Salt water depth chart
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74,695-acre Hardangerfjord. Outer. 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 broad lower Hardangerfjord and adjacent island channels. Southern trip-scale survey reach. The water tops out around 2070 ft. The depth chart comes from Norwegian Mapping Authority (Kartverket) bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Here's the year, species by species, as the scoring engine sees it.
The outline encloses 74,694 acres, worked by 204.7 miles of shoreline — 8 islands included. That shoreline is heavily fingered (development index 5.3) — 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. Tip to tip the water measures near 22.9 mi with a 20.1-mi widest point. Kvitebergsvatnet sits 12 mi northeast — 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.
The spring pattern is a shallow one: atlantic cod in 20 to 100 ft. As the season builds they drop to 45 to 180 ft, wintering in 50 to 220 ft. Top water on the chart: Rock reef, a rock pile in the 9 ft range, good in spring. Time it for early morning. Summer baits: a heavy metal jig or a large soft-plastic jig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 20 to 100 ft | dawn | Rock reef (9 ft) | Diamond jig, Heavy bucktail |
| Summer | 45 to 180 ft | dawn | Rock reef (9 ft) | Heavy metal jig, Large soft-plastic jig |
| Fall | 25 to 140 ft | dawn | Rock reef (9 ft) | Diamond jig, Bucktail with teaser |
| Winter | 50 to 220 ft | midday | Rock reef (9 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
Come spring, look for saithe (coalfish) tight to the bank in 15 to 160 ft. They move out to 25 to 260 ft in summer and finish the year down in 45 to 320 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Rock reef: a rock pile around 9 ft that scores good in spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A speed jig or a heavy paddletail is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 160 ft | dawn & dusk | Rock reef (9 ft) | Slim metal jig, Paddletail |
| Summer | 25 to 260 ft | dawn & dusk | Rock reef (9 ft) | Speed jig, Heavy paddletail |
| Fall | 20 to 220 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Metal jig, Baitfish swimbait |
| Winter | 45 to 320 ft | midday | Rock reef (9 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: pollack (lyr) in 8 to 100 ft. As the season builds they drop to 12 to 150 ft, wintering in 35 to 220 ft. Top water on the chart: Rock reef, a rock pile in the 9 ft range, prime in spring. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a surface plug or a baitfish swimbait gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 100 ft | dawn & dusk | Rock reef (9 ft) | Sandeel-pattern lure, Soft-plastic shad |
| Summer | 12 to 150 ft | dawn & dusk | Rock reef (9 ft) | Surface plug, Baitfish swimbait |
| Fall | 15 to 160 ft | dawn | Rock reef (9 ft) | Metal jig, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 35 to 220 ft | midday | Rock reef (9 ft) | Slow metal jig, Weighted soft plastic |
Spring haddock on Hardangerfjord - Outer - South hold shallow, usually 35 to 220 ft. They move out to 60 to 320 ft in summer and finish the year down in 70 to 400 ft. Put Kartverket measured flat first on the milk run — a feeding flat near 283 ft that grades good for fall. The feeding windows run early morning. The summer box starts with a compact metal jig or a bottom rig.
| 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 (283 ft) | Compact metal jig, Bottom rig |
| Fall | 45 to 260 ft | midday | Kartverket measured flat (283 ft) | Small vertical jig |
| Winter | 70 to 400 ft | midday | Kartverket measured flat (283 ft) | Deep bottom jig |
Start shallow in spring: atlantic mackerel sit in 5 to 45 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 15 to 80 ft; cold water stacks them in 30 to 120 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a feather rig or a small vertical jig until the fish tell you otherwise.
| 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 |
Come spring, look for atlantic herring tight to the bank in 5 to 25 ft. They move out to 15 to 50 ft in summer and finish the year down in 20 to 60 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Rock reef: a rock pile around 9 ft that scores good in spring. Best bite is 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 | Rock reef (9 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 - Outer - 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.
The chart marks 8 structure features on Hardangerfjord - Outer - South; the deepest is Deepest basin at about 2024 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 - Outer - South specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Norway fishing regulations →
Hardangerfjord - Outer - South is about 2070 ft (631 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 - Outer - 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 9 ft of water that rates prime for pollack (lyr) in spring. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
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 - Outer - 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.
Kvitebergsvatnet 12 mi · Storavatnet 13 mi · Hardangerfjord - Middle - South 15 mi · Prestavatnet 15 mi · Hildalsvatnet 15 mi · Stølsvatnet 16 mi · Hardangerfjord - Outer - North 17 mi · Svartavatnet 17 mi · Myrdalsvatnet 17 mi · Hardangerfjord - Kvinnherad 17 mi · Hardangerfjord - Bømlafjord Entrance - North - East 19 mi · Tveitedalsvatnet 22 mi
See how Hardangerfjord - Outer - 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.