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97,009-acre Thau and Montpellier Coast. South East France saltwater fishing map with official SHOM 100 m bathymetry, source-qualified fishing spots, official regional fish evidence, seasonal forage guidance, public shore-use context and current-rule links. Étang de Thau, its canals and the Montpellier coast, with lagoon flats, shellfish grounds, passes and beach contours. This page covers the south east angler-scale survey window. The water tops out around 300 ft. The depth chart comes from Shom (Service hydrographique et océanographique de la Marine) bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. The season-by-season read for each species follows, from the map's own numbers.
The outline encloses 96,952 acres, worked by 49.3 miles of shoreline. Nearly circular (index 1.1), so the story is the bottom, not the bank. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 0% of this chart. Call it 13.9 mi long by 12.5 mi wide at the broadest reach. Its nearest charted neighbour, Camargue and Western Gulf of Lion - South West 1, is 8 mi to the south.
Thau and Montpellier Coast — South East, France : carte SHOM officielle jusqu’à 91 m; spots pour bar commun, sole commune. Pour préparer la pêche, jamais pour naviguer. Les profondeurs et les points de structure proviennent de la grille bathymétrique officielle du Shom. Les données servent à préparer la pêche et ne doivent jamais être utilisées pour la navigation.
Regional occurrence supports a search target, not equal abundance, child-specific catch rate, retention permission or a promised catch. Current national, EU, regional, protected-area and species rules always control. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| bar commun (European Seabass) | official species listing | — |
| sole commune (Common Sole) | official species listing | — |
| orphie (Garfish) | official species listing | — |
| mulet lippu (Thick-lipped Grey Mullet) | official species listing | — |
| mulet cabot (Flathead Grey Mullet) | official species listing | — |
| tassergal (Bluefish) | official species listing | — |
| dorade royale (Gilthead Seabream) | official species listing | — |
| rouget-barbet (Red Mullet) | official species listing | — |
| maquereau commun (Atlantic Mackerel) | official species listing | — |
| maigre (Meagre) | official species listing | — |
| anguille européenne (European Eel) | official species listing | — |
Official species-evidence source.
Come spring, look for european seabass tight to the bank in 3 to 25 ft. Expect a summer slide to 2 to 30 ft, then a winter hold in 10 to 55 ft. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A surface lure or a paddle-tail soft plastic is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Paddle-tail soft plastic, Shallow minnow plug |
| Summer | 2 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Surface lure, Paddle-tail soft plastic |
| Fall | 4 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Slim metal lure, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 10 to 55 ft | midday | open water | Slow soft-plastic shad, Suspending minnow |
Spring puts common sole in skinny water — 6 to 30 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 3 to 30 ft, and winter fish hold in 20 to 70 ft. Plan around the evening in the warm months. A light rolling-lead rig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 6 to 30 ft | dusk | open water | Tiny bottom jig |
| Summer | 3 to 30 ft | dusk | open water | Light rolling-lead rig |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dusk | open water | Compact bottom jig |
| Winter | 20 to 70 ft | night | open water |
Come spring, look for garfish tight to the bank in 1 to 15 ft. They move out to 2 to 20 ft in summer and finish the year down in 20 to 60 ft. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A slim casting spoon or a surface-skipping fly is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 15 ft | dawn & midday | open water | Slim silver spoon, Small inline spinner |
| Summer | 2 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Slim casting spoon, Surface-skipping fly |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Weighted slim spoon, Small silver jig |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | midday | open water |
Come spring, look for thick-lipped grey mullet tight to the bank in 1 to 15 ft. Expect a summer slide to 1 to 18 ft, then a winter hold in 8 to 35 ft. Prime time lands in early morning and midday. A bread fly or a small shrimp fly is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 15 ft | dusk | open water | Bread fly, Tiny algae-pattern fly |
| Summer | 1 to 18 ft | dawn & midday | open water | Bread fly, Small shrimp fly |
| Fall | 2 to 22 ft | dusk | open water | Bread fly |
