Salt water depth chart
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180,826-acre Vestfjord. Lofoten West. South 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 western Lofoten inside coast and Vestfjord banks. Southern trip-scale survey reach. The water tops out around 603 ft. The depth chart comes from Norwegian Mapping Authority (Kartverket) bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
Drawn out, this is 180,678 acres of water rimmed by 103.4 miles of bank — one island included. The shoreline is moderately structured (index 1.7) — enough points and pockets to pattern. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 2% of this chart. The basin spans about 24.8 mi end to end and 23.3 mi across at its widest. The nearest mapped water is Vestfjord - Lofoten East - South - West, 16 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 Mackerel) | 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 Vestfjord - Lofoten West - South hold shallow, usually 20 to 100 ft. They move out to 45 to 180 ft in summer and finish the year down in 50 to 220 ft. Put Rock reef first on the milk run — a rock pile near 8 ft that grades good for spring. The feeding windows run 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 (8 ft) | Diamond jig, Heavy bucktail |
| Summer | 45 to 180 ft | dawn | Rock reef (8 ft) | Heavy metal jig, Large soft-plastic jig |
| Fall | 25 to 140 ft | dawn | Rock reef (8 ft) | Diamond jig, Bucktail with teaser |
| Winter | 50 to 220 ft | midday | Rock reef (8 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: saithe (coalfish) in 15 to 160 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 25 to 260 ft before dropping to 45 to 320 ft for winter. The spot to know is Shoreline point, a point in about 80 ft of water that rates prime for saithe (coalfish) in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. 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 | Shoreline point (80 ft) | Slim metal jig, Paddletail |
| Summer | 25 to 260 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (80 ft) | Speed jig, Heavy paddletail |
| Fall | 20 to 220 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (80 ft) | Metal jig, Baitfish swimbait |
| Winter | 45 to 320 ft | midday | Kartverket measured channel edge (331 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: haddock in 35 to 220 ft. As the season builds they drop to 60 to 320 ft, wintering in 70 to 400 ft. Top water on the chart: Kartverket measured flat, a feeding flat in the 84 ft range, prime in fall. Time it for early morning. 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 (84 ft) | Small bottom jig, Beaded trace |
| Summer | 60 to 320 ft | dawn | Kartverket measured flat (84 ft) | Compact metal jig, Bottom rig |
| Fall | 45 to 260 ft | midday | Kartverket measured flat (84 ft) | Small vertical jig |
| Winter | 70 to 400 ft | midday | Kartverket measured flat (84 ft) | Deep bottom jig |
When the water first warms, atlantic mackerel slide up into 5 to 45 ft. Summer is a 15 to 80 ft game here, winter a 30 to 120 ft one. Start at Shoreline point. It's a point holding about 80 ft of water and rates good come summer. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. Keep a feather rig or a small vertical jig rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Mackerel feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Summer | 15 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (80 ft) | Feather rig, Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 65 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Compact silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 30 to 120 ft | midday | open water | Small deep jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: atlantic herring in 5 to 25 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 15 to 50 ft before dropping to 20 to 60 ft for winter. The spot to know is Rock reef, a rock pile in about 8 ft of water that rates good for atlantic herring in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. 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 (8 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. Spring atlantic halibut concentrate at Kartverket measured flat, a prime-rated feeding flat around 84 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. 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 (84 ft) | Large paddletail, Heavy bottom jig |
| Summer | 25 to 300 ft | dawn & dusk | Kartverket measured flat (84 ft) | Large swimbait, Slow metal jig |
| Fall | 45 to 380 ft | midday | Kartverket measured channel edge (331 ft) | Heavy paddletail, Bottom jig |
| Winter | 100 to 600 ft | midday | Deepest basin (602 ft) | Heavy vertical jig |
Vestfjord - Lofoten West - South also holds ling (100 to 600 ft in summer), cusk (tusk) (102 to 603 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.
Structure-wise the chart holds 8 features, led in depth by Deepest basin at roughly 602 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 Vestfjord - Lofoten West - South specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Norway fishing regulations →
Vestfjord - Lofoten West - South is about 603 ft (184 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 mackerel, atlantic herring, atlantic halibut, ling, cusk (tusk), sea trout roster for Vestfjord - Lofoten West - South. 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 84 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 Vestfjord - Lofoten West - South 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.
Vestfjord - Lofoten East - South - West 16 mi · Vestfjord - Lofoten West - North - West 18 mi · Vestfjord - Lofoten West - North - East 19 mi · Vestfjord - Lofoten East - South - East 25 mi · Vestfjord - Lofoten East - North - West 29 mi · Vestfjord - Lofoten East - North - East 32 mi · Reppvatnet 36 mi · Farstadvatnet 36 mi · Vestfjord - Middle - South - South 38 mi · Ostadvatnet 39 mi · Holdalsvatnet 40 mi · Vestfjord - Middle - South - North 40 mi
See how Vestfjord - Lofoten West - South stacks up: best sea trout lakes in Norway · best atlantic herring lakes in Norway · best atlantic mackerel lakes in Norway · best atlantic cod 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.