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Rating depth structure for atlantic cod.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
1,269-acre Louisbourg Harbour fishing map with CHS NONNA survey contours (79.37% measured, 97.14% assessed), four measured spots, regional DFO cod, mackerel and forage evidence, an official harbour reference, and current groundfish, mackerel, CSSP and port guidance. The water tops out around 73 ft. The depth chart comes from CHS bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
Drawn out, this is 1,265 acres of water rimmed by 10 miles of bank, broken up by 3 islands. Index 2 on the shoreline: a few honest points and pockets, nothing labyrinthine. Roughly 33% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. The basin spans about 2.5 mi end to end and 1.4 mi across at its widest. For a second option, Grand Lake lies 4 mi north.
Come spring, look for atlantic cod tight to the bank in 15 to 73 ft. Through summer count on 18 to 73 ft; the winter hold is 17 to 73 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Louisbourg surveyed outer trough: a deep basin around 72 ft that scores prime in winter. Best bite is early morning. A heavy metal jig or a large soft-plastic jig is the honest summer answer here.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 73 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 100 ft | dawn | Louisbourg surveyed west-basin ledge (44 ft) | Diamond jig, Heavy bucktail |
| Summer | 18 to 73 ft chart-limited; documented 45 to 180 ft | dawn | Louisbourg surveyed outer trough (72 ft) | Heavy metal jig, Large soft-plastic jig |
| Fall | 13 to 73 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 140 ft | dawn | Louisbourg surveyed west-basin ledge (44 ft) | Diamond jig, Bucktail with teaser |
| Winter | 17 to 73 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 220 ft | midday | Louisbourg surveyed outer trough (72 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
Early season atlantic mackerel use the shallows, holding in 5 to 45 ft. Summer is a 14 to 73 ft game here, winter an 18 to 73 ft one. The chart's best answer is Louisbourg surveyed outer trough — deep basin, 72 ft, prime for summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a feather rig or a small vertical jig and you're in the game.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | Louisbourg surveyed west-basin ledge (44 ft) | Mackerel feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Summer | 14 to 73 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | Louisbourg surveyed outer trough (72 ft) | Feather rig, Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 65 ft | dawn & dusk | Louisbourg surveyed west-basin ledge (44 ft) | Compact silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 18 to 73 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 120 ft | midday | Louisbourg surveyed outer trough (72 ft) | Small deep jig |
When the water first warms, winter flounder slide up into 2 to 18 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 3 to 20 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Surveyed channel edge 1: a drop-off around 16 ft that scores good in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Keep a light scented jig worked slowly rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Surveyed channel edge 1 (16 ft) | Small bucktail tipped with worm, Scented grub on a light jig |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn | Surveyed channel edge 4 (30 ft) | Light scented jig worked slowly |
| Fall | 6 to 25 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge 1 (16 ft) | Small bucktail + worm, Scented bottom jig |
| Winter | 3 to 20 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge 1 (16 ft) | Small bucktail tipped with worm |
8 pieces of structure are mapped here — Louisbourg surveyed outer trough, around 72 ft, is the deepest of them.
Access data: Fisheries and Oceans Canada — Small Craft Harbours. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Nova Scotia waters are set by the Nova Scotia sportfishing rules — and special regulations can apply to Louisbourg Harbour specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Nova Scotia fishing regulations →
Louisbourg Harbour is about 73 ft (22 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from CHS bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target atlantic cod, atlantic mackerel, winter flounder on Louisbourg Harbour. The list combines the water's survey records with habitat-filtered species from broader official evidence; those additions are plausible occurrences, not exact-water abundance or guaranteed catches.
Louisbourg surveyed outer trough is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 72 ft of water that rates prime for atlantic cod in winter. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each 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 Louisbourg Harbour is regulated by the Nova Scotia sportfishing rules. Check the official Nova Scotia regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Grand Lake 4 mi · Gabarus Lake 13 mi · Kilkenny Lake 22 mi · Enon Lake 28 mi · Dalem Lake 32 mi · Cameron Lake 100 mi · Gaspereaux Lake 103 mi · Lochaber Lake 105 mi · Eden Lake 117 mi · Black Lake 118 mi · Forbes Lake 131 mi · West Branch Lake 135 mi
See how Louisbourg Harbour stacks up: best winter flounder lakes in Nova Scotia · best atlantic mackerel lakes in Nova Scotia · best atlantic cod lakes in Nova Scotia
Browse all Nova Scotia fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: CHS NONNA 10 (CHS Chart Datum (CD); 79% measured, 18% 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.