Salt water depth chart
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16,148-acre Golfe Normand-Breton. South 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 Normandy-Brittany Gulf and Mont-Saint-Michel approaches, where broad banks and channels require trip-scale sections. This page covers the south west 3 angler-scale survey window. The water tops out around 61 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. The rest of this page walks each species through its year, using the map's own scoring.
Traced from the shoreline, Golfe Normand-Breton - South West 3 runs 16,149 acres with 22.7 miles of edge. A shoreline index of 1.3 says round and simple: fish relate to depth changes here, not shoreline features. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 73% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. Tip to tip the water measures near 7.8 mi with a 4.1-mi widest point. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Golfe Normand-Breton - North West 3, 4 mi north of here.
Golfe Normand-Breton — South West 3, France : carte SHOM officielle jusqu’à 19 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.
In spring, european seabass run shallow here, mostly 3 to 25 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 2 to 30 ft, and winter fish settle into 10 to 55 ft. SHOM-grid current seam is the standout, a current seam at roughly 24 ft, rated prime for summer european seabass. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a surface lure or a paddle-tail soft plastic most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid current seam (24 ft) | Paddle-tail soft plastic, Shallow minnow plug |
| Summer | 2 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid current seam (24 ft) | Surface lure, Paddle-tail soft plastic |
| Fall | 4 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid current seam (24 ft) | Slim metal lure, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 10 to 55 ft | midday | SHOM-grid channel edge (31 ft) | Slow soft-plastic shad, Suspending minnow |
When the water first warms, common sole slide up into 6 to 30 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 3 to 30 ft, winter 17 to 61 ft. Start at SHOM-grid flat. It's a feeding flat holding about 6 ft of water and rates prime come spring. The feeding windows run the evening. Keep a light rolling-lead rig rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 6 to 30 ft | dusk | SHOM-grid flat (6 ft) | Tiny bottom jig |
| Summer | 3 to 30 ft | dusk | SHOM-grid flat (6 ft) | Light rolling-lead rig |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dusk | SHOM-grid channel edge (31 ft) | Compact bottom jig |
| Winter | 17 to 61 ft | night | Deepest basin (58 ft) |
Early season european flounder use the shallows, holding in 5 to 25 ft. Expect a summer slide to 6 to 35 ft, then a winter hold in 15 to 50 ft. Put SHOM-grid flat first on the milk run — a feeding flat near 6 ft that grades prime for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a bottom jig with spinner blade and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dusk | SHOM-grid flat (6 ft) | Small bucktail dragged on bottom |
| Summer | 6 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid flat (6 ft) | Bottom jig with spinner blade |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dusk | SHOM-grid flat (6 ft) | Compact bottom jig |
| Winter | 15 to 50 ft | midday | Sharp break (44 ft) | Small bottom jig |
Spring puts european plaice in skinny water — 8 to 35 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 6 to 40 ft; cold water stacks them in 18 to 61 ft. SHOM-grid flat is the standout, a feeding flat at roughly 6 ft, rated prime for summer european plaice. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A light spooned bottom rig or a beaded trace covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 35 ft | dusk | SHOM-grid flat (6 ft) | Beaded flowing trace |
| Summer | 6 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid flat (6 ft) | Light spooned bottom rig, Beaded trace |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk | SHOM-grid channel edge (31 ft) | Beaded bottom trace |
| Winter | 18 to 61 ft | midday | Deepest basin (58 ft) |
Spring puts whiting in skinny water — 15 to 55 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 17 to 61 ft; cold water stacks them in 13 to 61 ft. SHOM-grid channel edge is the standout, a channel edge at roughly 31 ft, rated prime for spring whiting. Plan around early morning in the warm months. A small vertical jig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 55 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid channel edge (31 ft) | Small silver jig, Two-hook feather rig |
| Summer | 17 to 61 ft | dawn | Deepest basin (58 ft) | Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 60 ft | dusk | SHOM-grid channel edge (31 ft) | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 13 to 61 ft | dusk | Deepest basin (58 ft) | Compact vertical jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: garfish in 1 to 15 ft. As the season builds they drop to 2 to 20 ft, wintering in 20 to 60 ft. Top water on the chart: Shoreline point, a point in the 7 ft range, prime in spring. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a slim casting spoon or a surface-skipping fly gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 15 ft | dawn & midday | Shoreline point (7 ft) | Slim silver spoon, Small inline spinner |
| Summer | 2 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (7 ft) | Slim casting spoon, Surface-skipping fly |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid current seam (24 ft) | Weighted slim spoon, Small silver jig |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | midday | Deepest basin (58 ft) |
Golfe Normand-Breton - South West 3 also holds atlantic mackerel (11 to 61 ft in summer), thick-lipped grey mullet (1 to 18 ft in summer), flathead grey mullet (1 to 22 ft in summer), brill (6 to 50 ft in summer), thornback ray (9 to 61 ft in summer), european eel (6 to 28 ft in summer), atlantic salmon (17 to 61 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Structure-wise the chart holds 9 features, led in depth by Deepest basin at roughly 58 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 Golfe Normand-Breton - South 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 →
Golfe Normand-Breton - South West 3 is about 61 ft (19 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 CGFS and coastal estuary monitoring 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 Golfe Normand-Breton - South 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 24 ft of water that rates prime for european seabass in summer. The interactive chart above rates every 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 Golfe Normand-Breton - South 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.
Golfe Normand-Breton - North West 3 4 mi · Saint-Malo and Rance - North East 6 mi · Golfe Normand-Breton - North West 4 7 mi · West Cotentin Coast - South 1 Central 13 mi · West Cotentin Coast - South 1 East 14 mi · Saint-Malo and Rance - North West 15 mi · Golfe Normand-Breton - North West 2 15 mi · West Cotentin Coast - South 1 West 16 mi · Golfe Normand-Breton - South West 1 21 mi · Golfe Normand-Breton - North West 1 24 mi · West Cotentin Coast - South 2 Central 26 mi · West Cotentin Coast - South 2 East 27 mi
See how Golfe Normand-Breton - South 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.