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.
33,687-acre Strangford Lough. North saltwater fishing map with source-audited EMODnet 2024 bathymetry, measured-cell fishing spots, official fish evidence, seasonal forage guidance, access context and current-rule links. The north trip-scale survey reach of Strangford Lough, retaining only official survey-backed seabed cells that pass the Ireland release gates. The water tops out around 178 ft. The depth chart comes from European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
On the chart, Strangford Lough - North draws 33,694 acres inside 73.8 miles of shoreline, with a single island in the mix. A development index of 2.9 means a maze of bays and points: far more casting targets than a round bowl of the same size. 34% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. Call it 14.9 mi long by 13.1 mi wide at the broadest reach. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Strangford Lough - South, 13 mi south of here.
DAERA's AFBI recreational-sea-angling survey covers locations fished and species targeted, while DAERA marine monitoring supplies official habitat and species context. The conservative roster is regional occurrence/search guidance, not equal abundance, a child-level population estimate or a promised catch. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Mackerel (Atlantic Mackerel) | official species listing | — |
| Pollack (Atlantic Pollock) | official species listing | — |
| Coalfish (Saithe (Coalfish)) | official species listing | — |
| Haddock (Haddock) | official species listing | — |
| Whiting (Whiting) | official species listing | — |
| Cod (Atlantic Cod) | official species listing | — |
| Plaice (European Plaice) | official species listing | — |
| Flounder (European Flounder) | official species listing | — |
| Thornback ray (Thornback Ray) | official species listing | — |
| Sea trout (Sea Trout) | official species listing | — |
Official species-evidence source.
When the water first warms, atlantic mackerel slide up into 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. If you only fish one area, make it Sharp break: a drop-off around 51 ft that scores good in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a feather rig or a small vertical jig rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (9 ft) | Mackerel feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Summer | 15 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (51 ft) | Feather rig, Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 65 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (51 ft) | Compact silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 30 to 120 ft | midday | Sharp break (51 ft) | Small deep jig |
Spring atlantic pollock on Strangford Lough - North hold shallow, usually 8 to 100 ft. By summer they slide out to 12 to 150 ft, and by winter most fish are in 28 to 178 ft. The chart's best answer is Sharp break — drop-off, 51 ft, prime for winter. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a surface plug or a baitfish swimbait.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 100 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (9 ft) | Sandeel-pattern lure, Soft-plastic shad |
| Summer | 12 to 150 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (9 ft) | Surface plug, Baitfish swimbait |
| Fall | 15 to 160 ft | dawn | Sharp break (51 ft) | Metal jig, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 28 to 178 ft | midday | Sharp break (51 ft) | Slow metal jig, Weighted soft plastic |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: saithe (coalfish) in 15 to 160 ft. As the season builds they drop to 17 to 178 ft, wintering in 25 to 178 ft. Top water on the chart: INFOMAR measured current seam, a current seam in the 80 ft range, prime in spring. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a speed jig or a heavy paddletail gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 160 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (80 ft) | Slim metal jig, Paddletail |
| Summer | 17 to 178 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (51 ft) | Speed jig, Heavy paddletail |
| Fall | 16 to 178 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (80 ft) | Metal jig, Baitfish swimbait |
| Winter | 25 to 178 ft | midday | Deepest basin (173 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: haddock in 28 to 178 ft. The depth story barely changes: 33 to 178 ft through summer, 31 to 178 ft in winter. The spot to know is Deepest basin, a deep basin in about 173 ft of water that rates prime for haddock in spring. Plan around early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a compact metal jig or a bottom rig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 28 to 178 ft | dawn | Deepest basin (173 ft) | Small bottom jig, Beaded trace |
| Summer | 33 to 178 ft | dawn | Deepest basin (173 ft) | Compact metal jig, Bottom rig |
| Fall | 31 to 178 ft | midday | Deepest basin (173 ft) | Small vertical jig |
| Winter | 31 to 178 ft | midday | Deepest basin (173 ft) | Deep bottom jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: whiting in 15 to 55 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 20 to 70 ft before dropping to 15 to 70 ft for winter. Plan around early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a small vertical jig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 55 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Small silver jig, Two-hook feather rig |
| Summer | 20 to 70 ft | dawn | open water | Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 60 ft | dusk | open water | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 15 to 70 ft | dusk | open water | Compact vertical jig |
Spring atlantic cod on Strangford Lough - North hold shallow, usually 20 to 100 ft. By summer they slide out to 45 to 178 ft, and by winter most fish are in 40 to 178 ft. The chart's best answer is Deepest basin — deep basin, 173 ft, prime for winter. Prime time lands in early morning. The summer box starts with a heavy metal jig or a large soft-plastic jig.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 20 to 100 ft | dawn | Sharp break (51 ft) | Diamond jig, Heavy bucktail |
| Summer | 45 to 178 ft | dawn | Deepest basin (173 ft) | Heavy metal jig, Large soft-plastic jig |
| Fall | 25 to 140 ft | dawn | Sharp break (51 ft) | Diamond jig, Bucktail with teaser |
| Winter | 40 to 178 ft | midday | Deepest basin (173 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
Strangford Lough - North also holds european plaice (6 to 40 ft in summer), european flounder (6 to 35 ft in summer), thornback ray (10 to 65 ft in summer), sea trout (15 to 50 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
7 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deepest basin, around 173 ft, is the deepest of them.
No complete official Northern Ireland public shore-fishing access inventory was identified for this rollout. DepthScout does not convert a harbour, road, beach or community slipway into claimed public fishing access; confirm landowner or harbour permission, parking, tides, safety and DAERA restrictions locally.
Private land and private launches need the owner's permission — please ask first.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for United Kingdom waters are set by the DAERA (Northern Ireland inshore fisheries policy and rules) — and special regulations can apply to Strangford Lough - North specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish. Check current DAERA sea-fisheries rules, protected-area measures, species controls, harbour directions and any Loughs Agency requirements before every trip. Strangford Lough and Outer Belfast Lough include protected features and method restrictions. A source-audited depth cell or named harbour is not permission to fish, enter private land, park or launch.
Check the official United Kingdom fishing regulations →
DAERA fisheries policy →
Check special-area and water-specific rules →
Check official shore-access information →
Strangford Lough - North is about 178 ft (54 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Official coastal monitoring from DAERA and Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute informs the atlantic mackerel, atlantic pollock, saithe (coalfish), haddock, whiting, atlantic cod, european plaice, european flounder, thornback ray, sea trout roster for Strangford Lough - North. 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.
Sharp break is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 51 ft of water that rates prime for atlantic pollock in winter. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
For atlantic mackerel, 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 Strangford Lough - North is regulated by the DAERA (Northern Ireland inshore fisheries policy and rules). Check the official United Kingdom regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Strangford Lough - South 13 mi · Soulseat Loch 33 mi · Loch Magillie 33 mi · White Loch 34 mi · Cults Loch 35 mi · Black Loch 35 mi · Loch Ree 38 mi · Whitefield Loch 38 mi · Castle Loch 41 mi · Mochrum Loch 41 mi · Elrig Loch 41 mi · White Loch of Myrton 42 mi
See how Strangford Lough - North stacks up: best sea trout lakes in United Kingdom · best european flounder lakes in United Kingdom · best european plaice lakes in United Kingdom · best whiting lakes in United Kingdom
Browse all United Kingdom fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) EMODnet Bathymetry DTM 2024, mean depth (Lowest Astronomical Tide (LAT); 79% measured, 21% 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.