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Eems-Dollard is a 42,983-acre Dutch saltwater fishing section with official Rijkswaterstaat bathymetry, evidence-scoped fish targets, and mapped depth-derived fishing spots. The water tops out around 97 ft. The depth chart comes from Rijkswaterstaat bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. The rest of this page walks each species through its year, using the map's own scoring.
Eems-Dollard maps at 42,959 acres behind 67.2 miles of shoreline. The 2.3 development index tells the story — a convoluted bank whose fishable edge far outruns the acreage. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 41% of this chart. Call it 22.8 mi long by 8.3 mi wide at the broadest reach. Eems-Dollard (kustwater) sits 19 mi northwest — the closest neighbouring chart.
Vis- en dieptekaart van Eems-Dollard, Nederland: gemeten dieptelijnen (Rijkswaterstaat) tot 30 m, met visstekken voor haring, bot. De dieptelijnen zijn berekend uit gemeten bodemhoogten van Rijkswaterstaat en het officiële lokale streefpeil (NAP). Gebruik de kaart als visgids, nooit voor navigatie.
The roster combines Wadden Sea station records and long-running regional monitoring, filtered to this saltwater habitat. It does not imply equal abundance across a tidal basin. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Haring (Atlantic Herring) | coastal monitoring | — |
| Bot (European Flounder) | coastal monitoring | — |
| Schol (European Plaice) | coastal monitoring | — |
| Tong (Common Sole) | coastal monitoring | — |
| Wijting (Whiting) | coastal monitoring | — |
| Zeebaars (European Seabass) | coastal monitoring | — |
| Spiering (European Smelt) | coastal monitoring | — |
| Paling (European Eel) | coastal monitoring | — |
Official species-evidence source.
Spring atlantic herring on Eems-Dollard hold shallow, usually 5 to 25 ft. They move out to 15 to 50 ft in summer and finish the year down in 20 to 60 ft. Put RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone first on the milk run — a feeding flat near 8 ft that grades good for spring. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a herring feather rig or a small silver jig.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (8 ft) | Small herring feather rig, Micro jig rig |
| Summer | 15 to 50 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Herring feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Fall | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Small feather rig, Compact silver spoon |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | midday | open water | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
Spring puts european flounder in skinny water — 5 to 25 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 6 to 35 ft; cold water stacks them in 15 to 50 ft. RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone is the standout, a feeding flat at roughly 8 ft, rated prime for spring european flounder. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A bottom jig with spinner blade covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (8 ft) | Small bucktail dragged on bottom |
| Summer | 6 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (32 ft) | Bottom jig with spinner blade |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (32 ft) | Compact bottom jig |
| Winter | 15 to 50 ft | midday | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (32 ft) | Small bottom jig |
Come spring, look for european plaice tight to the bank in 8 to 35 ft. They move out to 6 to 40 ft in summer and finish the year down in 25 to 80 ft. If you only fish one area, make it RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone: a feeding flat around 32 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A light spooned bottom rig or a beaded trace is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 35 ft | dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (32 ft) | Beaded flowing trace |
| Summer | 6 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (32 ft) | Light spooned bottom rig, Beaded trace |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (32 ft) | Beaded bottom trace |
| Winter | 25 to 80 ft | midday | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (83 ft) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: common sole in 6 to 30 ft. The depth story barely changes: 3 to 30 ft through summer, 20 to 70 ft in winter. Top water on the chart: RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone, a feeding flat in the 8 ft range, prime in spring. Time it for the evening. Summer baits: a light rolling-lead rig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 6 to 30 ft | dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (8 ft) | Tiny bottom jig |
| Summer | 3 to 30 ft | dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (8 ft) | Light rolling-lead rig |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (32 ft) | Compact bottom jig |
| Winter | 20 to 70 ft | night | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (83 ft) |
Come spring, look for whiting tight to the bank in 15 to 55 ft. They move out to 20 to 70 ft in summer and finish the year down in 15 to 70 ft. If you only fish one area, make it RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone: a deep basin around 83 ft that scores good in winter. Best bite is early morning. A small vertical jig is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 55 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Small silver jig, Two-hook feather rig |
| Summer | 20 to 70 ft | dawn | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (83 ft) | Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 60 ft | dusk | open water | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 15 to 70 ft | dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (83 ft) | Compact vertical jig |
Spring european seabass on Eems-Dollard hold shallow, usually 3 to 25 ft. They move out to 2 to 30 ft in summer and finish the year down in 10 to 55 ft. Put RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone first on the milk run — a feeding flat near 8 ft that grades good for summer. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a surface lure or a paddle-tail soft plastic.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (8 ft) | Paddle-tail soft plastic, Shallow minnow plug |
| Summer | 2 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (8 ft) | Surface lure, Paddle-tail soft plastic |
| Fall | 4 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Slim metal lure, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 10 to 55 ft | midday | open water | Slow soft-plastic shad, Suspending minnow |
Eems-Dollard also holds european smelt (25 to 70 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 6 structure features on Eems-Dollard; the deepest is RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone at about 83 ft.
Access data: Rijkswaterstaat Fairway Information Services. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Netherlands waters are set by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO — recreational saltwater fishing) — and special regulations can apply to Eems-Dollard specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Netherlands fishing regulations →
Eems-Dollard is about 97 ft (30 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from Rijkswaterstaat bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Official coastal monitoring from Wageningen Marine Research — Dutch Wadden Sea monitoring informs the atlantic herring, european flounder, european plaice, common sole, whiting, european seabass, european smelt, european eel roster for Eems-Dollard. 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.
RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone is the top-rated area: a feeding flat in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for european flounder in spring. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.
For atlantic herring, 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 Eems-Dollard is regulated by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO — recreational saltwater fishing). Check the official Netherlands regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Eems-Dollard (kustwater) 19 mi · Ems Estuary 21 mi, DEU · East Frisian Wadden Sea - Juist West 22 mi, DEU · Eemshaven–Dollard Wadden Coast 25 mi · Rottum Coast 25 mi · Zoutkamperlaag–Groninger Wad East 27 mi · East Frisian Wadden Sea - Juist East 27 mi, DEU · East Frisian Wadden Sea - Borkum 31 mi, DEU · East Frisian Wadden Sea - Norderney 31 mi, DEU · Huibertgat–Lauwers Offshore 33 mi · Schiermonnikoog Coast 37 mi · East Frisian Wadden Sea - Baltrum and Langeoog 40 mi, DEU
See how Eems-Dollard stacks up: best atlantic herring lakes in Netherlands · best european flounder lakes in Netherlands · best european seabass lakes in Netherlands · best common sole lakes in Netherlands
Browse all Netherlands fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: Rijkswaterstaat measured bed elevations and official target water levels, CC0. 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.