Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up freeSalt water depth chart
Today's read
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
10-acre Spring Bay fishing map with NOAA survey-composite MLLW contours (100% measured, 100% assessed), source-traceable measured chart and habitat spots, six regional fish profiles, two forage calendars, connected ramp access and current DPNR/NPS rules. The water tops out around 56 ft. The depth chart is built from real agency bathymetry referenced to MLLW; 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. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
The drawn water covers 10 acres wrapped in 0.6 miles of bank. At index 1.3 the outline is almost a bowl — read the depth changes, not the shoreline. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 75% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. If the bite dies, Coki Bay is 1 mi to the east.
Spring puts atlantic tarpon in skinny water — 3 to 25 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 4 to 35 ft, wintering in 5 to 35 ft. Spring atlantic tarpon concentrate at NOAA NCCOS mapped colonized pavement, a good-rated hard bottom around 11 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. A heavy paddletail or a swimbait in pass current covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA NCCOS mapped colonized pavement (11 ft) | 4-6 inch paddletail, Suspending baitfish plug |
| Summer | 4 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA NCCOS mapped linear reef (29 ft) | Heavy paddletail, Swimbait in pass current |
| Fall | 3 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA NCCOS mapped linear reef (29 ft) | Mullet-profile swimbait, Surface plug |
| Winter | 5 to 35 ft | dusk | NOAA NCCOS mapped linear reef (29 ft) | Slow-rolled paddletail, Suspending plug |
When the water first warms, jack crevalle slide up into 2 to 25 ft. By summer they slide out to 3 to 35 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 35 ft. If you only fish one area, make it NOAA NCCOS mapped colonized pavement: a hard bottom around 11 ft that scores good in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a pencil popper or a casting spoon rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA NCCOS mapped colonized pavement (11 ft) | Surface popper, Metal jig |
| Summer | 3 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA NCCOS mapped linear reef (29 ft) | Pencil popper, Casting spoon |
| Fall | 2 to 30 ft | dawn & midday | NOAA NCCOS mapped linear reef (29 ft) | Topwater walker, Metal jig |
| Winter | 5 to 35 ft | dusk | NOAA NCCOS mapped linear reef (29 ft) | Compact metal jig, Slow-rolled paddletail |
Early season yellowtail snapper use the shallows, holding in 7 to 56 ft. Even in summer they hold at 8 to 56 ft; winter keeps them in 8 to 56 ft. Put NOAA NCCOS mapped linear reef first on the milk run — a hard bottom near 29 ft that grades prime for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a micro jig or a small paddletail 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 | 7 to 56 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA NCCOS mapped linear reef (29 ft) | Small bucktail, Light vertical jig |
| Summer | 8 to 56 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 70 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA NCCOS mapped linear reef (29 ft) | Micro jig, Small paddletail |
| Fall | 8 to 56 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 70 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA NCCOS mapped linear reef (29 ft) | Small vertical jig, Baitfish streamer |
| Winter | 8 to 56 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 80 ft | dusk | NOAA NCCOS mapped linear reef (29 ft) | Small jig worked deep, Bucktail |
In spring, mutton snapper run shallow here, mostly 7 to 56 ft. Summer keeps them at 7 to 56 ft, and they winter in 9 to 56 ft. Spring mutton snapper concentrate at NOAA NCCOS mapped linear reef, a prime-rated hard bottom around 29 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a heavy bucktail or a vertical jig most summer days.
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 | 7 to 56 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 65 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA NCCOS mapped linear reef (29 ft) | Bucktail near bottom, Paddletail |
| Summer | 7 to 56 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA NCCOS mapped linear reef (29 ft) | Heavy bucktail, Vertical jig |
| Fall | 7 to 56 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 75 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA NCCOS mapped linear reef (29 ft) | Bucktail + strip, Slow vertical jig |
| Winter | 9 to 56 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 90 ft | dusk | NOAA NCCOS mapped linear reef (29 ft) | Slow jig, Bottom bucktail |
Start shallow in spring: great barracuda sit in 2 to 45 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 3 to 55 ft; cold water stacks them in 4 to 56 ft. Top water on the chart: NOAA NCCOS mapped linear reef, a hard bottom in the 29 ft range, prime in winter. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a fast swimbait or a spoon 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 | 2 to 45 ft | dawn & midday | NOAA NCCOS mapped linear reef (29 ft) | Fast tube lure, Long minnow plug |
| Summer | 3 to 55 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA NCCOS mapped linear reef (29 ft) | Fast swimbait, Spoon |
| Fall | 3 to 55 ft | dawn & midday | NOAA NCCOS mapped linear reef (29 ft) | Mullet-profile plug, Tube lure |
| Winter | 4 to 56 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 65 ft | midday & dusk | NOAA NCCOS mapped linear reef (29 ft) | Long minnow plug, Fast jig |
Spring puts gray snapper (mangrove snapper) in skinny water — 3 to 22 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 4 to 30 ft; cold water stacks them in 8 to 45 ft. NOAA NCCOS mapped linear reef is the standout, a hard bottom at roughly 29 ft, rated good for summer gray snapper (mangrove snapper). Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A small bucktail or a paddletail covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 22 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA NCCOS mapped colonized pavement (11 ft) | Small paddletail, Jighead + shrimp imitation |
| Summer | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA NCCOS mapped linear reef (29 ft) | Small bucktail, Paddletail |
| Fall | 5 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA NCCOS mapped linear reef (29 ft) | Small vertical jig, Jighead + paddletail |
| Winter | 8 to 45 ft | midday | NOAA NCCOS mapped linear reef (29 ft) | Small jig worked slowly |
Structure-wise the chart holds 5 features, led in depth by Surveyed channel edge at roughly 56 ft.
Access data: USVI DPNR Coastal Zone Management — Public Access Map. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for U.S. Virgin Islands waters are set by the U.S. Virgin Islands DPNR (current fisher handbook) — and special regulations can apply to Spring Bay specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official U.S. Virgin Islands fishing regulations →
Spring Bay is about 56 ft (17 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart is built from real agency bathymetry referenced to MLLW; directly measured coverage remains distinguished from source interpolation. The contours reflect measured and quality-assessed source depths.
Anglers target atlantic tarpon, jack crevalle, yellowtail snapper, mutton snapper, great barracuda, gray snapper (mangrove snapper) on Spring Bay. This isn't a survey of the water — none is published for it — but an informed estimate from the species common to the region, narrowed by this water's depth, size and each species' range.
NOAA NCCOS mapped linear reef is the top-rated area: a hard bottom in about 29 ft of water that rates prime for yellowtail snapper in spring. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
For atlantic tarpon, 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 Spring Bay is regulated by the U.S. Virgin Islands DPNR (current fisher handbook). Check the official U.S. Virgin Islands regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Coki Bay 1 mi · Water Bay 1 mi · Tutu Bay 1 mi · Eva Bay 1 mi · Smith Bay 2 mi · Saint John Bay 2 mi · Red Bay 2 mi · Redhook Bay 3 mi · Muller Bay 3 mi · Jersey Bay 3 mi · Bolongo Bay 3 mi · Long Bay 3 mi
See how Spring Bay stacks up: best gray snapper (mangrove snapper) lakes in U.S. Virgin Islands · best atlantic tarpon lakes in U.S. Virgin Islands · best jack crevalle lakes in U.S. Virgin Islands · best yellowtail snapper lakes in U.S. Virgin Islands
Browse all U.S. Virgin Islands fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: NOAA BlueTopo (MLLW; 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.