Salt water depth chart
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3,041-acre Varangerfjord. Inner Norway saltwater fishing map with official Kartverket surveyed 50 m bathymetry, measured-only fishing spots, Institute of Marine Research fish evidence, seasonal forage guidance and public shore-access context. The inner main-fjord basin west of Vadsø. The water tops out around 500 ft. The depth chart comes from Norwegian Mapping Authority (Kartverket) 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.
Varangerfjord - Inner maps at 3,041 acres behind 10.5 miles of shoreline. Nearly circular (index 1.4), so the story is the bottom, not the bank. Roughly 1% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. Tip to tip the water measures near 3.6 mi with a 2-mi widest point. Its nearest charted neighbour, Varangerfjord - Vadsø Reach, is 10 mi to the east.
The target roster combines named-water evidence where available with conservative, habitat-compatible official Norwegian coastal records. It documents occurrence context, not equal abundance, a catch rate or a promised catch. Closed targets are excluded and current rules control every trip. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| (Atlantic Cod) | official species listing | — |
| (Saithe (Coalfish)) | official species listing | — |
| (Haddock) | official species listing | — |
| (Atlantic Herring) | official species listing | — |
| (Atlantic Halibut) | official species listing | — |
| (Ling) | official species listing | — |
| (Cusk (Tusk)) | official species listing | — |
| (Sea Trout) | official species listing | — |
Official species-evidence source.
Start shallow in spring: atlantic cod sit in 20 to 100 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 45 to 180 ft, and winter fish settle into 50 to 220 ft. The spot to know is Kartverket measured rock pile, a rock pile in about 200 ft of water that rates good for atlantic cod in winter. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning. Throw a heavy metal jig or a large soft-plastic jig until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 20 to 100 ft | dawn | open water | Diamond jig, Heavy bucktail |
| Summer | 45 to 180 ft | dawn | Kartverket measured rock pile (200 ft) | Heavy metal jig, Large soft-plastic jig |
| Fall | 25 to 140 ft | dawn | Sharp break (156 ft) | Diamond jig, Bucktail with teaser |
| Winter | 50 to 220 ft | midday | Kartverket measured rock pile (200 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
When the water first warms, saithe (coalfish) slide up into 15 to 160 ft. Summer is a 25 to 260 ft game here, winter a 45 to 320 ft one. Start at Sharp break. It's a drop-off holding about 156 ft of water and rates prime come summer. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. Keep a speed jig or a heavy paddletail rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 160 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (156 ft) | Slim metal jig, Paddletail |
| Summer | 25 to 260 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (156 ft) | Speed jig, Heavy paddletail |
| Fall | 20 to 220 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (156 ft) | Metal jig, Baitfish swimbait |
| Winter | 45 to 320 ft | midday | Sharp break (156 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
Early season haddock use the shallows, holding in 35 to 220 ft. Summer is a 60 to 320 ft game here, winter a 70 to 400 ft one. The chart's best answer is Kartverket measured flat — feeding flat, 123 ft, prime for fall. Best bite is early morning. Tie on a compact metal jig or a bottom rig and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 35 to 220 ft | dawn | Kartverket measured flat (123 ft) | Small bottom jig, Beaded trace |
| Summer | 60 to 320 ft | dawn | Sharp break (156 ft) | Compact metal jig, Bottom rig |
| Fall | 45 to 260 ft | midday | Kartverket measured flat (123 ft) | Small vertical jig |
| Winter | 70 to 400 ft | midday | Kartverket measured flat (123 ft) | Deep bottom jig |
When the water first warms, atlantic herring slide up into 5 to 25 ft. Summer is a 15 to 50 ft game here, winter a 20 to 60 ft one. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. Keep a herring feather rig or a small silver jig rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Small herring feather rig, Micro jig rig |
| Summer | 15 to 50 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Herring feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Fall | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Small feather rig, Compact silver spoon |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | midday | open water | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
Early season atlantic halibut use the shallows, holding in 45 to 350 ft. Even in summer they hold at 25 to 300 ft; winter keeps them in 83 to 500 ft. Put Kartverket measured flat first on the milk run — a feeding flat near 123 ft that grades prime for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a large swimbait or a slow metal jig and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 45 to 350 ft | dawn | Kartverket measured flat (123 ft) | Large paddletail, Heavy bottom jig |
| Summer | 25 to 300 ft | dawn & dusk | Kartverket measured flat (123 ft) | Large swimbait, Slow metal jig |
| Fall | 45 to 380 ft | midday | Kartverket measured channel edge (275 ft) | Heavy paddletail, Bottom jig |
| Winter | 83 to 500 ft | midday | Deepest basin (491 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
When the water first warms, ling slide up into 80 to 450 ft. Summer is an 83 to 500 ft game here, winter a 93 to 500 ft one. Start at Sharp break. It's a drop-off holding about 156 ft of water and rates prime come spring. The feeding windows run midday. Keep a heavy vertical jig rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 80 to 450 ft | midday | Sharp break (156 ft) | Heavy metal jig, Large soft-plastic jig |
| Summer | 83 to 500 ft | midday | Sharp break (156 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
| Fall | 87 to 500 ft | midday | Sharp break (156 ft) | Long metal jig |
| Winter | 93 to 500 ft | midday | Deepest basin (491 ft) | Heavy deep jig |
Varangerfjord - Inner also holds cusk (tusk) (85 to 500 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.
The chart marks 8 structure features on Varangerfjord - Inner; the deepest is Deepest basin at about 491 ft.
No Miljødirektoratet state-secured outdoor-recreation area matched within 500 metres of this exact surveyed-raster shoreline. This is an access-evidence gap, not a claim that public access does not exist. Verify land ownership, local signs, parking, safety and fishing 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 Norway waters are set by the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries (sea-angling rules) — and special regulations can apply to Varangerfjord - Inner specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Norway fishing regulations →
Varangerfjord - Inner is about 500 ft (152 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from Norwegian Mapping Authority (Kartverket) bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Official coastal monitoring from Institute of Marine Research Norwegian coastal ecosystem surveys informs the atlantic cod, saithe (coalfish), haddock, atlantic herring, atlantic halibut, ling, cusk (tusk), sea trout roster for Varangerfjord - Inner. 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 156 ft of water that rates prime for saithe (coalfish) in summer. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For atlantic cod, the summer bite is best in early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Varangerfjord - Inner is regulated by the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries (sea-angling rules). Check the official Norway regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Varangerfjord - Vadsø Reach 10 mi · Polmakvannet 23 mi · Oarddojávri 27 mi · Varangerfjord - Outer South - North 28 mi · Varangerfjord - Outer South - South 31 mi · Kirakkajärvi 34 mi, FI · Sevettijärvi 38 mi, FI · Varangerfjord - Vardø Approach - North - West 41 mi · Varangerfjord - Vardø Approach - South - West 42 mi · Uhcavuonjávri 44 mi · Suolisjärvi 48 mi, FI · Varangerfjord - Vardø Approach - South - East 50 mi
See how Varangerfjord - Inner stacks up: best sea trout lakes in Norway · best atlantic herring lakes in Norway · best atlantic cod lakes in Norway · best saithe (coalfish) lakes in Norway
Browse all Norway fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: Norwegian Mapping Authority (Kartverket) Bathymetry terrain models, surveyed 50 metre grid (Chart datum / sea-chart zero as distributed by Kartverket; 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.