Salt water depth chart
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49,326-acre Varangerfjord. Vadsø Reach 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 middle fjord off Vadsø and adjacent current lanes. The water tops out around 1002 ft. The depth chart comes from Norwegian Mapping Authority (Kartverket) bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
On the chart, Varangerfjord - Vadsø Reach draws 49,334 acres inside 115.2 miles of shoreline, with 7 islands in the mix. The 3.7 development index tells the story — a convoluted bank whose fishable edge far outruns the acreage. Roughly 3% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. Tip to tip the water measures near 18.7 mi with a 5.5-mi widest point. The nearest mapped water is Varangerfjord - Inner, 10 mi to the west.
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.
Spring atlantic cod on Varangerfjord - Vadsø Reach hold shallow, usually 20 to 100 ft. By summer they slide out to 45 to 180 ft, and by winter most fish are in 50 to 220 ft. The chart's best answer is Rock reef — rock pile, 9 ft, good for spring. 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 | Rock reef (9 ft) | Diamond jig, Heavy bucktail |
| Summer | 45 to 180 ft | dawn | Sharp break (92 ft) | Heavy metal jig, Large soft-plastic jig |
| Fall | 25 to 140 ft | dawn | Rock reef (9 ft) | Diamond jig, Bucktail with teaser |
| Winter | 50 to 220 ft | midday | Rock reef (9 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: saithe (coalfish) in 15 to 160 ft. As the season builds they drop to 25 to 260 ft, wintering in 45 to 320 ft. Top water on the chart: Sharp break, a drop-off in the 92 ft range, prime in summer. 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 | Sharp break (92 ft) | Slim metal jig, Paddletail |
| Summer | 25 to 260 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (92 ft) | Speed jig, Heavy paddletail |
| Fall | 20 to 220 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (92 ft) | Metal jig, Baitfish swimbait |
| Winter | 45 to 320 ft | midday | Sharp break (92 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: haddock in 35 to 220 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 60 to 320 ft before dropping to 70 to 400 ft for winter. The spot to know is Kartverket measured flat, a feeding flat in about 108 ft of water that rates prime for haddock in fall. 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 | 35 to 220 ft | dawn | Kartverket measured flat (108 ft) | Small bottom jig, Beaded trace |
| Summer | 60 to 320 ft | dawn | Sharp break (92 ft) | Compact metal jig, Bottom rig |
| Fall | 45 to 260 ft | midday | Kartverket measured flat (108 ft) | Small vertical jig |
| Winter | 70 to 400 ft | midday | Kartverket measured flat (108 ft) | Deep bottom jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: atlantic herring in 5 to 25 ft. As the season builds they drop to 15 to 50 ft, wintering in 20 to 60 ft. Top water on the chart: Rock reef, a rock pile in the 9 ft range, good in spring. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a herring feather rig or a small silver jig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Rock reef (9 ft) | 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 |
Spring puts atlantic halibut in skinny water — 45 to 350 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 25 to 300 ft, and winter fish hold in 100 to 600 ft. Kartverket measured flat is the standout, a feeding flat at roughly 108 ft, rated prime for spring atlantic halibut. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A large swimbait or a slow metal jig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 45 to 350 ft | dawn | Kartverket measured flat (108 ft) | Large paddletail, Heavy bottom jig |
| Summer | 25 to 300 ft | dawn & dusk | Kartverket measured flat (108 ft) | Large swimbait, Slow metal jig |
| Fall | 45 to 380 ft | midday | Kartverket measured flat (108 ft) | Heavy paddletail, Bottom jig |
| Winter | 100 to 600 ft | midday | Sharp break (92 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: ling in 80 to 450 ft. As the season builds they drop to 100 to 600 ft, wintering in 130 to 700 ft. Top water on the chart: Sharp break, a drop-off in the 92 ft range, prime in spring. Time it for midday. Summer baits: a heavy vertical jig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 80 to 450 ft | midday | Sharp break (92 ft) | Heavy metal jig, Large soft-plastic jig |
| Summer | 100 to 600 ft | midday | Sharp break (92 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
| Fall | 90 to 520 ft | midday | Sharp break (92 ft) | Long metal jig |
| Winter | 130 to 700 ft | midday | Kartverket measured basin (686 ft) | Heavy deep jig |
Varangerfjord - Vadsø Reach also holds cusk (tusk) (110 to 650 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 - Vadsø Reach; the deepest is Kartverket measured basin at about 686 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 - Vadsø Reach specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Norway fishing regulations →
Varangerfjord - Vadsø Reach is about 1002 ft (305 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 - Vadsø Reach. 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 92 ft of water that rates prime for saithe (coalfish) in summer. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each 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 - Vadsø Reach 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 - Inner 10 mi · Varangerfjord - Outer South - North 19 mi · Varangerfjord - Outer South - South 22 mi · Oarddojávri 28 mi · Varangerfjord - Vardø Approach - South - West 32 mi · Varangerfjord - Vardø Approach - North - West 32 mi · Polmakvannet 32 mi · Kirakkajärvi 35 mi, FI · Uhcavuonjávri 38 mi · Sevettijärvi 39 mi, FI · Varangerfjord - Vardø Approach - South - East 40 mi · Varangerfjord - Vardø Approach - North - East 43 mi
See how Varangerfjord - Vadsø Reach 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.