Salt water depth chart
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36,731-acre Raftsundet. South Norway saltwater fishing map with official Kartverket surveyed 50 m bathymetry, measured-only fishing spots, Institute of Marine Research fish evidence, seasonal forage guidance and public shore-access context. Southern Raftsundet narrows and Trollfjord approach. The water tops out around 825 ft. The depth chart comes from Norwegian Mapping Authority (Kartverket) 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 outline encloses 36,730 acres, worked by 96.9 miles of shoreline, broken up by 6 islands. With a shoreline index of 3.6, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. Roughly 6% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. Tip to tip the water measures near 19.5 mi with a 12.1-mi widest point. Its nearest charted neighbour, Vestfjord - Hamarøy - North - North, is 13 mi to the southeast.
The target roster combines named-water evidence where available with conservative, habitat-compatible official Norwegian coastal records. It documents occurrence context, not equal abundance, a catch rate or a promised catch. Closed targets are excluded and current rules control every trip. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| (Atlantic Cod) | official species listing | — |
| (Saithe (Coalfish)) | official species listing | — |
| (Haddock) | official species listing | — |
| (Atlantic Mackerel) | official species listing | — |
| (Atlantic Herring) | official species listing | — |
| (Atlantic Halibut) | official species listing | — |
| (Ling) | official species listing | — |
| (Cusk (Tusk)) | official species listing | — |
| (Sea Trout) | official species listing | — |
Official species-evidence source.
Start shallow in spring: atlantic cod sit in 20 to 100 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 45 to 180 ft; cold water stacks them in 50 to 220 ft. Top water on the chart: Rock reef, a rock pile in the 7 ft range, good in spring. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. Throw a heavy metal jig or a large soft-plastic jig until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 20 to 100 ft | dawn | Rock reef (7 ft) | Diamond jig, Heavy bucktail |
| Summer | 45 to 180 ft | dawn | Sharp break (41 ft) | Heavy metal jig, Large soft-plastic jig |
| Fall | 25 to 140 ft | dawn | Rock reef (7 ft) | Diamond jig, Bucktail with teaser |
| Winter | 50 to 220 ft | midday | Rock reef (7 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
When the water first warms, saithe (coalfish) slide up into 15 to 160 ft. By summer they slide out to 25 to 260 ft, and by winter most fish are in 45 to 320 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Sharp break: a drop-off around 41 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a speed jig or a heavy paddletail rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 160 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (91 ft) | Slim metal jig, Paddletail |
| Summer | 25 to 260 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (41 ft) | Speed jig, Heavy paddletail |
| Fall | 20 to 220 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (41 ft) | Metal jig, Baitfish swimbait |
| Winter | 45 to 320 ft | midday | Sharp break (41 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
Early season haddock use the shallows, holding in 35 to 220 ft. Expect a summer slide to 60 to 320 ft, then a winter hold in 70 to 400 ft. Put Kartverket measured flat first on the milk run — a feeding flat near 116 ft that grades prime for fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Tie on a compact metal jig or a bottom rig and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 35 to 220 ft | dawn | Kartverket measured flat (116 ft) | Small bottom jig, Beaded trace |
| Summer | 60 to 320 ft | dawn | Kartverket measured flat (116 ft) | Compact metal jig, Bottom rig |
| Fall | 45 to 260 ft | midday | Kartverket measured flat (116 ft) | Small vertical jig |
| Winter | 70 to 400 ft | midday | Kartverket measured flat (116 ft) | Deep bottom jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: atlantic mackerel in 5 to 45 ft. As the season builds they drop to 15 to 80 ft, wintering in 30 to 120 ft. Top water on the chart: Sharp break, a drop-off in the 41 ft range, good in summer. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a feather rig or a small vertical jig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (41 ft) | Mackerel feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Summer | 15 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (41 ft) | Feather rig, Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 65 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (41 ft) | Compact silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 30 to 120 ft | midday | Sharp break (41 ft) | Small deep jig |
When the water first warms, atlantic herring slide up into 5 to 25 ft. By summer they slide out to 15 to 50 ft, and by winter most fish are in 20 to 60 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Sharp break: a drop-off around 41 ft that scores good in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a herring feather rig or a small silver jig rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Rock reef (7 ft) | Small herring feather rig, Micro jig rig |
| Summer | 15 to 50 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (41 ft) | Herring feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Fall | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (41 ft) | Small feather rig, Compact silver spoon |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | midday | Sharp break (41 ft) | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
Early season atlantic halibut use the shallows, holding in 45 to 350 ft. Even in summer they hold at 25 to 300 ft; winter keeps them in 100 to 600 ft. The chart's best answer is Kartverket measured flat — feeding flat, 116 ft, prime for spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a large swimbait or a slow metal jig and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 45 to 350 ft | dawn | Kartverket measured flat (116 ft) | Large paddletail, Heavy bottom jig |
| Summer | 25 to 300 ft | dawn & dusk | Kartverket measured flat (116 ft) | Large swimbait, Slow metal jig |
| Fall | 45 to 380 ft | midday | Kartverket measured flat (116 ft) | Heavy paddletail, Bottom jig |
| Winter | 100 to 600 ft | midday | Kartverket measured channel edge (454 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
Raftsundet - South also holds ling (100 to 600 ft in summer), cusk (tusk) (110 to 650 ft in summer), sea trout (15 to 50 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
8 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deepest basin, around 825 ft, is the deepest of them.
Access data: Norwegian Environment Agency (Miljødirektoratet) — state-secured outdoor recreation areas. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Norway waters are set by the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries (sea-angling rules) — and special regulations can apply to Raftsundet - South specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish. Check the live national rules, protected species, minimum sizes, gear rules, local conservation areas and river-mouth restrictions before every trip. Directed Atlantic-halibut fishing is prohibited year-round south of 62°N; north of 62°N the current seasonal closure and size/release rules apply. A mapped shore-use lead does not establish fishing permission or safe access.
Check the official Norway fishing regulations →
Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries (current minimum sizes) →
Check special-area and water-specific rules →
Check official shore-access information →
Raftsundet - South is about 825 ft (251 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from Norwegian Mapping Authority (Kartverket) bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Official coastal monitoring from Institute of Marine Research Norwegian coastal ecosystem surveys informs the atlantic cod, saithe (coalfish), haddock, atlantic mackerel, atlantic herring, atlantic halibut, ling, cusk (tusk), sea trout roster for Raftsundet - South. 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.
Sharp break is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 41 ft of water that rates prime for saithe (coalfish) in summer. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every 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 Raftsundet - South is regulated by the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries (sea-angling rules). Check the official Norway regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Vestfjord - Hamarøy - North - North 13 mi · Austnesfjord 13 mi · Raftsundet - North 14 mi · Vestfjord - Hamarøy - North - South 19 mi · Vestfjord - Middle - North - North 22 mi · Ofotfjord - Outer 23 mi · Langvatnet 25 mi · Vestfjord - Hamarøy - South - North 28 mi · Vestfjord - Middle - North - South 30 mi · Lilandsvatnet 31 mi · Holdalsvatnet 32 mi · Ostadvatnet 32 mi
See how Raftsundet - South stacks up: best sea trout lakes in Norway · best atlantic herring lakes in Norway · best atlantic mackerel lakes in Norway · best atlantic cod lakes in Norway
Browse all Norway fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: Norwegian Mapping Authority (Kartverket) Bathymetry terrain models, surveyed 50 metre grid (Chart datum / sea-chart zero as distributed by Kartverket; 100% measured, 0% 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.