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Rating depth structure for atlantic cod.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
895-acre Mahone Harbour fishing map with CHS NONNA survey contours (79.05% measured, 99.37% assessed), four measured spots, regional DFO cod, mackerel and forage evidence, a public fishing dock and launch, and current groundfish, mackerel and CSSP guidance. The water tops out around 67 ft. The depth chart comes from CHS bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. The season-by-season read for each species follows, from the map's own numbers.
The outline encloses 894 acres, worked by 9.8 miles of shoreline, broken up by 2 islands. That shoreline is heavily fingered (development index 2.3) — bays, points and pockets everywhere, which multiplies the fishable edge. 54% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. The basin spans about 2.6 mi end to end and 1.3 mi across at its widest. Its nearest charted neighbour, Vaughans Lake, is 6 mi to the north.
Start shallow in spring: atlantic cod sit in 13 to 67 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 17 to 67 ft covers summer, 15 to 67 ft covers winter. The spot to know is Mahone surveyed entrance basin, a deep basin in about 61 ft of water that rates prime for atlantic cod in winter. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning. Throw a heavy metal jig or a large soft-plastic jig until the fish tell you otherwise.
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 | 13 to 67 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 100 ft | dawn | Mahone surveyed mid-harbour break (19 ft) | Diamond jig, Heavy bucktail |
| Summer | 17 to 67 ft chart-limited; documented 45 to 180 ft | dawn | Mahone surveyed entrance basin (61 ft) | Heavy metal jig, Large soft-plastic jig |
| Fall | 12 to 67 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 140 ft | dawn | Mahone surveyed mid-harbour break (19 ft) | Diamond jig, Bucktail with teaser |
| Winter | 15 to 67 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 220 ft | midday | Mahone surveyed entrance basin (61 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: atlantic mackerel in 5 to 45 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 13 to 67 ft before dropping to 17 to 67 ft for winter. The spot to know is Mahone surveyed entrance basin, a deep basin in about 61 ft of water that rates prime for atlantic mackerel in summer. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a feather rig or a small vertical jig gets it done.
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 | Mahone surveyed mid-harbour break (19 ft) | Mackerel feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Summer | 13 to 67 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | Mahone surveyed entrance basin (61 ft) | Feather rig, Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 65 ft | dawn & dusk | Mahone surveyed mid-harbour break (19 ft) | Compact silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 17 to 67 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 120 ft | midday | Mahone surveyed entrance basin (61 ft) | Small deep jig |
In spring, winter flounder run shallow here, mostly 2 to 18 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 8 to 30 ft, and winter fish settle into 3 to 20 ft. Mahone surveyed inner-harbour basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 14 ft, rated prime for summer winter flounder. Time it for early morning. You won't need more than a light scented jig worked slowly most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Mahone surveyed mid-harbour break (19 ft) | Small bucktail tipped with worm, Scented grub on a light jig |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn | Mahone surveyed inner-harbour basin (14 ft) | Light scented jig worked slowly |
| Fall | 6 to 25 ft | midday | Mahone surveyed mid-harbour break (19 ft) | Small bucktail + worm, Scented bottom jig |
| Winter | 3 to 20 ft | midday | Shallow feeding flat (19 ft) | Small bucktail tipped with worm |
In spring, striped bass run shallow here, mostly 5 to 20 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 25 to 60 ft before dropping to 20 to 50 ft for winter. Summer striped bass concentrate at Mahone surveyed entrance basin, a good-rated deep basin around 61 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a topwater walker at low light or a paddletail on a light jig most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Mahone surveyed mid-harbour break (19 ft) | 3-5 inch baitfish swimbait, Suspending minnow plug |
| Summer | 25 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Mahone surveyed entrance basin (61 ft) | Topwater walker at low light, Paddletail on a light jig |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Mahone surveyed mid-harbour break (19 ft) | Baitfish swimbait, Metal jig |
| Winter | 20 to 50 ft | midday | Mahone surveyed mid-harbour break (19 ft) | Slow paddletail, Bucktail near bottom |
Mahone Harbour carries 9 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Mahone surveyed entrance basin, about 61 ft down.
Access data: Town of Mahone Bay. 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 Mahone Harbour specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Nova Scotia fishing regulations →
Mahone Harbour is about 67 ft (20 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, striped bass on Mahone 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.
Mahone surveyed entrance basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 61 ft of water that rates prime for atlantic cod in winter. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by 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 Mahone 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.
Vaughans Lake 6 mi · Chester Harbours 9 mi · Big Mushamush Lake 10 mi · Squid Cove 12 mi · Milipsigate Lake 15 mi · Dauphinees Mill Lake 19 mi · Hubbards Cove 20 mi · Sherbrooke Lake 20 mi · Big Lake 25 mi · Blind Bay 26 mi · Armstrong Lake 30 mi · Lewis Lake 30 mi
See how Mahone Harbour stacks up: best striped bass lakes in Nova Scotia · 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, 20% 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.