also holds common sole (3 to 30 ft in summer), thick-lipped grey mullet (1 to 18 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Structure-wise the chart holds 15 features, led in depth by Deepest basin at roughly 121 ft.
Portuguese Environment Agency official SNIAmb bathing-water review was reviewed, but no stable government record establishes a public fishing entrance, parking or launch for this exact mapped child. This is an access-evidence gap, not a claim that public access does not exist. Verify land ownership, port and harbour rules, protected areas, local signs, parking, safety, permits and fishing 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 Portugal waters are set by the Portuguese Directorate-General for Natural Resources, Safety and Maritime Services (recreational fishing) — and special regulations can apply to Cwb-Ii-3A - Central specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish. Check Portugal's live DGRM, regional, port-authority and protected-area rules before every coastal trip. A current licence, RecFishing catch reporting, daily possession limits, minimum sizes, species closures, method limits, bathing-season restrictions, navigation-channel exclusions and local maritime notices may apply. Marine protected areas including Berlengas, Arrábida, the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast, Ria Formosa and other reserves impose additional zoned restrictions or authorizations. A WFD boundary, source-audited contour, fishing-spot marker or bathing-water record is planning context only and never grants fishing, retention, shore entry, parking, launching, port access or safe navigation permission.
Check the official Portugal fishing regulations →
DGRM current species, minimum-size and closure guidance →
Check special-area and water-specific rules →
Check official shore-access information →
Cwb-Ii-3A - Central is about 125 ft (38 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from EMODnet, with national hydrographic source-reference audit bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Official coastal monitoring from Portugal national fisheries and coastal monitoring agencies informs the european seabass, gilthead seabream, meagre, atlantic mackerel, atlantic bonito, garfish, common sole, thick-lipped grey mullet roster for Cwb-Ii-3A - 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.
Deepest basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 121 ft of water that rates prime for meagre in winter. Open the map above to see every rated 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 Cwb-Ii-3A - Central is regulated by the Portuguese Directorate-General for Natural Resources, Safety and Maritime Services (recreational fishing). Check the official Portugal regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Cwb-Ii-3A - Central West 4 mi · Cwb-Ii-3A - North West 7 mi · Cwb-Ii-3A - North 8 mi · Cwb-Ii-3B - Sector 02 8 mi · Cwb-Ii-3B - Sector 05 16 mi · Cwb-Ii-2 - Central 30 mi · Cwb-Ii-3B - Sector 10 39 mi · Cwb-Ii-2 - North 40 mi · Cwb-Ii-4 - Sector 02 51 mi · Cwb-Ii-4 - Sector 01 53 mi · Cwb-Ii-4 - Sector 04 58 mi · Cwb-Ii-4 - Sector 03 61 mi
Browse all Portugal fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: EMODnet, with national hydrographic source-reference audit EMODnet Bathymetry DTM 2024 mean-depth grid — CDI-audited Portuguese hydrographic and research-survey/composite DTM (Lowest Astronomical Tide (LAT); 100% 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.