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Rating depth structure for atlantic herring.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
6,256-acre Stour Estuary fishing map with Environment Agency multibeam/SurfZone ODN contours (88.84% measured, 99.53% assessed), four measured spots, exact EA TraC occurrence, three dated survey cards, official access and current GOV.UK/Eastern IFCA guidance. The water tops out around 50 ft. The depth chart comes from Environment Agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
Traced from the shoreline, Stour Estuary runs 6,229 acres with 50.3 miles of edge — 37 islands included. An index of 4.6 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. About 78% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. Call it 11.6 mi long by 2.2 mi wide at the broadest reach. For a second option, Holbrook Lake lies 2 mi north.
In spring, atlantic herring run shallow here, mostly 5 to 25 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 15 to 50 ft, and winter fish settle into 15 to 50 ft. Deepest directly measured basin cell is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 50 ft, rated prime for summer atlantic herring. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a herring feather rig or a small silver jig most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Directly measured upper-flat transition (4 ft) | Small herring feather rig, Micro jig rig |
| Summer | 15 to 50 ft | dawn & dusk | Deepest directly measured basin cell (50 ft) | Herring feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Fall | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Strongest directly measured local depth transition (36 ft) | Small feather rig, Compact silver spoon |
| Winter | 15 to 50 ft | midday | Deepest directly measured basin cell (50 ft) | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
In spring, european seabass run shallow here, mostly 3 to 25 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 2 to 30 ft, and winter fish settle into 9 to 50 ft. Directly measured lower-channel shoulder is the standout, a channel edge at roughly 14 ft, rated prime for summer european seabass. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a surface lure or a paddle-tail soft plastic most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Directly measured lower-channel shoulder (14 ft) | Paddle-tail soft plastic, Shallow minnow plug |
| Summer | 2 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Directly measured lower-channel shoulder (14 ft) | Surface lure, Paddle-tail soft plastic |
| Fall | 4 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Directly measured lower-channel shoulder (14 ft) | Slim metal lure, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 9 to 50 ft | midday | Deepest directly measured basin cell (50 ft) | Slow soft-plastic shad, Suspending minnow |
Early season european flounder use the shallows, holding in 5 to 25 ft. Expect a summer slide to 6 to 35 ft, then a winter hold in 15 to 50 ft. Put Directly measured upper-flat transition first on the milk run — a feeding flat near 4 ft that grades prime for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a bottom jig with spinner blade and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dusk | Directly measured upper-flat transition (4 ft) | Small bucktail dragged on bottom |
| Summer | 6 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Directly measured upper-flat transition (4 ft) | Bottom jig with spinner blade |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dusk | Strongest directly measured local depth transition (36 ft) | Compact bottom jig |
| Winter | 15 to 50 ft | midday | Deepest directly measured basin cell (50 ft) | Small bottom jig |
Spring puts whiting in skinny water — 14 to 50 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 14 to 50 ft, and winter fish hold in 11 to 50 ft. Directly measured lower-channel shoulder is the standout, a channel edge at roughly 14 ft, rated prime for spring whiting. Plan around early morning in the warm months. A small vertical jig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 14 to 50 ft | dawn & dusk | Directly measured lower-channel shoulder (14 ft) | Small silver jig, Two-hook feather rig |
| Summer | 14 to 50 ft | dawn | Deepest directly measured basin cell (50 ft) | Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 8 to 50 ft | dusk | Directly measured lower-channel shoulder (14 ft) | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 11 to 50 ft | dusk | Deepest directly measured basin cell (50 ft) | Compact vertical jig |
Spring puts european plaice in skinny water — 8 to 35 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 6 to 40 ft; cold water stacks them in 15 to 50 ft. Directly measured lower-channel shoulder is the standout, a channel edge at roughly 14 ft, rated prime for fall european plaice. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A light spooned bottom rig or a beaded trace covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 35 ft | dusk | Directly measured lower-channel shoulder (14 ft) | Beaded flowing trace |
| Summer | 6 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Directly measured upper-flat transition (4 ft) | Light spooned bottom rig, Beaded trace |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk | Directly measured lower-channel shoulder (14 ft) | Beaded bottom trace |
| Winter | 15 to 50 ft | midday | Deepest directly measured basin cell (50 ft) |
When the water first warms, common sole slide up into 6 to 30 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 3 to 30 ft, winter 14 to 50 ft. Start at Directly measured upper-flat transition. It's a feeding flat holding about 4 ft of water and rates prime come summer. The feeding windows run the evening. Keep a light rolling-lead rig rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 6 to 30 ft | dusk | Directly measured upper-flat transition (4 ft) | Tiny bottom jig |
| Summer | 3 to 30 ft | dusk | Directly measured upper-flat transition (4 ft) | Light rolling-lead rig |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dusk | Directly measured lower-channel shoulder (14 ft) | Compact bottom jig |
| Winter | 14 to 50 ft | night | Deepest directly measured basin cell (50 ft) |
Stour Estuary also holds thick-lipped grey mullet (1 to 18 ft in summer), european eel (6 to 28 ft in summer), european smelt (15 to 50 ft in summer), thornback ray (8 to 50 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
The chart marks 12 structure features on Stour Estuary; the deepest is Deepest directly measured basin cell at about 50 ft.
Access data: Suffolk County Council. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Stour Estuary is about 50 ft (15 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from Environment Agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target atlantic herring, european seabass, european flounder, whiting, european plaice, common sole, thick-lipped grey mullet, european eel, european smelt, thornback ray on Stour Estuary.
Deepest directly measured basin cell is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 50 ft of water that rates prime for atlantic herring in summer. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
For atlantic herring, 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.
Holbrook Lake 2 mi · Orwell Estuary 4 mi · Ardleigh Reservoir 9 mi · Deben Estuary 10 mi · Alde-Ore Estuary 19 mi · Blackwater Estuary - Inner and Middle 22 mi · Crouch Estuary - Inner to Burnham Reach 31 mi · Hanningfield Reservoir 35 mi · Blue Lagoon 37 mi · Barnby Broad 40 mi · Mitcham Pit 41 mi · Sea Mere or Hingham Sea Mere 43 mi
See how Stour Estuary stacks up: best atlantic herring lakes in United Kingdom · best european flounder lakes in United Kingdom · best european seabass lakes in United Kingdom · best common sole lakes in United Kingdom
Browse all United Kingdom fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: Environment Agency Multibeam Bathymetry + SurfZone DEM 2019 (Ordnance Datum Newlyn (ODN); 89% measured, 11% 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.