Salt water depth chart
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149,135-acre Great Belt. Kattegat Approach West Denmark saltwater fishing map with official Danish Geodata Agency 50 m bathymetry, measured-only fishing spots, DTU-supported fish targets, seasonal forage guidance and public shore-access context. The western northern Great Belt approach near Samsø, with offshore banks, island points and current-compressed contour edges. The water tops out around 189 ft. The depth chart comes from Danish Geodata Agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. The season-by-season read for each species follows, from the map's own numbers.
The drawn water covers 149,209 acres wrapped in 85.6 miles of bank — 3 islands included. A middling shoreline index (1.6) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 8% of this chart. The basin spans about 19.8 mi end to end and 13.8 mi across at its widest. If the bite dies, Great Belt - Kattegat Approach East is 12 mi to the east.
The target roster combines the named DTU monitoring area with conservative habitat-compatible Danish regional records. It documents observed or regionally supported occurrence, not equal abundance, a catch rate, or a promised catch in this child. European eel is omitted because recreational eel fishing is currently closed. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Havørred (Sea Trout) | official species listing | — |
| Sild (Atlantic Herring) | official species listing | — |
| Skrubbe (European Flounder) | official species listing | — |
| Hornfisk (Garfish) | official species listing | — |
| Rødspætte (European Plaice) | official species listing | — |
| Hvilling (Whiting) | official species listing | — |
| Makrel (Atlantic Mackerel) | official species listing | — |
| Tunge (Common Sole) | official species listing | — |
Official species-evidence source.
Come spring, look for sea trout tight to the bank in 3 to 20 ft. They move out to 15 to 50 ft in summer and finish the year down in 5 to 30 ft. If you only fish one area, make it DDM source-backed depth reference (55 ft): a point around 55 ft that scores good in summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A deep-running wobbler or a trolled spoon is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Slim coastal spoon, Shallow-running wobbler |
| Summer | 15 to 50 ft | dawn & dusk | DDM source-backed depth reference (55 ft) (55 ft) | Deep-running wobbler, Trolled spoon |
| Fall | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Coastal wobbler, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 5 to 30 ft | midday | open water | Slow coastal spoon, Suspending wobbler |
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. 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 | open water | 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 |
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 DDM source-backed depth reference (26 ft), a feeding flat in about 26 ft of water that rates prime for european flounder in summer. 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 | DDM source-backed depth reference (26 ft) (26 ft) | Small bucktail dragged on bottom |
| Summer | 6 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | DDM source-backed depth reference (26 ft) (26 ft) | Bottom jig with spinner blade |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dusk | DDM source-backed depth reference (26 ft) (26 ft) | Compact bottom jig |
| Winter | 15 to 50 ft | midday | DDM source-backed depth reference (26 ft) (26 ft) | Small bottom jig |
Come spring, look for garfish tight to the bank in 1 to 15 ft. They move out to 2 to 20 ft in summer and finish the year down in 20 to 60 ft. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A slim casting spoon or a surface-skipping fly is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 15 ft | dawn & midday | open water | Slim silver spoon, Small inline spinner |
| Summer | 2 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Slim casting spoon, Surface-skipping fly |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Weighted slim spoon, Small silver jig |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | midday | open water |
Spring european plaice on Great Belt - Kattegat Approach West 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 DDM source-backed depth reference (26 ft) — feeding flat, 26 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 | DDM source-backed depth reference (26 ft) (26 ft) | Beaded flowing trace |
| Summer | 6 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | DDM source-backed depth reference (26 ft) (26 ft) | Light spooned bottom rig, Beaded trace |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk | DDM source-backed depth reference (26 ft) (26 ft) | Beaded bottom trace |
| Winter | 25 to 80 ft | midday | open water |
Spring whiting on Great Belt - Kattegat Approach West 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 DDM source-backed depth reference (79 ft) — current seam, 79 ft, good for summer. 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 | DDM source-backed depth reference (79 ft) (79 ft) | Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 60 ft | dusk | open water | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 15 to 70 ft | dusk | open water | Compact vertical jig |
Great Belt - Kattegat Approach West also holds atlantic mackerel (15 to 80 ft in summer), common sole (3 to 30 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 188 ft.
Access data: European Environment Agency — 2025 Bathing Water Directive Sites (Denmark). Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Denmark waters are set by the Danish Agency for Green Transition and Aquatic Environment (current recreational fishing rules) — and special regulations can apply to Great Belt - Kattegat Approach West specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Denmark fishing regulations →
Great Belt - Kattegat Approach West is about 189 ft (58 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from Danish Geodata Agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Official coastal monitoring from DTU Aqua key-fisher monitoring, 2020–2022 informs the sea trout, atlantic herring, european flounder, garfish, european plaice, whiting, atlantic mackerel, common sole roster for Great Belt - Kattegat Approach West. 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.
DDM source-backed depth reference (26 ft) is the top-rated area: a feeding flat in about 26 ft of water that rates prime for european flounder in summer. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
For sea trout, 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 Great Belt - Kattegat Approach West is regulated by the Danish Agency for Green Transition and Aquatic Environment (current recreational fishing rules). Check the official Denmark regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Great Belt - Kattegat Approach East 12 mi · Aarhus Bay - Outer 16 mi · Great Belt - Kalundborg West 19 mi · Odense Fjord 29 mi · Horsens Fjord - Inner Survey Reach 32 mi · Isefjord - Middle 33 mi · Great Belt - Bridge West 35 mi · Little Belt - North 44 mi · Vejle Fjord - Inner Survey Reach 45 mi · Great Belt - Smålandsfarvandet 55 mi · Little Belt - Middle 60 mi · Great Belt - Langeland Northeast 69 mi
See how Great Belt - Kattegat Approach West stacks up: best sea trout lakes in Denmark · best atlantic herring lakes in Denmark · best european flounder lakes in Denmark · best garfish lakes in Denmark
Browse all Denmark fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: Danish Geodata Agency Denmark's Depth Model, 50 m resolution (DKMSL(2022) / mean sea level (EPSG:10547); 82% measured, 18% source-interpolated). 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.