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Rating depth structure for atlantic herring.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
2,973-acre Orwell Estuary fishing map with Environment Agency multibeam/SurfZone ODN contours (92.42% measured, 99.94% assessed), four measured spots, exact EA TraC occurrence, three dated survey cards, official access and current GOV.UK/Eastern IFCA guidance. The water tops out around 56 ft. The depth chart comes from Environment Agency 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.
The drawn water covers 2,960 acres wrapped in 32.1 miles of bank — 15 islands included. An index of 4.2 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. About 73% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. Tip to tip the water measures near 9.3 mi with a 1.9-mi widest point. If the bite dies, Holbrook Lake is 3 mi to the southwest.
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 17 to 56 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deepest directly measured basin cell: a deep basin around 56 ft that scores prime in winter. 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 | Directly measured upper-flat transition (4 ft) | Small herring feather rig, Micro jig rig |
| Summer | 15 to 50 ft | dawn & dusk | Deepest directly measured basin cell (56 ft) | Herring feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Fall | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Directly measured lower-channel shoulder (19 ft) | Small feather rig, Compact silver spoon |
| Winter | 17 to 56 ft | midday | Deepest directly measured basin cell (56 ft) | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
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 Directly measured lower-channel shoulder: a channel edge around 19 ft that scores prime in summer. 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 | Directly measured lower-channel shoulder (19 ft) | Paddle-tail soft plastic, Shallow minnow plug |
| Summer | 2 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Directly measured lower-channel shoulder (19 ft) | Surface lure, Paddle-tail soft plastic |
| Fall | 4 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Directly measured lower-channel shoulder (19 ft) | Slim metal lure, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 10 to 55 ft | midday | Deepest directly measured basin cell (56 ft) | Slow soft-plastic shad, Suspending minnow |
Spring whiting on Orwell Estuary hold shallow, usually 15 to 55 ft. They move out to 16 to 56 ft in summer and finish the year down in 12 to 56 ft. Put Directly measured lower-channel shoulder first on the milk run — a channel edge near 19 ft that grades prime for spring. 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 | Directly measured lower-channel shoulder (19 ft) | Small silver jig, Two-hook feather rig |
| Summer | 16 to 56 ft | dawn | Deepest directly measured basin cell (56 ft) | Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 9 to 56 ft | dusk | Directly measured lower-channel shoulder (19 ft) | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 12 to 56 ft | dusk | Deepest directly measured basin cell (56 ft) | Compact vertical jig |
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: Directly measured upper-flat transition, a feeding flat in the 4 ft range, prime in spring. 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 | Directly measured upper-flat transition (4 ft) | Small bucktail dragged on bottom |
| Summer | 6 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Directly measured upper-flat transition (4 ft) | Bottom jig with spinner blade |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dusk | Directly measured lower-channel shoulder (19 ft) | Compact bottom jig |
| Winter | 15 to 50 ft | midday | Strongest directly measured local depth transition (50 ft) | Small bottom jig |
Spring european plaice on Orwell Estuary hold shallow, usually 8 to 35 ft. They move out to 6 to 40 ft in summer and finish the year down in 17 to 56 ft. Put Directly measured lower-channel shoulder first on the milk run — a channel edge near 19 ft that grades prime for fall. 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 | Directly measured lower-channel shoulder (19 ft) | Beaded flowing trace |
| Summer | 6 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Directly measured upper-flat transition (4 ft) | Light spooned bottom rig, Beaded trace |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk | Directly measured lower-channel shoulder (19 ft) | Beaded bottom trace |
| Winter | 17 to 56 ft | midday | Deepest directly measured basin cell (56 ft) |
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 16 to 56 ft. Summer common sole concentrate at Directly measured upper-flat transition, a prime-rated feeding flat around 4 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 | Directly measured upper-flat transition (4 ft) | Tiny bottom jig |
| Summer | 3 to 30 ft | dusk | Directly measured upper-flat transition (4 ft) | Light rolling-lead rig |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dusk | Directly measured lower-channel shoulder (19 ft) | Compact bottom jig |
| Winter | 16 to 56 ft | night | Deepest directly measured basin cell (56 ft) |
Orwell Estuary also holds thick-lipped grey mullet (1 to 18 ft in summer), european eel (6 to 28 ft in summer), european smelt (17 to 56 ft in summer), thornback ray (9 to 56 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
13 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deepest directly measured basin cell, around 56 ft, is the deepest of them.
Access data: Suffolk County Council. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Orwell Estuary is about 56 ft (17 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from Environment Agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target atlantic herring, european seabass, whiting, european flounder, european plaice, common sole, thick-lipped grey mullet, european eel, european smelt, thornback ray on Orwell Estuary.
Deepest directly measured basin cell is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 56 ft of water that rates prime for atlantic herring in winter. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every 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.
Holbrook Lake 3 mi · Stour Estuary 4 mi · Deben Estuary 6 mi · Ardleigh Reservoir 13 mi · Alde-Ore Estuary 15 mi · Blackwater Estuary - Inner and Middle 27 mi · Crouch Estuary - Inner to Burnham Reach 35 mi · Barnby Broad 36 mi · Hanningfield Reservoir 39 mi · Sea Mere or Hingham Sea Mere 40 mi · Scoulton Mere or Saham Toney Mere 41 mi · Blue Lagoon 41 mi
See how Orwell Estuary stacks up: best atlantic herring lakes in United Kingdom · best european flounder lakes in United Kingdom · best european seabass lakes in United Kingdom · best common sole lakes in United Kingdom
Browse all United Kingdom fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: Environment Agency Multibeam Bathymetry + SurfZone DEM 2019 (Ordnance Datum Newlyn (ODN); 92% measured, 8% 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.