Salt water depth chart
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337-acre Searsport Harbor fishing map with compensated-route NOAA BlueTopo contours (48.85% measured, 99.79% assessed), measured chart and ledge fishing spots, Maine fish evidence, Gulf of Maine forage calendars, and exact Searsport Town Landing ramp and shore access. The water tops out around 38 ft. The depth chart is built from real agency bathymetry referenced to NAVD88; directly measured coverage remains distinguished from source interpolation. The channels, holes and drop-offs come from the source data, not a distance-from-shore model. The rest of this page walks each species through its year, using the map's own scoring.
Drawn out, this is 336 acres of water rimmed by 3.3 miles of bank. Its 1.3 shoreline index means few bank features; the contours below do the pattern work. About 35% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. The basin spans about 1 mi end to end and 0.8 mi across at its widest. The nearest mapped water is Kellys Cove, 6 mi to the south.
Come spring, look for striped bass tight to the bank in 5 to 20 ft. They move out to 11 to 38 ft in summer and finish the year down in 11 to 38 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Surveyed channel edge: a drop-off around 15 ft that scores good in summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A topwater walker at low light or a paddletail on a light jig is the honest summer answer here.
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 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (15 ft) | 3-6 inch paddletail, Suspending minnow plug |
| Summer | 11 to 38 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (15 ft) | Topwater walker at low light, Paddletail on a light jig |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (15 ft) | Pencil popper, Baitfish swimbait |
| Winter | 11 to 38 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 50 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (15 ft) | Slow paddletail, Bucktail near bottom |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: bluefish in 3 to 20 ft. As the season builds they drop to 5 to 30 ft, wintering in 11 to 38 ft. Top water on the chart: Surveyed channel edge, a drop-off in the 15 ft range, good in summer. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a popper (early/late) or a metal jigs in the rips gets it done.
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 | 3 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (15 ft) | Metal (Hopkins/Kastmaster), Pencil popper |
| Summer | 5 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (15 ft) | Popper (early/late), Metal jigs in the rips |
| Fall | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & midday | Surveyed channel edge (15 ft) | Pencil popper, Big metal |
| Winter | 11 to 38 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 40 ft | midday | open water | Metal jig worked slow (southern waters) |
Come spring, look for atlantic mackerel tight to the bank in 4 to 38 ft. Through summer count on 7 to 38 ft; the winter hold is 10 to 38 ft. Start at Surveyed channel edge. It's a drop-off holding about 15 ft of water and rates good come summer. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A feather rig or a small vertical jig is the honest summer answer here.
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 | 4 to 38 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (15 ft) | Mackerel feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Summer | 7 to 38 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (15 ft) | Feather rig, Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 6 to 38 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 65 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (15 ft) | Compact silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 10 to 38 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 120 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (15 ft) | Small deep jig |
Early season atlantic cod use the shallows, holding in 8 to 38 ft. Even in summer they hold at 10 to 38 ft; winter keeps them in 9 to 38 ft. Put NOAA charted underwater rock first on the milk run — a rock pile near 14 ft that grades prime for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Tie on a heavy metal jig or a large soft-plastic jig and you're in the game.
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 | 8 to 38 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 100 ft | dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (14 ft) | Diamond jig, Heavy bucktail |
| Summer | 10 to 38 ft chart-limited; documented 45 to 180 ft | dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (14 ft) | Heavy metal jig, Large soft-plastic jig |
| Fall | 7 to 38 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 140 ft | dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (14 ft) | Diamond jig, Bucktail with teaser |
| Winter | 9 to 38 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 220 ft | midday | NOAA charted underwater rock (14 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
Start shallow in spring: atlantic herring sit in 5 to 25 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 11 to 38 ft, and winter fish settle into 11 to 38 ft. The spot to know is NOAA charted underwater rock, a rock pile in about 14 ft of water that rates prime for atlantic herring in spring. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a herring feather rig or a small silver jig until the fish tell you otherwise.
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 25 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA charted underwater rock (14 ft) | Small herring feather rig, Micro jig rig |
| Summer | 11 to 38 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 50 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (15 ft) | Herring feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Fall | 10 to 38 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (15 ft) | Small feather rig, Compact silver spoon |
| Winter | 11 to 38 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 60 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (15 ft) | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
Early season winter flounder use the shallows, holding in 2 to 18 ft. Summer is an 8 to 30 ft game here, winter a 3 to 20 ft one. The chart's best answer is NOAA charted pier — dock line, 9 ft, good for spring. Best bite is early morning. Tie on a light scented jig worked slowly and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | NOAA charted pier (9 ft) | Small bucktail tipped with worm, Scented grub on a light jig |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn | Surveyed channel edge (15 ft) | Light scented jig worked slowly |
| Fall | 6 to 25 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (15 ft) | Small bucktail + worm, Scented bottom jig |
| Winter | 3 to 20 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (15 ft) | Small bucktail tipped with worm |
The chart marks 13 structure features on Searsport Harbor; the deepest is Surveyed channel edge at about 18 ft.
Access data: Maine DACF Public Boat Launches and Maine DMR Coastal Anglers Guide. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Maine waters are set by the Maine DMR (saltwater recreational fishing) — and special regulations can apply to Searsport Harbor specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Maine fishing regulations →
Searsport Harbor is about 38 ft (12 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart is built from real agency bathymetry referenced to NAVD88; directly measured coverage remains distinguished from source interpolation. The contours reflect measured and quality-assessed source depths.
Anglers target striped bass, bluefish, atlantic mackerel, atlantic cod, atlantic herring, winter flounder on Searsport Harbor.
NOAA charted underwater rock is the top-rated area: a rock pile in about 14 ft of water that rates prime for atlantic cod in spring. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.
For striped bass, 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 Searsport Harbor is regulated by the Maine DMR (saltwater recreational fishing). Check the official Maine regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Kellys Cove 6 mi · Swan Lake 7 mi · Lords Cove 8 mi · Orcutt Harbor 11 mi · Tilden Pond 11 mi · Bucks Harbor 12 mi · Eggemoggin Reach 13 mi · Deadman Cove 14 mi · Quantabacook Lake 14 mi · Walker Pond 14 mi · Blastow Cove 15 mi · Megunticook Lake 16 mi
See how Searsport Harbor stacks up: best striped bass lakes in Maine · best winter flounder lakes in Maine · best bluefish lakes in Maine · best atlantic herring lakes in Maine
Browse all Maine fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: NOAA BlueTopo (NAVD88; 49% measured, 51% 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.