Salt water depth chart
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78,201-acre Great Belt. Smålandsfarvandet 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 southern-central Great Belt and Smålandsfarvandet transition, with islands, shoals and measured channel edges. The water tops out around 228 ft. The depth chart comes from Danish Geodata Agency 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.
The drawn water covers 78,151 acres wrapped in 93.6 miles of bank, with a single island in the mix. That shoreline is heavily fingered (development index 2.4) — bays, points and pockets everywhere, which multiplies the fishable edge. Roughly 14% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. Figure 20.2 mi of water from one end to the other, 17.2 mi at the beam. South Funen Archipelago - Langeland Northeast sits 9 mi south — the closest neighbouring chart.
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 | — |
| Tyklæbet multe (Thick-lipped Grey Mullet) | official species listing | — |
| Slethvar (Brill) | official species listing | — |
| Sej (Saithe (Coalfish)) | official species listing | — |
Official species-evidence source.
When the water first warms, sea trout slide up into 3 to 20 ft. Summer is a 15 to 50 ft game here, winter a 5 to 30 ft one. Start at Shoreline point. It's a point holding about 8 ft of water and rates good come spring. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. Keep a deep-running wobbler or a trolled spoon rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (8 ft) | Slim coastal spoon, Shallow-running wobbler |
| Summer | 15 to 50 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Deep-running wobbler, Trolled spoon |
| Fall | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (8 ft) | Coastal wobbler, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 5 to 30 ft | midday | Shoreline point (8 ft) | Slow coastal spoon, Suspending wobbler |
When the water first warms, atlantic herring slide up into 5 to 25 ft. By summer they slide out to 15 to 50 ft, and by winter most fish are in 20 to 60 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Shoreline point: a point around 8 ft that scores good in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a herring feather rig or a small silver jig rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (8 ft) | 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 |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: european flounder in 5 to 25 ft. As the season builds they drop to 6 to 35 ft, wintering in 15 to 50 ft. Top water on the chart: Feeding flat, a feeding flat in the 37 ft range, good in summer. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a bottom jig with spinner blade gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dusk | open water | Small bucktail dragged on bottom |
| Summer | 6 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Feeding flat (37 ft) | Bottom jig with spinner blade |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dusk | Feeding flat (37 ft) | Compact bottom jig |
| Winter | 15 to 50 ft | midday | Feeding flat (37 ft) | Small bottom jig |
When the water first warms, garfish slide up into 1 to 15 ft. Summer is a 2 to 20 ft game here, winter a 20 to 60 ft one. Start at Shoreline point. It's a point holding about 8 ft of water and rates prime come spring. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. Keep a slim casting spoon or a surface-skipping fly rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 15 ft | dawn & midday | Shoreline point (8 ft) | Slim silver spoon, Small inline spinner |
| Summer | 2 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (8 ft) | Slim casting spoon, Surface-skipping fly |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (8 ft) | Weighted slim spoon, Small silver jig |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | midday | open water |
Early season european plaice use the shallows, holding in 8 to 35 ft. Expect a summer slide to 6 to 40 ft, then a winter hold in 25 to 80 ft. Put Feeding flat first on the milk run — a feeding flat near 37 ft that grades prime for summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a light spooned bottom rig or a beaded trace and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 35 ft | dusk | Feeding flat (37 ft) | Beaded flowing trace |
| Summer | 6 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Feeding flat (37 ft) | Light spooned bottom rig, Beaded trace |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk | Feeding flat (37 ft) | Beaded bottom trace |
| Winter | 25 to 80 ft | midday | open water |
Early season whiting use the shallows, holding in 15 to 55 ft. Expect a summer slide to 20 to 70 ft, then a winter hold in 15 to 70 ft. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Tie on a small vertical jig and you're in the game.
| 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 | open water | Compact vertical jig |
Great Belt - Smålandsfarvandet also holds atlantic mackerel (15 to 80 ft in summer), common sole (3 to 30 ft in summer), thick-lipped grey mullet (1 to 18 ft in summer), brill (6 to 50 ft in summer), saithe (coalfish) (22 to 228 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
8 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deepest basin, around 215 ft, is the deepest of them.
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 - Smålandsfarvandet specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish. Most anglers using light hand gear need the applicable Danish angling licence, subject to the official age exemptions. Check live species rules, the mapped and unmapped 500-metre stream-mouth conservation belts, local fishing rights, protected areas and posted shore access before every trip. Recreational European eel fishing is currently prohibited, so eel is not promoted as a target here.
Check the official Denmark fishing regulations →
Danish fishing-licence portal →
Check special-area and water-specific rules →
Great Belt - Smålandsfarvandet is about 228 ft (69 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, thick-lipped grey mullet, brill, saithe (coalfish) roster for Great Belt - Smålandsfarvandet. 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.
Shoreline point is the top-rated area: a point in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for garfish in spring. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.
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 - Smålandsfarvandet 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.
South Funen Archipelago - Langeland Northeast 9 mi · South Funen Archipelago - Langeland Sound North 14 mi · Great Belt - Bridge West 17 mi · South Funen Archipelago - Langeland Southeast 19 mi · Dybsø Fjord 20 mi · Karrebæk Fjord 24 mi · South Funen Archipelago - Svendborg East 27 mi · Odense Fjord 29 mi · Nakskov Fjord 30 mi · South Funen Archipelago - Svendborg West 33 mi · Great Belt - Kalundborg West 34 mi · Guldborg Sound - North 34 mi
See how Great Belt - Smålandsfarvandet 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); 68% measured, 32% 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.