Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up freeSalt water depth chart
Today's read
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
16,496-acre Hardangerfjord. Middle. 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 middle main-fjord basin and steep shore breaks. Southern trip-scale survey reach. The water tops out around 2168 ft. The depth chart comes from Norwegian Mapping Authority (Kartverket) bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
The drawn water covers 16,501 acres wrapped in 51.8 miles of bank. The 2.9 development index tells the story — a convoluted bank whose fishable edge far outruns the acreage. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 1% of this chart. The basin spans about 20.7 mi end to end and 8.5 mi across at its widest. Hildalsvatnet sits 0 mi north — the closest neighbouring chart.
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.
Spring puts atlantic cod in skinny water — 20 to 100 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 45 to 180 ft, wintering in 50 to 220 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning. A heavy metal jig or a large soft-plastic jig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 20 to 100 ft | dawn | open water | Diamond jig, Heavy bucktail |
| Summer | 45 to 180 ft | dawn | open water | Heavy metal jig, Large soft-plastic jig |
| Fall | 25 to 140 ft | dawn | open water | Diamond jig, Bucktail with teaser |
| Winter | 50 to 220 ft | midday | open water | Heavy vertical jig |
Spring saithe (coalfish) on Hardangerfjord - Middle - South hold shallow, usually 15 to 160 ft. They move out to 25 to 260 ft in summer and finish the year down in 45 to 320 ft. Put Shoreline point first on the milk run — a point near 146 ft that grades prime for spring. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a speed jig or a heavy paddletail.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 160 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (146 ft) | Slim metal jig, Paddletail |
| Summer | 25 to 260 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (146 ft) | Speed jig, Heavy paddletail |
| Fall | 20 to 220 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (146 ft) | Metal jig, Baitfish swimbait |
| Winter | 45 to 320 ft | midday | open water | Heavy vertical jig |
Spring puts pollack (lyr) in skinny water — 8 to 100 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 12 to 150 ft, wintering in 35 to 220 ft. Summer pollack (lyr) concentrate at Shoreline point, a prime-rated point around 146 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. A surface plug or a baitfish swimbait covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 100 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Sandeel-pattern lure, Soft-plastic shad |
| Summer | 12 to 150 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (146 ft) | Surface plug, Baitfish swimbait |
| Fall | 15 to 160 ft | dawn | Shoreline point (146 ft) | Metal jig, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 35 to 220 ft | midday | Shoreline point (146 ft) | Slow metal jig, Weighted soft plastic |
Come spring, look for haddock tight to the bank in 35 to 220 ft. They move out to 60 to 320 ft in summer and finish the year down in 70 to 400 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Kartverket measured flat: a feeding flat around 304 ft that scores good in summer. Best bite is early morning. A compact metal jig or a bottom rig is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 35 to 220 ft | dawn | open water | Small bottom jig, Beaded trace |
| Summer | 60 to 320 ft | dawn | Kartverket measured flat (304 ft) | Compact metal jig, Bottom rig |
| Fall | 45 to 260 ft | midday | Kartverket measured flat (304 ft) | Small vertical jig |
| Winter | 70 to 400 ft | midday | Kartverket measured flat (304 ft) | Deep bottom jig |
Spring puts atlantic mackerel in skinny water — 5 to 45 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 15 to 80 ft; cold water stacks them in 30 to 120 ft. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A feather rig or a small vertical jig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Mackerel feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Summer | 15 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Feather rig, Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 65 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Compact silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 30 to 120 ft | midday | open water | Small deep jig |
Spring atlantic herring on Hardangerfjord - Middle - South hold shallow, usually 5 to 25 ft. They move out to 15 to 50 ft in summer and finish the year down in 20 to 60 ft. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a herring feather rig or a small silver jig.
| 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 |
Hardangerfjord - Middle - 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.
8 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deepest basin, around 2168 ft, is the deepest of them.
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 - Middle - South specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Norway fishing regulations →
Hardangerfjord - Middle - South is about 2168 ft (661 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 - Middle - 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.
Shoreline point is the top-rated area: a point in about 146 ft of water that rates prime for pollack (lyr) in summer. 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 - Middle - 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.
Hildalsvatnet 0 mi · Prestavatnet 2 mi · Svartavatnet 3 mi · Stølsvatnet 6 mi · Myrdalsvatnet 7 mi · Tveitedalsvatnet 10 mi · Hardangerfjord - Kvinnherad 11 mi · Kvitebergsvatnet 11 mi · Rullestadvatnet 12 mi · Hardangerfjord - Outer - South 15 mi · Mysevatnet 15 mi · Hardangerfjord - Middle - North 16 mi
See how Hardangerfjord - Middle - 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.