| Winter | 8 to 35 ft | midday | open water |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: flathead grey mullet in 2 to 18 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 1 to 22 ft before dropping to 12 to 45 ft for winter. Plan around early morning and midday in the warm months. Summer baits: a bread fly or a small algae-pattern fly gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 18 ft | dusk | open water | Bread fly, Tiny shrimp fly |
| Summer | 1 to 22 ft | dawn & midday | open water | Bread fly, Small algae-pattern fly |
| Fall | 4 to 28 ft | midday | open water | Bread fly |
| Winter | 12 to 45 ft | midday | open water |
When the water first warms, bluefish slide up into 3 to 20 ft. By summer they slide out to 5 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 15 to 40 ft. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a popper (early/late) or a metal jigs in the rips rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Metal (Hopkins/Kastmaster), Pencil popper |
| Summer | 5 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Popper (early/late), Metal jigs in the rips |
| Fall | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & midday | open water | Pencil popper, Big metal |
| Winter | 15 to 40 ft | midday | open water | Metal jig worked slow (southern waters) |
Thau and Montpellier Coast - South East also holds gilthead seabream (2 to 45 ft in summer), red mullet (4 to 70 ft in summer), atlantic mackerel (15 to 80 ft in summer), meagre (8 to 100 ft in summer), european eel (6 to 28 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
The chart marks 7 structure features on Thau and Montpellier Coast - South East; the deepest is Deepest basin at about 298 ft.
No official 2025 EEA designated bathing-water point matched within 400 metres of this SHOM-grid shoreline. This is an access-evidence gap, not a statement that public fishing access does not exist. Verify local fishing rights, land ownership, posted restrictions, protected areas, tidal and surf safety, and municipal permission before entry.
Private land and private launches need the owner's permission — please ask first.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for France waters are set by the Légifrance (current French recreational sea-fishing minimum sizes) — and special regulations can apply to Thau and Montpellier Coast - South East specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish. French recreational sea-fishing rules combine current national and European species measures with façade, prefectural, marine-protected-area, harbour and local access controls. Check live minimum sizes, quotas, seasonal or method closures, marking requirements and any no-take zone before every trip. A SHOM contour, fishing-spot marker or designated bathing-water lead is planning context only and never permission to fish, retain a catch, park, launch or enter restricted shore or port property.
Check the official France fishing regulations →
French Ministry for Ecological Transition — recreational sea fishing →
Check special-area and water-specific rules →
Check official shore-access information →
Thau and Montpellier Coast - South East is about 300 ft (91 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from Shom (Service hydrographique et océanographique de la Marine) bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Official coastal monitoring from Ifremer MEDITS and PELMED regional survey evidence informs the european seabass, common sole, garfish, thick-lipped grey mullet, flathead grey mullet, bluefish, gilthead seabream, red mullet, atlantic mackerel, meagre, european eel roster for Thau and Montpellier Coast - South East. 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.
For european seabass, 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 Thau and Montpellier Coast - South East is regulated by the Légifrance (current French recreational sea-fishing minimum sizes). Check the official France regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Camargue and Western Gulf of Lion - South West 1 8 mi · Thau and Montpellier Coast - North East 10 mi · Camargue and Western Gulf of Lion - North West 1 11 mi · Thau and Montpellier Coast - South Central 11 mi · Thau and Montpellier Coast - North Central 11 mi · Camargue and Western Gulf of Lion - South West 2 13 mi · Camargue and Western Gulf of Lion - North West 2 14 mi · Béziers and Agde Coast - North East 19 mi · Béziers and Agde Coast - South East 23 mi · Camargue and Western Gulf of Lion - North West 3 24 mi · Camargue and Western Gulf of Lion - South West 3 25 mi · Béziers and Agde Coast - South Central 30 mi
See how Thau and Montpellier Coast - South East stacks up: best bluefish lakes in France · best garfish lakes in France · best european seabass lakes in France · best common sole lakes in France
Browse all France fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry: published agency survey data. 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.