Salt water depth chart
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7,980-acre Skidegate Inlet fishing map with CHS NONNA survey contours (99.94% measured, 99.98% assessed), four measured spots outside the marine refuge, DFO salmon and exact herring evidence, Muncord Creek launch access, and Area 2, CSSP and refuge guidance. The water tops out around 364 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 drawn water covers 7,947 acres wrapped in 31.7 miles of bank, with 9 islands in the mix. With a shoreline index of 2.5, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. About 25% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. The basin spans about 8.1 mi end to end and 4.1 mi across at its widest. Yakoun Lake sits 11 mi west — the closest neighbouring chart.
Come spring, look for pacific chinook salmon tight to the bank in 30 to 120 ft. Expect a summer slide to 20 to 150 ft, then a winter hold in 50 to 180 ft. Start at Skidegate Inlet western measured basin. It's a deep basin holding about 160 ft of water and rates prime come winter. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A herring or sand-lance spoon or a baitfish hoochie behind a flasher is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 30 to 120 ft | dawn | Sharp break (130 ft) | Herring-pattern spoon, Three-to-four-inch baitfish swimbait |
| Summer | 20 to 150 ft | dawn & dusk | Skidegate Inlet west-central channel shoulder (181 ft) | Herring or sand-lance spoon, Baitfish hoochie behind a flasher |
| Fall | 10 to 100 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (6 ft) | Compact spoon, Baitfish spinner where legal |
| Winter | 50 to 180 ft | midday | Skidegate Inlet western measured basin (160 ft) | Slow-trolled spoon, Deep baitfish plug |
Come spring, look for pacific coho salmon tight to the bank in 10 to 70 ft. They move out to 10 to 100 ft in summer and finish the year down in 30 to 100 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Shoreline point: a point around 6 ft that scores good in fall. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A small hoochie behind a flasher or a slim spoon is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 70 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (6 ft) | Small silver spoon, Slim baitfish fly |
| Summer | 10 to 100 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (6 ft) | Small hoochie behind a flasher, Slim spoon |
| Fall | 5 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (6 ft) | Small spinner where legal, Compact spoon |
| Winter | 30 to 100 ft | midday | Skidegate Inlet western measured basin (160 ft) | Slow small spoon, Compact trolling fly |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: pink salmon in 8 to 60 ft. As the season builds they drop to 3 to 70 ft, wintering in 20 to 90 ft. Top water on the chart: Shoreline point, a point in the 6 ft range, good in summer. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a pink or orange casting spoon or a small hoochie gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (6 ft) | Small chrome spoon, Compact herring-pattern jig |
| Summer | 3 to 70 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (6 ft) | Pink or orange casting spoon, Small hoochie |
| Fall | 2 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Rock reef (2 ft) | Small bright spoon, Pink jig |
| Winter | 20 to 90 ft | midday | open water | Small vertical jig |
When the water first warms, chum salmon slide up into 10 to 70 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 4 to 70 ft, winter 25 to 100 ft. Start at Shoreline point. It's a point holding about 6 ft of water and rates good come summer. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. Keep a chartreuse or pink hoochie or a bright spoon rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 70 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Chrome spoon, Compact baitfish jig |
| Summer | 4 to 70 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (6 ft) | Chartreuse or pink hoochie, Bright spoon |
| Fall | 3 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Rock reef (2 ft) | Bright spinner, Pink or chartreuse jig |
| Winter | 25 to 100 ft | midday | open water | Compact vertical jig |
Structure-wise the chart holds 12 features, led in depth by Skidegate Inlet central measured trough at roughly 301 ft.
Access data: Go Haida Gwaii — Daajing Giids visitor information. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for British Columbia waters are set by the BC freshwater fishing synopsis — and special regulations can apply to Skidegate Inlet specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official British Columbia fishing regulations →
Skidegate Inlet is about 364 ft (111 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 pacific chinook salmon, pacific coho salmon, pink salmon, chum salmon on Skidegate Inlet.
Skidegate Inlet western measured basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 160 ft of water that rates prime for pacific chinook salmon in winter. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
For pacific chinook salmon, 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 Skidegate Inlet is regulated by the BC freshwater fishing synopsis. Check the official British Columbia regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Yakoun Lake 11 mi · Skidegate Lake 12 mi · Mosquito Lake 15 mi · Sheila Lake 20 mi · Marie Lake 20 mi · Peter Lake 20 mi · Pam Lake 21 mi · Mathers Lake 21 mi · Mayer Lake 29 mi · Port Clements - Masset Inlet 30 mi · Awun Lake 32 mi · Mercer Lake 40 mi
See how Skidegate Inlet stacks up: best pink salmon lakes in British Columbia · best chum salmon lakes in British Columbia · best pacific chinook salmon lakes in British Columbia · best pacific coho salmon lakes in British Columbia
Browse all British Columbia fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: CHS NONNA 10 (CHS Chart Datum (CD); 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.