Salt water depth chart
Today's read
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
51,358-acre Roaringwater Bay. Middle saltwater fishing map with official INFOMAR survey bathymetry, measured-cell fishing spots, official fish evidence, seasonal forage guidance, access context and current-rule links. The middle trip-scale survey reach of Roaringwater Bay, retaining only official survey-backed seabed cells that pass the Ireland release gates. The water tops out around 256 ft. The depth chart comes from INFOMAR (Geological Survey Ireland and Marine Institute) bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
The drawn water covers 51,282 acres wrapped in 98.8 miles of bank, with 10 islands in the mix. With a shoreline index of 3.1, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. 10% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. Figure 13 mi of water from one end to the other, 12.9 mi at the beam. Its nearest charted neighbour, Bantry Bay - Inner South, is 3 mi to the northwest.
Marine Institute spawning, nursery, observation and range layers support the principal surveyed pelagic and groundfish. IFI's national and regional sea-angling publications support additional habitat-compatible recreational targets. This is occurrence and search guidance, not equal abundance, a section-level population estimate or a promised catch. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Mackerel (Atlantic Mackerel) | official species listing | — |
| Pollack (Atlantic Pollock) | official species listing | — |
| Coalfish (Saithe (Coalfish)) | official species listing | — |
| Haddock (Haddock) | official species listing | — |
| Whiting (Whiting) | official species listing | — |
| Cod (Atlantic Cod) | official species listing | — |
| Plaice (European Plaice) | official species listing | — |
| Flounder (European Flounder) | official species listing | — |
| Thornback ray (Thornback Ray) | official species listing | — |
| Brill (Brill) | official species listing | — |
| Ling (Ling) | official species listing | — |
| Bass (European Seabass) | official species listing | — |
| Garfish (Garfish) | official species listing | — |
Official species-evidence source.
In spring, atlantic mackerel run shallow here, mostly 5 to 45 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 15 to 80 ft, and winter fish settle into 30 to 120 ft. Sharp break is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 22 ft, rated good for summer atlantic mackerel. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a feather rig or a small vertical jig most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (4 ft) | Mackerel feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Summer | 15 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (22 ft) | Feather rig, Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 65 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (22 ft) | Compact silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 30 to 120 ft | midday | Sharp break (22 ft) | Small deep jig |
In spring, atlantic pollock run shallow here, mostly 8 to 100 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 12 to 150 ft before dropping to 35 to 220 ft for winter. Summer atlantic pollock concentrate at Shoreline point, a prime-rated point around 4 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a surface plug or a baitfish swimbait most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 100 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (4 ft) | Sandeel-pattern lure, Soft-plastic shad |
| Summer | 12 to 150 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (4 ft) | Surface plug, Baitfish swimbait |
| Fall | 15 to 160 ft | dawn | Sharp break (22 ft) | Metal jig, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 35 to 220 ft | midday | Sharp break (22 ft) | Slow metal jig, Weighted soft plastic |
Early season saithe (coalfish) use the shallows, holding in 15 to 160 ft. Expect a summer slide to 25 to 256 ft, then a winter hold in 36 to 256 ft. Put INFOMAR measured current seam first on the milk run — a current seam near 114 ft that grades prime for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a speed jig or a heavy paddletail and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 160 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (114 ft) | Slim metal jig, Paddletail |
| Summer | 25 to 256 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (22 ft) | Speed jig, Heavy paddletail |
| Fall | 20 to 220 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (114 ft) | Metal jig, Baitfish swimbait |
| Winter | 36 to 256 ft | midday | Deepest basin (256 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
When the water first warms, haddock slide up into 35 to 220 ft. By summer they slide out to 48 to 256 ft, and by winter most fish are in 45 to 256 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deepest basin: a deep basin around 256 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Keep a compact metal jig or a bottom rig rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 35 to 220 ft | dawn | Feeding flat (34 ft) | Small bottom jig, Beaded trace |
