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109,510-acre Marennes-Oléron Basin. South West France saltwater fishing map with official SHOM 100 m bathymetry, source-qualified fishing spots, official regional fish evidence, seasonal forage guidance, public shore-use context and current-rule links. The Marennes-Oléron and Seudre system, with oyster grounds, tidal channels, island shore and outer-bank transitions. This page covers the south west angler-scale survey window. The water tops out around 126 ft. The depth chart comes from Shom (Service hydrographique et océanographique de la Marine) bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Marennes-Oléron Basin - South West maps at 109,392 acres behind 52.3 miles of shoreline. A shoreline index of 1.1 says round and simple: fish relate to depth changes here, not shoreline features. About 3% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. Figure 18.5 mi of water from one end to the other, 18.1 mi at the beam. If the bite dies, Gironde Estuary - South 4 West 1 is 7 mi to the northwest.
Marennes-Oléron Basin — South West, France : carte SHOM officielle jusqu’à 38 m; spots pour bar commun, sole commune. Pour préparer la pêche, jamais pour naviguer. Les profondeurs et les points de structure proviennent de la grille bathymétrique officielle du Shom. Les données servent à préparer la pêche et ne doivent jamais être utilisées pour la navigation.
Regional occurrence supports a search target, not equal abundance, child-specific catch rate, retention permission or a promised catch. Current national, EU, regional, protected-area and species rules always control. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| bar commun (European Seabass) | official species listing | — |
| sole commune (Common Sole) | official species listing | — |
| flet commun (European Flounder) | official species listing | — |
| plie commune (European Plaice) | official species listing | — |
| merlan (Whiting) | official species listing | — |
| orphie (Garfish) | official species listing | — |
| maquereau commun (Atlantic Mackerel) | official species listing | — |
| mulet lippu (Thick-lipped Grey Mullet) | official species listing | — |
| mulet cabot (Flathead Grey Mullet) | official species listing | — |
| barbue (Brill) | official species listing | — |
| raie bouclée (Thornback Ray) | official species listing | — |
| anguille européenne (European Eel) | official species listing | — |
| saumon atlantique (Atlantic Salmon) | official species listing | — |
Official species-evidence source.
Come spring, look for european seabass tight to the bank in 3 to 25 ft. They move out to 2 to 30 ft in summer and finish the year down in 10 to 55 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Shoreline point: a point around 7 ft that scores good in fall. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A surface lure or a paddle-tail soft plastic is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (7 ft) | Paddle-tail soft plastic, Shallow minnow plug |
| Summer | 2 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (7 ft) | Surface lure, Paddle-tail soft plastic |
| Fall | 4 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (7 ft) | Slim metal lure, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 10 to 55 ft | midday | SHOM-grid channel edge (63 ft) | Slow soft-plastic shad, Suspending minnow |
Spring puts common sole in skinny water — 6 to 30 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 3 to 30 ft, and winter fish hold in 20 to 70 ft. Fall common sole concentrate at Feeding flat, a good-rated feeding flat around 33 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around the evening. A light rolling-lead rig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 6 to 30 ft | dusk | Feeding flat (33 ft) | Tiny bottom jig |
| Summer | 3 to 30 ft | dusk | Feeding flat (33 ft) | Light rolling-lead rig |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dusk | Feeding flat (33 ft) | Compact bottom jig |
| Winter | 20 to 70 ft | night | SHOM-grid channel edge (63 ft) |
Start shallow in spring: european flounder sit in 5 to 25 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 6 to 35 ft; cold water stacks them in 15 to 50 ft. Top water on the chart: Feeding flat, a feeding flat in the 33 ft range, prime in summer. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a bottom jig with spinner blade until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dusk | Sharp break (18 ft) | Small bucktail dragged on bottom |
| Summer | 6 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Feeding flat (33 ft) | Bottom jig with spinner blade |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dusk | Sharp break (18 ft) | Compact bottom jig |
| Winter | 15 to 50 ft | midday | Sharp break (18 ft) | Small bottom jig |
Spring european plaice on Marennes-Oléron Basin - South West hold shallow, usually 8 to 35 ft. They move out to 6 to 40 ft in summer and finish the year down in 25 to 80 ft. Put Feeding flat first on the milk run — a feeding flat near 33 ft that grades prime for spring. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a light spooned bottom rig or a beaded trace.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 35 ft | dusk | Feeding flat (33 ft) | Beaded flowing trace |
