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Friesche Zeegat Offshore is a 3,579-acre Dutch saltwater fishing section with official Rijkswaterstaat bathymetry, evidence-scoped fish targets, and mapped depth-derived fishing spots. The water tops out around 155 ft. The depth chart comes from Rijkswaterstaat 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.
Friesche Zeegat Offshore maps at 3,579 acres behind 16.3 miles of shoreline. A middling shoreline index (1.9) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. 13% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. Call it 6.8 mi long by 2 mi wide at the broadest reach. Its nearest charted neighbour, Schiermonnikoog Coast, is 9 mi to the east.
Vis- en dieptekaart van Friesche Zeegat Offshore, Nederland: gemeten dieptelijnen (Rijkswaterstaat) tot 47 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.
Come spring, look for atlantic herring tight to the bank in 5 to 25 ft. Expect a summer slide to 15 to 50 ft, then a winter hold in 20 to 60 ft. Start at RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone. It's a drop-off holding about 23 ft of water and rates good come summer. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A herring feather rig or a small silver jig is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (10 ft) | Small herring feather rig, Micro jig rig |
| Summer | 15 to 50 ft | dawn & dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (23 ft) | Herring feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Fall | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (23 ft) | Small feather rig, Compact silver spoon |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | midday | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (23 ft) | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
Start shallow in spring: european flounder sit in 5 to 25 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 6 to 35 ft, and winter fish settle into 15 to 50 ft. The spot to know is RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone, a feeding flat in about 10 ft of water that rates prime for european flounder in spring. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a bottom jig with spinner blade until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (10 ft) | Small bucktail dragged on bottom |
| Summer | 6 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (10 ft) | Bottom jig with spinner blade |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (23 ft) | Compact bottom jig |
| Winter | 15 to 50 ft | midday | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (23 ft) | Small bottom jig |
Spring european plaice on Friesche Zeegat Offshore hold shallow, usually 8 to 35 ft. By summer they slide out to 6 to 40 ft, and by winter most fish are in 25 to 80 ft. The chart's best answer is RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone — feeding flat, 10 ft, prime for spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a light spooned bottom rig or a beaded trace.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 35 ft | dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (10 ft) | Beaded flowing trace |
| Summer | 6 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (10 ft) | Light spooned bottom rig, Beaded trace |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (10 ft) | Beaded bottom trace |
| Winter | 25 to 80 ft | midday | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (89 ft) |
Spring puts common sole in skinny water — 6 to 30 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 3 to 30 ft, and winter fish hold in 20 to 70 ft. RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone is the standout, a feeding flat at roughly 10 ft, rated prime for spring common sole. Plan around the evening in the warm months. A light rolling-lead rig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 6 to 30 ft | dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (10 ft) | Tiny bottom jig |
| Summer | 3 to 30 ft | dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (3 ft) | Light rolling-lead rig |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (10 ft) | Compact bottom jig |
| Winter | 20 to 70 ft | night | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (89 ft) |
Spring whiting on Friesche Zeegat Offshore hold shallow, usually 15 to 55 ft. By summer they slide out to 20 to 70 ft, and by winter most fish are in 15 to 70 ft. The chart's best answer is RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone — deep basin, 89 ft, good for winter. Prime time lands in early morning. The summer box starts with a small vertical jig.
| 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 | open water | 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 (89 ft) | Compact vertical jig |
Come spring, look for european seabass tight to the bank in 3 to 25 ft. Expect a summer slide to 2 to 30 ft, then a winter hold in 10 to 55 ft. Start at RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone. It's a feeding flat holding about 3 ft of water and rates good come summer. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A surface lure or a paddle-tail soft plastic is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (3 ft) | Paddle-tail soft plastic, Shallow minnow plug |
| Summer | 2 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (3 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 |
Friesche Zeegat Offshore 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 Friesche Zeegat Offshore; the deepest is RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone at about 89 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 Friesche Zeegat Offshore specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Netherlands fishing regulations →
Friesche Zeegat Offshore is about 155 ft (47 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 Friesche Zeegat Offshore. 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 10 ft of water that rates prime for european flounder in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each 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 Friesche Zeegat Offshore 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.
Schiermonnikoog Coast 9 mi · Zoutkamperlaag–Groninger Wad West 9 mi · Lauwersoog–Eemshaven Wadden Coast 13 mi · Huibertgat–Lauwers Offshore 16 mi · Borndiep–Pinkegat East 18 mi · Zoutkamperlaag–Groninger Wad East 19 mi · Borndiep Offshore 19 mi · Eemshaven–Dollard Wadden Coast 21 mi · Rottum Coast 22 mi · Bergumermeer 26 mi · Terschelling Coast 26 mi · Wijde Ee (De Veenhoop) 27 mi
See how Friesche Zeegat Offshore 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 coastal and vaklodingen surveys, 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.