Salt water depth chart
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41,356-acre Sognefjord. West Middle 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. The western middle-fjord basin and branching sounds. The water tops out around 4187 ft. The depth chart comes from Norwegian Mapping Authority (Kartverket) bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
Drawn out, this is 41,349 acres of water rimmed by 93.5 miles of bank, with 2 islands in the mix. A development index of 3.3 means a maze of bays and points: far more casting targets than a round bowl of the same size. Roughly 0% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. Figure 19.7 mi of water from one end to the other, 9.3 mi at the beam. The nearest mapped water is Helleskardtjørna, 8 mi to the northwest.
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 | — |
| (Pollack (Lyr)) | official species listing | — |
| (Haddock) | official species listing | — |
| (Atlantic Mackerel) | official species listing | — |
| (Atlantic Herring) | official species listing | — |
| (Sea Trout) | official species listing | — |
| (Ling) | official species listing | — |
| (Cusk (Tusk)) | official species listing | — |
Official species-evidence source.
When the water first warms, atlantic cod slide up into 20 to 100 ft. By summer they slide out to 45 to 180 ft, and by winter most fish are in 50 to 220 ft. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Keep a heavy metal jig or a large soft-plastic jig rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 20 to 100 ft | dawn | open water | Diamond jig, Heavy bucktail |
| Summer | 45 to 180 ft | dawn | open water | Heavy metal jig, Large soft-plastic jig |
| Fall | 25 to 140 ft | dawn | open water | Diamond jig, Bucktail with teaser |
| Winter | 50 to 220 ft | midday | open water | Heavy vertical jig |
Spring puts saithe (coalfish) in skinny water — 15 to 160 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 25 to 260 ft, wintering in 45 to 320 ft. Summer saithe (coalfish) concentrate at Shoreline point, a good-rated point around 178 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. A speed jig or a heavy paddletail covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 160 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (178 ft) | Slim metal jig, Paddletail |
| Summer | 25 to 260 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (178 ft) | Speed jig, Heavy paddletail |
| Fall | 20 to 220 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (178 ft) | Metal jig, Baitfish swimbait |
| Winter | 45 to 320 ft | midday | open water | Heavy vertical jig |
When the water first warms, pollack (lyr) slide up into 8 to 100 ft. By summer they slide out to 12 to 150 ft, and by winter most fish are in 35 to 220 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Shoreline point: a point around 178 ft that scores good in fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a surface plug or a baitfish swimbait rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 100 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Sandeel-pattern lure, Soft-plastic shad |
| Summer | 12 to 150 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (178 ft) | Surface plug, Baitfish swimbait |
| Fall | 15 to 160 ft | dawn | Shoreline point (178 ft) | Metal jig, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 35 to 220 ft | midday | Shoreline point (178 ft) | Slow metal jig, Weighted soft plastic |
In spring, haddock run shallow here, mostly 35 to 220 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 60 to 320 ft before dropping to 70 to 400 ft for winter. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a compact metal jig or a bottom rig most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 35 to 220 ft | dawn | open water | Small bottom jig, Beaded trace |
| Summer | 60 to 320 ft | dawn | open water | Compact metal jig, Bottom rig |
| Fall | 45 to 260 ft | midday | open water | Small vertical jig |
| Winter | 70 to 400 ft | midday | open water | Deep bottom jig |
Spring atlantic mackerel on Sognefjord - West Middle hold shallow, usually 5 to 45 ft. By summer they slide out to 15 to 80 ft, and by winter most fish are in 30 to 120 ft. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a feather rig or a small vertical jig.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Mackerel feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Summer | 15 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Feather rig, Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 65 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Compact silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 30 to 120 ft | midday | open water | Small deep jig |
Spring puts atlantic herring in skinny water — 5 to 25 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 15 to 50 ft, wintering in 20 to 60 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. A herring feather rig or a small silver jig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Small herring feather rig, Micro jig rig |
| Summer | 15 to 50 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Herring feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Fall | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Small feather rig, Compact silver spoon |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | midday | open water | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
Sognefjord - West Middle also holds sea trout (15 to 50 ft in summer), ling (100 to 600 ft in summer), cusk (tusk) (110 to 650 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Structure-wise the chart holds 8 features, led in depth by Deepest basin at roughly 4187 ft.
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 Sognefjord - West Middle specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Norway fishing regulations →
Sognefjord - West Middle is about 4187 ft (1276 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 four-fjord pelagic survey, 2025 informs the atlantic cod, saithe (coalfish), pollack (lyr), haddock, atlantic mackerel, atlantic herring, sea trout, ling, cusk (tusk) roster for Sognefjord - West 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.
Shoreline point is the top-rated area: a point in about 178 ft of water that rates good for saithe (coalfish) in summer. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each 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 Sognefjord - West Middle 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.
Helleskardtjørna 8 mi · Botnavatnet 8 mi · Fjellsendetjørna 8 mi · Heldalsvatnet 8 mi · Dregebøvatnet 9 mi · Nykksvatnet 9 mi · Økslandsvatnet 10 mi · Myrketjørna 11 mi · Ingebrikttjørna 11 mi · Steinsetvatnet 11 mi · Skilbreida 11 mi · Steinbotnevatnet 12 mi
See how Sognefjord - West Middle 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.