| Summer | 6 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Feeding flat (33 ft) | Light spooned bottom rig, Beaded trace |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk | Feeding flat (33 ft) | Beaded bottom trace |
| Winter | 25 to 80 ft | midday | SHOM-grid channel edge (63 ft) |
Spring whiting on Marennes-Oléron Basin - South West hold shallow, usually 15 to 55 ft. They move out to 20 to 70 ft in summer and finish the year down in 15 to 70 ft. Put SHOM-grid channel edge first on the milk run — a channel edge near 63 ft that grades prime for fall. The feeding windows run early morning. The summer box starts with a small vertical jig.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 55 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid channel edge (63 ft) | Small silver jig, Two-hook feather rig |
| Summer | 20 to 70 ft | dawn | SHOM-grid channel edge (63 ft) | Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 60 ft | dusk | SHOM-grid channel edge (63 ft) | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 15 to 70 ft | dusk | SHOM-grid channel edge (63 ft) | Compact vertical jig |
Come spring, look for garfish tight to the bank in 1 to 15 ft. Expect a summer slide to 2 to 20 ft, then a winter hold in 20 to 60 ft. Start at Shoreline point. It's a point holding about 7 ft of water and rates prime come spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A slim casting spoon or a surface-skipping fly is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 15 ft | dawn & midday | Shoreline point (7 ft) | Slim silver spoon, Small inline spinner |
| Summer | 2 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (7 ft) | Slim casting spoon, Surface-skipping fly |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (18 ft) | Weighted slim spoon, Small silver jig |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | midday | SHOM-grid current seam (50 ft) |
Marennes-Oléron Basin - South West also holds atlantic mackerel (15 to 80 ft in summer), thick-lipped grey mullet (1 to 18 ft in summer), flathead grey mullet (1 to 22 ft in summer), brill (6 to 50 ft in summer), thornback ray (10 to 65 ft in summer), european eel (6 to 28 ft in summer), atlantic salmon (20 to 70 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Structure-wise the chart holds 10 features, led in depth by Deepest basin at roughly 124 ft.
Access data: European Environment Agency — 2025 Bathing Water Directive Sites (France). Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for France waters are set by the Légifrance (current French recreational sea-fishing minimum sizes) — and special regulations can apply to Marennes-Oléron Basin - South West specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish. French recreational sea-fishing rules combine current national and European species measures with façade, prefectural, marine-protected-area, harbour and local access controls. Check live minimum sizes, quotas, seasonal or method closures, marking requirements and any no-take zone before every trip. A SHOM contour, fishing-spot marker or designated bathing-water lead is planning context only and never permission to fish, retain a catch, park, launch or enter restricted shore or port property.
Check the official France fishing regulations →
French Ministry for Ecological Transition — recreational sea fishing →
Check special-area and water-specific rules →
Check official shore-access information →
Marennes-Oléron Basin - South West is about 126 ft (38 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from Shom (Service hydrographique et océanographique de la Marine) bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Official coastal monitoring from Ifremer EVHOE and PELGAS regional survey evidence informs the european seabass, common sole, european flounder, european plaice, whiting, garfish, atlantic mackerel, thick-lipped grey mullet, flathead grey mullet, brill, thornback ray, european eel, atlantic salmon roster for Marennes-Oléron Basin - South West. 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.
Feeding flat is the top-rated area: a feeding flat in about 33 ft of water that rates prime for european flounder in summer. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For european seabass, 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 Marennes-Oléron Basin - South West is regulated by the Légifrance (current French recreational sea-fishing minimum sizes). Check the official France regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Gironde Estuary - South 4 West 1 7 mi · Marennes-Oléron Basin - North West 8 mi · Marennes-Oléron Basin - South Central 11 mi · Gironde Estuary - South 3 West 1 12 mi · Gironde Estuary - South 3 West 2 14 mi · Pertuis d’Antioche - South Central 16 mi · Pertuis d’Antioche - South West 19 mi · Pertuis d’Antioche - South East 21 mi · Marennes-Oléron Basin - South East 21 mi · Gironde Estuary - South 2 West 1 24 mi · Gironde Estuary - South 2 West 2 25 mi · Gironde Estuary - South 3 West 3 28 mi
See how Marennes-Oléron Basin - South West stacks up: best european flounder lakes in France · best garfish lakes in France · best european seabass lakes in France · best common sole lakes in France
Browse all France fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry: published agency survey data. 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.