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Huibertgat-Lauwers Offshore is a 8,289-acre Dutch saltwater fishing section with official Rijkswaterstaat bathymetry, evidence-scoped fish targets, and mapped depth-derived fishing spots. The water tops out around 144 ft. The depth chart comes from Rijkswaterstaat 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.
On the chart, Huibertgat–Lauwers Offshore draws 8,289 acres inside 32.2 miles of shoreline. An index of 2.5 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. Roughly 39% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. Tip to tip the water measures near 11.9 mi with a 2.8-mi widest point. The nearest mapped water is Rottum Coast, 7 mi to the southeast.
Vis- en dieptekaart van Huibertgat–Lauwers Offshore, Nederland: gemeten dieptelijnen (Rijkswaterstaat) tot 44 m, met visstekken voor haring, bot. De dieptelijnen zijn berekend uit gemeten bodemhoogten van Rijkswaterstaat en het officiële lokale streefpeil (NAP). Gebruik de kaart als visgids, nooit voor navigatie.
The roster combines Wadden Sea station records and long-running regional monitoring, filtered to this saltwater habitat. It does not imply equal abundance across a tidal basin. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Haring (Atlantic Herring) | coastal monitoring | — |
| Bot (European Flounder) | coastal monitoring | — |
| Schol (European Plaice) | coastal monitoring | — |
| Tong (Common Sole) | coastal monitoring | — |
| Wijting (Whiting) | coastal monitoring | — |
| Zeebaars (European Seabass) | coastal monitoring | — |
| Spiering (European Smelt) | coastal monitoring | — |
| Paling (European Eel) | coastal monitoring | — |
Official species-evidence source.
The spring pattern is a shallow one: atlantic herring in 5 to 25 ft. As the season builds they drop to 15 to 50 ft, wintering in 20 to 60 ft. Top water on the chart: RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone, a drop-off in the 27 ft range, good in summer. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a herring feather rig or a small silver jig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (10 ft) | Small herring feather rig, Micro jig rig |
| Summer | 15 to 50 ft | dawn & dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (27 ft) | Herring feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Fall | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (27 ft) | Small feather rig, Compact silver spoon |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | midday | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (27 ft) | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
When the water first warms, european flounder slide up into 5 to 25 ft. By summer they slide out to 6 to 35 ft, and by winter most fish are in 15 to 50 ft. If you only fish one area, make it RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone: a feeding flat around 10 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a bottom jig with spinner blade rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (10 ft) | Small bucktail dragged on bottom |
| Summer | 6 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (10 ft) | Bottom jig with spinner blade |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (27 ft) | Compact bottom jig |
| Winter | 15 to 50 ft | midday | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (27 ft) | Small bottom jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: european plaice in 8 to 35 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 6 to 40 ft before dropping to 25 to 80 ft for winter. The spot to know is RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone, a feeding flat in about 10 ft of water that rates prime for european plaice in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a light spooned bottom rig or a beaded trace gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 35 ft | dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (10 ft) | Beaded flowing trace |
| Summer | 6 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (10 ft) | Light spooned bottom rig, Beaded trace |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (10 ft) | Beaded bottom trace |
| Winter | 25 to 80 ft | midday | open water |
Spring common sole on Huibertgat–Lauwers Offshore hold shallow, usually 6 to 30 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 3 to 30 ft in summer, 20 to 70 ft once it turns cold. Put RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone first on the milk run — a feeding flat near 10 ft that grades prime for spring. The feeding windows run the evening. The summer box starts with a light rolling-lead rig.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 6 to 30 ft | dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (10 ft) | Tiny bottom jig |
| Summer | 3 to 30 ft | dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (10 ft) | Light rolling-lead rig |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (10 ft) | Compact bottom jig |
| Winter | 20 to 70 ft | night | open water |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: whiting in 15 to 55 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 20 to 70 ft before dropping to 15 to 70 ft for winter. Plan around early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a small vertical jig gets it done.
| 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 |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: european seabass in 3 to 25 ft. As the season builds they drop to 2 to 30 ft, wintering in 10 to 55 ft. Top water on the chart: RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone, a feeding flat in the 10 ft range, good in summer. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a surface lure or a paddle-tail soft plastic gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (10 ft) | Paddle-tail soft plastic, Shallow minnow plug |
| Summer | 2 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (10 ft) | Surface lure, Paddle-tail soft plastic |
| Fall | 4 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Slim metal lure, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 10 to 55 ft | midday | open water | Slow soft-plastic shad, Suspending minnow |
Huibertgat–Lauwers Offshore also holds european smelt (25 to 70 ft in summer), european eel (6 to 28 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Huibertgat–Lauwers Offshore carries 7 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone, about 84 ft down.
Access data: Rijkswaterstaat Fairway Information Services. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Netherlands waters are set by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO — recreational saltwater fishing) — and special regulations can apply to Huibertgat–Lauwers Offshore specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Netherlands fishing regulations →
Huibertgat–Lauwers Offshore is about 144 ft (44 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from Rijkswaterstaat bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Official coastal monitoring from Wageningen Marine Research — Dutch Wadden Sea monitoring informs the atlantic herring, european flounder, european plaice, common sole, whiting, european seabass, european smelt, european eel roster for Huibertgat–Lauwers Offshore. 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.
RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone is the top-rated area: a feeding flat in about 10 ft of water that rates prime for european flounder in spring. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
For atlantic herring, 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 Huibertgat–Lauwers Offshore is regulated by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO — recreational saltwater fishing). Check the official Netherlands regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Rottum Coast 7 mi · Zoutkamperlaag–Groninger Wad East 9 mi · Schiermonnikoog Coast 9 mi · Eemshaven–Dollard Wadden Coast 12 mi · Eems-Dollard (kustwater) 14 mi · Ems Estuary 14 mi, DEU · Friesche Zeegat Offshore 16 mi · East Frisian Wadden Sea - Borkum 16 mi, DEU · Zoutkamperlaag–Groninger Wad West 17 mi · Lauwersoog–Eemshaven Wadden Coast 23 mi · East Frisian Wadden Sea - Juist West 24 mi, DEU · East Frisian Wadden Sea - Juist East 31 mi, DEU
See how Huibertgat–Lauwers Offshore stacks up: best atlantic herring lakes in Netherlands · best european flounder lakes in Netherlands · best european seabass lakes in Netherlands · best common sole lakes in Netherlands
Browse all Netherlands fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: Rijkswaterstaat coastal and vaklodingen surveys, CC0. 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.