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36,654-acre Gironde Estuary. South 3 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 3 west 3 angler-scale survey window. The water tops out around 39 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.
Traced from the shoreline, Gironde Estuary - South 3 West 3 runs 36,645 acres with 43.6 miles of edge, broken up by an island. The shoreline is moderately structured (index 1.6) — enough points and pockets to pattern. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 58% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. The basin spans about 15.2 mi end to end and 7.4 mi across at its widest. For a second option, Marennes-Oléron Basin - South East lies 8 mi northwest.
Gironde Estuary — South 3 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.
The spring pattern is a shallow one: european seabass in 3 to 25 ft. As the season builds they drop to 2 to 30 ft, wintering in 7 to 39 ft. Top water on the chart: SHOM-grid current seam, a current seam in the 16 ft range, prime in summer. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a surface lure or a paddle-tail soft plastic gets it done.
| 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 39 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid current seam (16 ft) | Slim metal lure, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 7 to 39 ft | midday | Deepest basin (39 ft) | Slow soft-plastic shad, Suspending minnow |
Spring common sole on Gironde Estuary - South 3 West 3 hold shallow, usually 6 to 30 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 3 to 30 ft in summer, 11 to 39 ft once it turns cold. Put Feeding flat first on the milk run — a feeding flat near 16 ft that grades prime for spring. The feeding windows run the evening. The summer box starts with a light rolling-lead rig.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 6 to 30 ft | dusk | Feeding flat (16 ft) | Tiny bottom jig |
| Summer | 3 to 30 ft | dusk | Feeding flat (16 ft) | Light rolling-lead rig |
| Fall | 8 to 39 ft | dusk | SHOM-grid channel edge (20 ft) | Compact bottom jig |
| Winter | 11 to 39 ft | night | Deepest basin (39 ft) |
When the water first warms, european flounder slide up into 5 to 25 ft. By summer they slide out to 6 to 35 ft, and by winter most fish are in 12 to 39 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Feeding flat: a feeding flat around 16 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a bottom jig with spinner blade rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dusk | Feeding flat (16 ft) | Small bucktail dragged on bottom |
| Summer | 6 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Feeding flat (16 ft) | Bottom jig with spinner blade |
| Fall | 8 to 39 ft | dusk | Sharp break (25 ft) | Compact bottom jig |
| Winter | 12 to 39 ft | midday | Deepest basin (39 ft) | Small bottom jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: european plaice in 8 to 35 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 6 to 39 ft before dropping to 12 to 39 ft for winter. The spot to know is Feeding flat, a feeding flat in about 16 ft of water that rates prime for european plaice in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a light spooned bottom rig or a beaded trace gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 35 ft | dusk | Feeding flat (16 ft) | Beaded flowing trace |
| Summer | 6 to 39 ft | dawn & dusk | Feeding flat (16 ft) | Light spooned bottom rig, Beaded trace |
| Fall | 8 to 39 ft | dusk | SHOM-grid channel edge (20 ft) | Beaded bottom trace |
| Winter | 12 to 39 ft | midday | Deepest basin (39 ft) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: whiting in 11 to 39 ft. The depth story barely changes: 11 to 39 ft through summer, 8 to 39 ft in winter. The spot to know is SHOM-grid channel edge, a channel edge in about 20 ft of water that rates prime for whiting in spring. Plan around early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a small vertical jig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 11 to 39 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid channel edge (20 ft) | Small silver jig, Two-hook feather rig |
| Summer | 11 to 39 ft | dawn | Deepest basin (39 ft) | Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 7 to 39 ft | dusk | SHOM-grid channel edge (20 ft) | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 8 to 39 ft | dusk | Deepest basin (39 ft) | Compact vertical jig |
In spring, garfish run shallow here, mostly 1 to 15 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 2 to 20 ft, and winter fish settle into 12 to 39 ft. SHOM-grid shoal is the standout, a gravel shoal at roughly 7 ft, rated prime for spring garfish. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a slim casting spoon or a surface-skipping fly most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 15 ft | dawn & midday | SHOM-grid shoal (7 ft) | Slim silver spoon, Small inline spinner |
| Summer | 2 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (18 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 39 ft | midday | Deepest basin (39 ft) |
Gironde Estuary - South 3 West 3 also holds atlantic mackerel (7 to 39 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 39 ft in summer), thornback ray (6 to 39 ft in summer), european eel (6 to 28 ft in summer), atlantic salmon (11 to 39 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Structure-wise the chart holds 8 features, led in depth by Deepest basin at roughly 39 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 3 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 3 West 3 is about 39 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 3 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. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every 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 3 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.
Marennes-Oléron Basin - South East 8 mi · Gironde Estuary - South 2 West 3 10 mi · Gironde Estuary - South 2 West 4 15 mi · Gironde Estuary - South 3 West 2 18 mi · Marennes-Oléron Basin - South Central 19 mi · Gironde Estuary - South 2 West 2 22 mi · Gironde Estuary - South 3 West 1 26 mi · Gironde Estuary - South 1 West 4 27 mi · Marennes-Oléron Basin - South West 28 mi · Gironde Estuary - South 2 West 1 28 mi · Gironde Estuary - South 1 West 2 31 mi · Marennes-Oléron Basin - North West 33 mi
See how Gironde Estuary - South 3 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.