Salt water depth chart
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141,806-acre Hardangerfjord. Bømlafjord Entrance. South Norway saltwater fishing map with official Kartverket surveyed 50 m bathymetry, measured-only fishing spots, Institute of Marine Research fish evidence, seasonal forage guidance and public shore-access context. The ocean-facing Bømlafjord entrance and outer island passages. Southern trip-scale survey reach. The water tops out around 986 ft. The depth chart comes from Norwegian Mapping Authority (Kartverket) bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
On the chart, Hardangerfjord - Bømlafjord Entrance - South draws 141,784 acres inside 299.9 miles of shoreline — 26 islands included. That shoreline is heavily fingered (development index 5.7) — bays, points and pockets everywhere, which multiplies the fishable edge. Roughly 3% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. Figure 22.2 mi of water from one end to the other, 16.7 mi at the beam. For a second option, Storavatnet lies 13 mi east.
The target roster combines named-water evidence where available with conservative, habitat-compatible official Norwegian coastal records. It documents occurrence context, not equal abundance, a catch rate or a promised catch. Closed targets are excluded and current rules control every trip. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| (Atlantic Cod) | official species listing | — |
| (Saithe (Coalfish)) | official species listing | — |
| (Pollack (Lyr)) | official species listing | — |
| (Haddock) | official species listing | — |
| (Atlantic Mackerel) | official species listing | — |
| (Atlantic Herring) | official species listing | — |
| (Sea Trout) | official species listing | — |
| (Ling) | official species listing | — |
| (Cusk (Tusk)) | official species listing | — |
Official species-evidence source.
When the water first warms, atlantic cod slide up into 20 to 100 ft. By summer they slide out to 45 to 180 ft, and by winter most fish are in 50 to 220 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Rock reef: a rock pile around 8 ft that scores good in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Keep a heavy metal jig or a large soft-plastic jig rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 20 to 100 ft | dawn | Rock reef (8 ft) | Diamond jig, Heavy bucktail |
| Summer | 45 to 180 ft | dawn | Rock reef (8 ft) | Heavy metal jig, Large soft-plastic jig |
| Fall | 25 to 140 ft | dawn | Rock reef (8 ft) | Diamond jig, Bucktail with teaser |
| Winter | 50 to 220 ft | midday | Rock reef (8 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
Spring puts saithe (coalfish) in skinny water — 15 to 160 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 25 to 260 ft, wintering in 45 to 320 ft. Spring saithe (coalfish) concentrate at Shoreline point, a prime-rated point around 24 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. A speed jig or a heavy paddletail covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 160 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (24 ft) | Slim metal jig, Paddletail |
| Summer | 25 to 260 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (24 ft) | Speed jig, Heavy paddletail |
| Fall | 20 to 220 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (24 ft) | Metal jig, Baitfish swimbait |
| Winter | 45 to 320 ft | midday | Sharp break (333 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
When the water first warms, pollack (lyr) slide up into 8 to 100 ft. By summer they slide out to 12 to 150 ft, and by winter most fish are in 35 to 220 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Rock reef: a rock pile around 8 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a surface plug or a baitfish swimbait rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 100 ft | dawn & dusk | Rock reef (8 ft) | Sandeel-pattern lure, Soft-plastic shad |
| Summer | 12 to 150 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (24 ft) | Surface plug, Baitfish swimbait |
| Fall | 15 to 160 ft | dawn | Rock reef (8 ft) | Metal jig, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 35 to 220 ft | midday | Rock reef (8 ft) | Slow metal jig, Weighted soft plastic |
In spring, haddock run shallow here, mostly 35 to 220 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 60 to 320 ft before dropping to 70 to 400 ft for winter. Fall haddock concentrate at Kartverket measured flat, a prime-rated feeding flat around 136 ft. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a compact metal jig or a bottom rig most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 35 to 220 ft | dawn | Kartverket measured flat (136 ft) | Small bottom jig, Beaded trace |
| Summer | 60 to 320 ft | dawn | Sharp break (333 ft) | Compact metal jig, Bottom rig |
| Fall | 45 to 260 ft | midday | Kartverket measured flat (136 ft) | Small vertical jig |
| Winter | 70 to 400 ft | midday | Kartverket measured flat (136 ft) | Deep bottom jig |
Spring atlantic mackerel on Hardangerfjord - Bømlafjord Entrance - South hold shallow, usually 5 to 45 ft. By summer they slide out to 15 to 80 ft, and by winter most fish are in 30 to 120 ft. The chart's best answer is Shoreline point — point, 24 ft, good for spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a feather rig or a small vertical jig.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (24 ft) | Mackerel feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Summer | 15 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (24 ft) | Feather rig, Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 65 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (24 ft) | Compact silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 30 to 120 ft | midday | open water | Small deep jig |
Spring puts atlantic herring in skinny water — 5 to 25 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 15 to 50 ft, wintering in 20 to 60 ft. Spring atlantic herring concentrate at Rock reef, a good-rated rock pile around 8 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. A herring feather rig or a small silver jig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Rock reef (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 |
Hardangerfjord - Bømlafjord Entrance - South also holds sea trout (15 to 50 ft in summer), ling (100 to 600 ft in summer), cusk (tusk) (110 to 650 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 986 ft.
Access data: Norwegian Environment Agency (Miljødirektoratet) — state-secured outdoor recreation areas. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Norway waters are set by the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries (sea-angling rules) — and special regulations can apply to Hardangerfjord - Bømlafjord Entrance - South specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Norway fishing regulations →
Hardangerfjord - Bømlafjord Entrance - South is about 986 ft (301 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from Norwegian Mapping Authority (Kartverket) bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Official coastal monitoring from Institute of Marine Research four-fjord pelagic survey, 2025 informs the atlantic cod, saithe (coalfish), pollack (lyr), haddock, atlantic mackerel, atlantic herring, sea trout, ling, cusk (tusk) roster for Hardangerfjord - Bømlafjord Entrance - South. 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.
Rock reef is the top-rated area: a rock pile in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for pollack (lyr) in spring. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
For atlantic cod, the summer bite is best in early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Hardangerfjord - Bømlafjord Entrance - South is regulated by the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries (sea-angling rules). Check the official Norway regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Storavatnet 13 mi · Hardangerfjord - Bømlafjord Entrance - North - West 14 mi · Hardangerfjord - Bømlafjord Entrance - North - East 16 mi · Hardangerfjord - Outer - South 26 mi · Hardangerfjord - Outer - North 29 mi · Storavatnet 31 mi · Mildevatnet 31 mi · Aksdalsvatnet 33 mi · Ulvatnet Kismul 33 mi · Åletrætjørna 33 mi · Grimseidvatnet 33 mi · Stendavatnet 34 mi
See how Hardangerfjord - Bømlafjord Entrance - South stacks up: best sea trout lakes in Norway · best atlantic herring lakes in Norway · best atlantic mackerel lakes in Norway · best atlantic cod lakes in Norway
Browse all Norway fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: Norwegian Mapping Authority (Kartverket) Bathymetry terrain models, surveyed 50 metre grid (Chart datum / sea-chart zero as distributed by Kartverket; 100% measured, 0% 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.