| Summer | 48 to 256 ft | dawn | Deepest basin (256 ft) | Compact metal jig, Bottom rig |
| Fall | 44 to 256 ft | midday | Deepest basin (256 ft) | Small vertical jig |
| Winter | 45 to 256 ft | midday | Deepest basin (256 ft) | Deep bottom jig |
When the water first warms, whiting slide up into 15 to 55 ft. By summer they slide out to 20 to 70 ft, and by winter most fish are in 15 to 70 ft. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Keep a small vertical jig rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 55 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Small silver jig, Two-hook feather rig |
| Summer | 20 to 70 ft | dawn | open water | Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 60 ft | dusk | open water | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 15 to 70 ft | dusk | open water | Compact vertical jig |
In spring, atlantic cod run shallow here, mostly 20 to 100 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 45 to 180 ft before dropping to 50 to 220 ft for winter. Spring atlantic cod concentrate at Sharp break, a good-rated drop-off around 22 ft. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a heavy metal jig or a large soft-plastic jig most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 20 to 100 ft | dawn | Sharp break (22 ft) | Diamond jig, Heavy bucktail |
| Summer | 45 to 180 ft | dawn | INFOMAR measured channel edge (140 ft) | Heavy metal jig, Large soft-plastic jig |
| Fall | 25 to 140 ft | dawn | Sharp break (22 ft) | Diamond jig, Bucktail with teaser |
| Winter | 50 to 220 ft | midday | Deepest basin (256 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
Roaringwater Bay - Middle also holds european plaice (6 to 40 ft in summer), european flounder (6 to 35 ft in summer), thornback ray (10 to 65 ft in summer), brill (6 to 50 ft in summer), ling (43 to 256 ft in summer), european seabass (2 to 30 ft in summer), garfish (2 to 20 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Count 7 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deepest basin, sits near 256 ft.
Access data: Marine Institute — Fishing Ports. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Ireland waters are set by the Inland Fisheries Ireland (current sea-angling regulations) — and special regulations can apply to Roaringwater Bay - Middle specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish. Check the current national and water-specific rules before every trip, including bass measures, the 2026 recreational pollack controls, salmon and sea-trout licences and river-specific status, protected areas, harbour directions, private land and local signs. A mapped fishing port or measured seabed feature is not permission to fish, park, launch or enter a working harbour.
Check the official Ireland fishing regulations →
Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (2026 salmon and sea-trout status) →
Check special-area and water-specific rules →
Check official shore-access information →
Roaringwater Bay - Middle is about 256 ft (78 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from INFOMAR (Geological Survey Ireland and Marine Institute) bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Official coastal monitoring from Marine Institute and Inland Fisheries Ireland informs the atlantic mackerel, atlantic pollock, saithe (coalfish), haddock, whiting, atlantic cod, european plaice, european flounder, thornback ray, brill, ling, european seabass, garfish roster for Roaringwater Bay - Middle. 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.
INFOMAR measured current seam is the top-rated area: a current seam in about 114 ft of water that rates prime for saithe (coalfish) in spring. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For atlantic mackerel, 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 Roaringwater Bay - Middle is regulated by the Inland Fisheries Ireland (current sea-angling regulations). Check the official Ireland regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Bantry Bay - Inner South 3 mi · Roaringwater Bay - East 10 mi · Roaringwater Bay - West 12 mi · Bantry Bay - Inner North 18 mi · Bantry Bay - Middle South 18 mi · Clonakilty and Courtmacsherry Bays - Clonakilty 19 mi · Kenmare Bay - Middle 27 mi · Bantry Bay - Outer South 30 mi · Clonakilty and Courtmacsherry Bays - Courtmacsherry 31 mi · Kinsale Harbour - Outer 35 mi · Kenmare Bay - Outer 36 mi · Kinsale Harbour - Inner 42 mi
See how Roaringwater Bay - Middle stacks up: best european flounder lakes in Ireland · best garfish lakes in Ireland · best european seabass lakes in Ireland · best european plaice lakes in Ireland
Browse all Ireland fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: INFOMAR (Geological Survey Ireland and Marine Institute) INFOMAR All Survey bathymetry mosaic (Source-survey vertical references retained in the INFOMAR All Survey mosaic; 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.