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46,402-acre Varangerfjord. Vardø Approach. North. West 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 exposed eastern approach around Vardø and the outer fjord mouth. Northern trip-scale survey reach. Western trip-scale survey reach. The water tops out around 813 ft. The depth chart comes from Norwegian Mapping Authority (Kartverket) bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. The rest of this page walks each species through its year, using the map's own scoring.
The drawn water covers 46,374 acres wrapped in 59 miles of bank, broken up by 3 islands. With a 2 development index there's bank structure worth casting at, in moderation. Roughly 0% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. The basin spans about 13.1 mi end to end and 10.2 mi across at its widest. If the bite dies, Varangerfjord - Vardø Approach - North - East is 11 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.
In spring, atlantic cod run shallow here, mostly 20 to 100 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 45 to 180 ft, and winter fish settle into 50 to 220 ft. Time it for early morning. You won't need more than a heavy metal jig or a large soft-plastic jig most summer days.
| 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 | open water | Heavy metal jig, Large soft-plastic jig |
| Fall | 25 to 140 ft | dawn | open water | Diamond jig, Bucktail with teaser |
| Winter | 50 to 220 ft | midday | open water | Heavy vertical jig |
Early season saithe (coalfish) use the shallows, holding in 15 to 160 ft. Summer is a 25 to 260 ft game here, winter a 45 to 320 ft one. The chart's best answer is Shoreline point — point, 172 ft, good for spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a speed jig or a heavy paddletail and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 160 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (172 ft) | Slim metal jig, Paddletail |
| Summer | 25 to 260 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (172 ft) | Speed jig, Heavy paddletail |
| Fall | 20 to 220 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (172 ft) | Metal jig, Baitfish swimbait |
| Winter | 45 to 320 ft | midday | Kartverket measured rock pile (325 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
When the water first warms, haddock slide up into 35 to 220 ft. Summer is a 60 to 320 ft game here, winter a 70 to 400 ft one. Start at Kartverket measured flat. It's a feeding flat holding about 114 ft of water and rates prime come fall. The feeding windows run early morning. Keep a compact metal jig or a bottom rig rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 35 to 220 ft | dawn | Kartverket measured flat (114 ft) | Small bottom jig, Beaded trace |
| Summer | 60 to 320 ft | dawn | Kartverket measured flat (114 ft) | Compact metal jig, Bottom rig |
| Fall | 45 to 260 ft | midday | Kartverket measured flat (114 ft) | Small vertical jig |
| Winter | 70 to 400 ft | midday | Kartverket measured flat (114 ft) | Deep bottom jig |
Early season atlantic herring use the shallows, holding in 5 to 25 ft. Summer is a 15 to 50 ft game here, winter a 20 to 60 ft one. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a herring feather rig or a small silver jig and you're in the game.
| 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 |
Come spring, look for atlantic halibut tight to the bank in 45 to 350 ft. Through summer count on 25 to 300 ft; the winter hold is 100 to 600 ft. Start at Kartverket measured flat. It's a feeding flat holding about 114 ft of water and rates prime come spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A large swimbait or a slow metal jig is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 45 to 350 ft | dawn | Kartverket measured flat (114 ft) | Large paddletail, Heavy bottom jig |
| Summer | 25 to 300 ft | dawn & dusk | Kartverket measured flat (114 ft) | Large swimbait, Slow metal jig |
| Fall | 45 to 380 ft | midday | Kartverket measured flat (114 ft) | Heavy paddletail, Bottom jig |
| Winter | 100 to 600 ft | midday | Sharp break (391 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
Early season ling use the shallows, holding in 80 to 450 ft. Summer is a 100 to 600 ft game here, winter a 130 to 700 ft one. The chart's best answer is Sharp break — drop-off, 391 ft, prime for spring. Best bite is midday. Tie on a heavy vertical jig and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 80 to 450 ft | midday | Sharp break (391 ft) | Heavy metal jig, Large soft-plastic jig |
| Summer | 100 to 600 ft | midday | Sharp break (391 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
| Fall | 90 to 520 ft | midday | Sharp break (391 ft) | Long metal jig |
| Winter | 130 to 700 ft | midday | Sharp break (391 ft) | Heavy deep jig |
Varangerfjord - Vardø Approach - North - West 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.
Varangerfjord - Vardø Approach - North - West carries 8 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deepest basin, about 812 ft down.
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 - Vardø Approach - North - West specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Norway fishing regulations →
Varangerfjord - Vardø Approach - North - West is about 813 ft (248 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 - Vardø Approach - North - West. 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.
Kartverket measured flat is the top-rated area: a feeding flat in about 114 ft of water that rates prime for haddock in fall. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
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 - Vardø Approach - North - West 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 - Vardø Approach - North - East 11 mi · Varangerfjord - Vardø Approach - South - East 12 mi · Varangerfjord - Vardø Approach - South - West 13 mi · Varangerfjord - Outer South - North 17 mi · Varangerfjord - Outer South - South 22 mi · Varangerfjord - Vadsø Reach 32 mi · Oarddojávri 40 mi · Varangerfjord - Inner 41 mi · Uhcavuonjávri 45 mi · Kirakkajärvi 58 mi, FI · Sevettijärvi 63 mi, FI · Polmakvannet 65 mi
See how Varangerfjord - Vardø Approach - North - West 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.