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Rating depth structure for atlantic cod.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
892-acre Sambro Harbour fishing map with contributor-qualified CHS NONNA survey contours (63.99% measured, 100% assessed), four measured harbour, mouth and basin spots, regional DFO cod, mackerel and forage evidence, working-harbour context, and current groundfish, mackerel and CSSP rules. The water tops out around 64 ft. The depth chart comes from CHS bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. The rest of this page walks each species through its year, using the map's own scoring.
The outline encloses 891 acres, worked by 8.7 miles of shoreline, with 4 islands in the mix. With a 2.1 development index there's bank structure worth casting at, in moderation. About 25% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. Call it 2.1 mi long by 1.5 mi wide at the broadest reach. Kidston Lake sits 9 mi north — the closest neighbouring chart.
Spring puts atlantic cod in skinny water — 13 to 64 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 16 to 64 ft, and winter fish hold in 15 to 64 ft. Sambro Harbour surveyed central basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 40 ft, rated prime for winter atlantic cod. Plan around early morning in the warm months. A heavy metal jig or a large soft-plastic jig covers the summer program.
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 64 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 100 ft | dawn | Sambro Harbour surveyed mouth edge (31 ft) | Diamond jig, Heavy bucktail |
| Summer | 16 to 64 ft chart-limited; documented 45 to 180 ft | dawn | Sambro Harbour surveyed central basin (40 ft) | Heavy metal jig, Large soft-plastic jig |
| Fall | 11 to 64 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 140 ft | dawn | Sambro Harbour surveyed mouth edge (31 ft) | Diamond jig, Bucktail with teaser |
| Winter | 15 to 64 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 220 ft | midday | Sambro Harbour surveyed central basin (40 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
Spring puts atlantic mackerel in skinny water — 5 to 45 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 12 to 64 ft, wintering in 16 to 64 ft. Summer atlantic mackerel concentrate at Sambro Harbour surveyed central basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 40 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. A feather rig or a small vertical jig covers the summer program.
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 | Sambro Harbour surveyed mouth edge (31 ft) | Mackerel feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Summer | 12 to 64 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | Sambro Harbour surveyed central basin (40 ft) | Feather rig, Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 64 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 65 ft | dawn & dusk | Sambro Harbour surveyed central basin (40 ft) | Compact silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 16 to 64 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 120 ft | midday | Sambro Harbour surveyed central basin (40 ft) | Small deep jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: winter flounder in 2 to 18 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 8 to 30 ft before dropping to 3 to 20 ft for winter. The spot to know is Sambro Harbour surveyed mouth edge, a channel edge in about 31 ft of water that rates good for winter flounder in summer. Plan around early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a light scented jig worked slowly gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Small bucktail tipped with worm, Scented grub on a light jig |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn | Sambro Harbour surveyed mouth edge (31 ft) | Light scented jig worked slowly |
| Fall | 6 to 25 ft | midday | Sambro Harbour surveyed mouth edge (31 ft) | Small bucktail + worm, Scented bottom jig |
| Winter | 3 to 20 ft | midday | open water | Small bucktail tipped with worm |
Start shallow in spring: striped bass sit in 5 to 20 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 25 to 60 ft, and winter fish settle into 20 to 50 ft. The spot to know is Sambro Harbour surveyed central basin, a deep basin in about 40 ft of water that rates prime for striped bass in summer. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a topwater walker at low light or a paddletail on a light jig until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | 3-5 inch baitfish swimbait, Suspending minnow plug |
| Summer | 25 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Sambro Harbour surveyed central basin (40 ft) | Topwater walker at low light, Paddletail on a light jig |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Sambro Harbour surveyed mouth edge (31 ft) | Baitfish swimbait, Metal jig |
| Winter | 20 to 50 ft | midday | Sambro Harbour surveyed central basin (40 ft) | Slow paddletail, Bucktail near bottom |
8 pieces of structure are mapped here — Sambro Harbour surveyed deepest basin cell, around 64 ft, is the deepest of them.
Access data: Fisheries and Oceans Canada — Small Craft Harbours. 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 Sambro Harbour specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Nova Scotia fishing regulations →
Sambro Harbour is about 64 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 Sambro 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.
Sambro Harbour surveyed central basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 40 ft of water that rates prime for atlantic cod in winter. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
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 Sambro 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.
Kidston Lake 9 mi · Williams Lake 10 mi · Long Lake 11 mi · Chocolate Lake 12 mi · Blind Bay 13 mi · Governor Lake 13 mi · Morris Lake 13 mi · Russell Lake 14 mi · Maynard Lake 14 mi · Bissett Lake 14 mi · Oat Hill Lake 14 mi · Big Lake 14 mi
See how Sambro 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); 64% measured, 36% 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.