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.
1,844-acre Bahía Tallaboa fishing map with NOAA BlueTopo survey contours (98.39% measured, 99.56% assessed), source-traceable coastal structure, regional fish-survey occurrence, sourced forage timing and verified public access. The water tops out around 59 ft. The depth chart is built from real agency bathymetry referenced to NAVD88; 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. The season-by-season read for each species follows, from the map's own numbers.
The outline encloses 1,848 acres, worked by 11.4 miles of shoreline, with 8 islands in the mix. A middling shoreline index (1.9) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. 28% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. End to end it runs roughly 2.9 mi, about 1.6 mi across. If the bite dies, Bahía de Guayanilla is 3 mi to the west.
In spring, atlantic tarpon run shallow here, mostly 3 to 25 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 4 to 35 ft, and winter fish settle into 5 to 35 ft. NOAA charted rock bottom is the standout, a hard bottom at roughly 6 ft, rated good for spring atlantic tarpon. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a heavy paddletail or a swimbait in pass current most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA charted rock bottom (6 ft) | 4-6 inch paddletail, Suspending baitfish plug |
| Summer | 4 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA charted rock bottom (6 ft) | Heavy paddletail, Swimbait in pass current |
| Fall | 3 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA charted rock bottom (6 ft) | Mullet-profile swimbait, Surface plug |
| Winter | 5 to 35 ft | dusk | NOAA charted rock bottom (6 ft) | Slow-rolled paddletail, Suspending plug |
Come spring, look for jack crevalle tight to the bank in 2 to 25 ft. Expect a summer slide to 3 to 35 ft, then a winter hold in 5 to 35 ft. Start at NOAA charted rock bottom. It's a hard bottom holding about 6 ft of water and rates prime come spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A pencil popper or a casting spoon is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA charted rock bottom (6 ft) | Surface popper, Metal jig |
| Summer | 3 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA charted rock bottom (6 ft) | Pencil popper, Casting spoon |
| Fall | 2 to 30 ft | dawn & midday | NOAA charted rock bottom (6 ft) | Topwater walker, Metal jig |
| Winter | 5 to 35 ft | dusk | NOAA charted rock bottom (6 ft) | Compact metal jig, Slow-rolled paddletail |
Spring yellowtail snapper on Bahía Tallaboa hold shallow, usually 8 to 59 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 8 to 59 ft in summer, 9 to 59 ft once it turns cold. The chart's best answer is NOAA charted rock bottom — hard bottom, 15 ft, prime for spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a micro jig or a small paddletail.
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 | 8 to 59 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA charted rock bottom (15 ft) | Small bucktail, Light vertical jig |
| Summer | 8 to 59 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 70 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA charted rock bottom (15 ft) | Micro jig, Small paddletail |
| Fall | 8 to 59 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 70 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA charted rock bottom (15 ft) | Small vertical jig, Baitfish streamer |
| Winter | 9 to 59 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 80 ft | dusk | NOAA charted rock bottom (15 ft) | Small jig worked deep, Bucktail |
Spring puts mutton snapper in skinny water — 7 to 59 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 7 to 59 ft, and winter fish hold in 10 to 59 ft. NOAA charted rock bottom is the standout, a hard bottom at roughly 15 ft, rated prime for spring mutton snapper. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A heavy bucktail or a vertical jig covers the summer program.
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 59 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 65 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA charted rock bottom (15 ft) | Bucktail near bottom, Paddletail |
| Summer | 7 to 59 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA charted rock bottom (15 ft) | Heavy bucktail, Vertical jig |
| Fall | 8 to 59 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 75 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA charted rock bottom (15 ft) | Bucktail + strip, Slow vertical jig |
| Winter | 10 to 59 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 90 ft | dusk | NOAA charted rock bottom (15 ft) | Slow jig, Bottom bucktail |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: great barracuda in 2 to 45 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 3 to 55 ft before dropping to 5 to 59 ft for winter. The spot to know is NOAA charted rock bottom, a hard bottom in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for great barracuda in winter. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a fast swimbait or a spoon gets it done.
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 charted rock bottom (6 ft) | Fast tube lure, Long minnow plug |
| Summer | 3 to 55 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA charted rock bottom (6 ft) | Fast swimbait, Spoon |
| Fall | 3 to 55 ft | dawn & midday | NOAA charted rock bottom (6 ft) | Mullet-profile plug, Tube lure |
| Winter | 5 to 59 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 65 ft | midday & dusk | NOAA charted rock bottom (6 ft) | Long minnow plug, Fast jig |
In spring, gray snapper (mangrove snapper) run shallow here, mostly 3 to 22 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 4 to 30 ft before dropping to 8 to 45 ft for winter. Summer gray snapper (mangrove snapper) concentrate at NOAA charted pier, a prime-rated dock line around 5 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a small bucktail or a paddletail most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 22 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA charted pier (5 ft) | Small paddletail, Jighead + shrimp imitation |
| Summer | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA charted pier (5 ft) | Small bucktail, Paddletail |
| Fall | 5 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Dangerous NOAA charted wreck (10 ft) | Small vertical jig, Jighead + paddletail |
| Winter | 8 to 45 ft | midday | Dangerous NOAA charted wreck (10 ft) | Small jig worked slowly |
Structure-wise the chart holds 29 features, led in depth by NOAA charted rock at roughly 45 ft.
Access data: Puerto Rico DRNA — Guía del Navegante public access inventory. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Puerto Rico waters are set by the Puerto Rico DRNA (current fishing regulation) — and special regulations can apply to Bahía Tallaboa specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Puerto Rico fishing regulations →
Bahía Tallaboa is about 59 ft (18 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart is built from real agency bathymetry referenced to NAVD88; 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 Bahía Tallaboa.
NOAA charted rock bottom is the top-rated area: a hard bottom in about 15 ft of water that rates prime for yellowtail snapper in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
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 Bahía Tallaboa is regulated by the Puerto Rico DRNA (current fishing regulation). Check the official Puerto Rico regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Bahía de Guayanilla 3 mi · Bahía de Ponce 6 mi · Bahía de Ballena 8 mi · Caleta de Cabullones 9 mi · Lago Lucchetti 12 mi · Bahía de Guánica 12 mi · Lago Cerrillos 12 mi · Ensenada las Pardas 13 mi · Caleta Salinas 15 mi · Lago Guayabal 17 mi · Lago Toa Vaca 19 mi · Lago Caonillas 20 mi
See how Bahía Tallaboa stacks up: best gray snapper (mangrove snapper) lakes in Puerto Rico · best atlantic tarpon lakes in Puerto Rico · best jack crevalle lakes in Puerto Rico · best yellowtail snapper lakes in Puerto Rico
Browse all Puerto Rico fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: NOAA BlueTopo (NAVD88; 98% measured, 1% 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.