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9,683-acre Gironde Estuary. South 2 West 3 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 Gironde mouth and lower estuary, a large turbid channel-and-bank system requiring multiple trip-scale survey windows. This page covers the south 2 west 3 angler-scale survey window. The water tops out around 40 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. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
Gironde Estuary - South 2 West 3 maps at 9,686 acres behind 27.2 miles of shoreline. With a 2 development index there's bank structure worth casting at, in moderation. Roughly 47% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. Call it 11.9 mi long by 3.1 mi wide at the broadest reach. Gironde Estuary - South 2 West 4 sits 5 mi southeast — the closest neighbouring chart.
Gironde Estuary — South 2 West 3, France : carte SHOM officielle jusqu’à 12 m; spots pour bar commun, sole commune. 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 | — |
| sole commune (Common Sole) | official species listing | — |
| flet commun (European Flounder) | official species listing | — |
| plie commune (European Plaice) | official species listing | — |
| merlan (Whiting) | official species listing | — |
| orphie (Garfish) | official species listing | — |
| maquereau commun (Atlantic Mackerel) | official species listing | — |
| mulet lippu (Thick-lipped Grey Mullet) | official species listing | — |
| mulet cabot (Flathead Grey Mullet) | official species listing | — |
| barbue (Brill) | official species listing | — |
| raie bouclée (Thornback Ray) | official species listing | — |
| anguille européenne (European Eel) | official species listing | — |
| saumon atlantique (Atlantic Salmon) | 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 7 to 40 ft. Put SHOM-grid current seam first on the milk run — a current seam near 16 ft that grades prime for summer. 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 | SHOM-grid current seam (16 ft) | Paddle-tail soft plastic, Shallow minnow plug |
| Summer | 2 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid current seam (16 ft) | Surface lure, Paddle-tail soft plastic |
| Fall | 4 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid current seam (16 ft) | Slim metal lure, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 7 to 40 ft | midday | Deepest basin (40 ft) | Slow soft-plastic shad, Suspending minnow |
Start shallow in spring: common sole sit in 6 to 30 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 3 to 30 ft covers summer, 11 to 40 ft covers winter. Top water on the chart: SHOM-grid flat, a feeding flat in the 4 ft range, prime in summer. Fish it in the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a light rolling-lead rig until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 6 to 30 ft | dusk | SHOM-grid channel edge (20 ft) | Tiny bottom jig |
| Summer | 3 to 30 ft | dusk | SHOM-grid flat (4 ft) | Light rolling-lead rig |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dusk | SHOM-grid channel edge (20 ft) | Compact bottom jig |
| Winter | 11 to 40 ft | night | Deepest basin (40 ft) |
In spring, european flounder run shallow here, mostly 5 to 25 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 6 to 35 ft, and winter fish settle into 12 to 40 ft. SHOM-grid flat is the standout, a feeding flat at roughly 4 ft, rated prime for spring european flounder. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a bottom jig with spinner blade most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dusk | SHOM-grid flat (4 ft) | Small bucktail dragged on bottom |
| Summer | 6 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid flat (4 ft) | Bottom jig with spinner blade |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dusk | Sharp break (23 ft) | Compact bottom jig |
| Winter | 12 to 40 ft | midday | Deepest basin (40 ft) | Small bottom jig |
When the water first warms, european plaice slide up into 8 to 35 ft. By summer they slide out to 6 to 40 ft, and by winter most fish are in 12 to 40 ft. If you only fish one area, make it SHOM-grid channel edge: a channel edge around 20 ft that scores prime in fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a light spooned bottom rig or a beaded trace rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 35 ft | dusk | SHOM-grid shoal (7 ft) | Beaded flowing trace |
| Summer | 6 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid flat (4 ft) | Light spooned bottom rig, Beaded trace |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dusk | SHOM-grid channel edge (20 ft) | Beaded bottom trace |
| Winter | 12 to 40 ft | midday | Deepest basin (40 ft) |
When the water first warms, whiting slide up into 11 to 40 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 11 to 40 ft, winter 9 to 40 ft. If you only fish one area, make it SHOM-grid channel edge: a channel edge around 20 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Keep a small vertical jig rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 11 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid channel edge (20 ft) | Small silver jig, Two-hook feather rig |
| Summer | 11 to 40 ft | dawn | Deepest basin (40 ft) | Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 7 to 40 ft | dusk | SHOM-grid channel edge (20 ft) | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 9 to 40 ft | dusk | Deepest basin (40 ft) | Compact vertical jig |
Spring garfish on Gironde Estuary - South 2 West 3 hold shallow, usually 1 to 15 ft. They move out to 2 to 20 ft in summer and finish the year down in 12 to 40 ft. Put Shoreline point first on the milk run — a point near 15 ft that grades prime for spring. 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 (15 ft) | Slim silver spoon, Small inline spinner |
| Summer | 2 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (15 ft) | Slim casting spoon, Surface-skipping fly |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid current seam (16 ft) | Weighted slim spoon, Small silver jig |
| Winter | 12 to 40 ft | midday | Deepest basin (40 ft) |
Gironde Estuary - South 2 West 3 also holds atlantic mackerel (8 to 40 ft in summer), thick-lipped grey mullet (1 to 18 ft in summer), flathead grey mullet (1 to 22 ft in summer), brill (5 to 40 ft in summer), thornback ray (6 to 40 ft in summer), european eel (6 to 28 ft in summer), atlantic salmon (11 to 40 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Count 9 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deepest basin, sits near 40 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 Gironde Estuary - South 2 West 3 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 →
Gironde Estuary - South 2 West 3 is about 40 ft (12 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 EVHOE and PELGAS regional survey evidence informs the european seabass, common sole, european flounder, european plaice, whiting, garfish, atlantic mackerel, thick-lipped grey mullet, flathead grey mullet, brill, thornback ray, european eel, atlantic salmon roster for Gironde Estuary - South 2 West 3. 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 16 ft of water that rates prime for european seabass in summer. 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 Gironde Estuary - South 2 West 3 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.
Gironde Estuary - South 2 West 4 5 mi · Gironde Estuary - South 3 West 3 10 mi · Gironde Estuary - South 1 West 4 17 mi · Marennes-Oléron Basin - South East 18 mi · Gironde Estuary - South 2 West 2 22 mi · Gironde Estuary - South 3 West 2 23 mi · Gironde Estuary - South 1 West 2 27 mi · Marennes-Oléron Basin - South Central 28 mi · Gironde Estuary - South 2 West 1 30 mi · Gironde Estuary - South 3 West 1 31 mi · Gironde Estuary - South 1 West 1 34 mi · Marennes-Oléron Basin - South West 36 mi
See how Gironde Estuary - South 2 West 3 stacks up: best european flounder lakes in France · best garfish lakes in France · best european seabass lakes in France · best common sole 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.