Salt water depth chart
Today's read
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
62,586-acre Varangerfjord. Vardø Approach. South. East 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. Southern trip-scale survey reach. Eastern trip-scale survey reach. The water tops out around 1182 ft. The depth chart comes from Norwegian Mapping Authority (Kartverket) bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
The drawn water covers 62,608 acres wrapped in 55.8 miles of bank — one island included. A middling shoreline index (1.6) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. 0% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. Figure 20.5 mi of water from one end to the other, 10.6 mi at the beam. If the bite dies, Varangerfjord - Vardø Approach - South - West is 10 mi to the southwest.
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.
The spring pattern is a shallow one: atlantic cod in 20 to 100 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 45 to 180 ft before dropping to 50 to 220 ft for winter. Plan around early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a heavy metal jig or a large soft-plastic jig gets it done.
| 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 |
Come spring, look for saithe (coalfish) tight to the bank in 15 to 160 ft. Expect a summer slide to 25 to 260 ft, then a winter hold in 45 to 320 ft. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A speed jig or a heavy paddletail is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 160 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Slim metal jig, Paddletail |
| Summer | 25 to 260 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Speed jig, Heavy paddletail |
| Fall | 20 to 220 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Metal jig, Baitfish swimbait |
| Winter | 45 to 320 ft | midday | open water | Heavy vertical jig |
Spring haddock on Varangerfjord - Vardø Approach - South - East hold shallow, usually 35 to 220 ft. By summer they slide out to 60 to 320 ft, and by winter most fish are in 70 to 400 ft. Prime time lands in early morning. The summer box starts with a compact metal jig or a bottom rig.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 35 to 220 ft | dawn | open water | Small bottom jig, Beaded trace |
| Summer | 60 to 320 ft | dawn | open water | Compact metal jig, Bottom rig |
| Fall | 45 to 260 ft | midday | open water | Small vertical jig |
| Winter | 70 to 400 ft | midday | open water | Deep bottom jig |
Come spring, look for atlantic herring tight to the bank in 5 to 25 ft. Expect a summer slide to 15 to 50 ft, then a winter hold in 20 to 60 ft. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A herring feather rig or a small silver jig is the honest summer answer here.
| 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 |
Spring atlantic halibut on Varangerfjord - Vardø Approach - South - East hold shallow, usually 45 to 350 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 25 to 300 ft in summer, 100 to 600 ft once it turns cold. Put Kartverket measured current seam first on the milk run — a current seam near 564 ft that grades good for winter. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a large swimbait or a slow metal jig.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 45 to 350 ft | dawn | open water | Large paddletail, Heavy bottom jig |
| Summer | 25 to 300 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Large swimbait, Slow metal jig |
| Fall | 45 to 380 ft | midday | open water | Heavy paddletail, Bottom jig |
| Winter | 100 to 600 ft | midday | Kartverket measured current seam (564 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
Come spring, look for ling tight to the bank in 80 to 450 ft. Expect a summer slide to 100 to 600 ft, then a winter hold in 130 to 700 ft. Start at Kartverket measured rock pile. It's a rock pile holding about 500 ft of water and rates prime come fall. Prime time lands in midday. A heavy vertical jig is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 80 to 450 ft | midday | Kartverket measured rock pile (500 ft) | Heavy metal jig, Large soft-plastic jig |
| Summer | 100 to 600 ft | midday | Kartverket measured rock pile (500 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
| Fall | 90 to 520 ft | midday | Kartverket measured rock pile (500 ft) | Long metal jig |
| Winter | 130 to 700 ft | midday | Kartverket measured channel edge (646 ft) | Heavy deep jig |
Varangerfjord - Vardø Approach - South - East 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.
Count 8 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deepest basin, sits near 1182 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 - Vardø Approach - South - East specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Norway fishing regulations →
Varangerfjord - Vardø Approach - South - East is about 1182 ft (360 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 - 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.
Kartverket measured rock pile is the top-rated area: a rock pile in about 500 ft of water that rates prime for ling in fall. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by 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 - Vardø Approach - South - East 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 - South - West 10 mi · Varangerfjord - Vardø Approach - North - West 12 mi · Varangerfjord - Vardø Approach - North - East 12 mi · Varangerfjord - Outer South - North 22 mi · Varangerfjord - Outer South - South 24 mi · Varangerfjord - Vadsø Reach 40 mi · Uhcavuonjávri 42 mi · Varangerfjord - Inner 50 mi · Oarddojávri 52 mi · Kirakkajärvi 60 mi, FI · Sevettijärvi 65 mi, FI · Suolisjärvi 72 mi, FI
See how Varangerfjord - Vardø Approach - South - East 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.