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38,496-acre Vilaine Estuary. South Central France saltwater fishing map with official SHOM 100 m bathymetry, source-qualified fishing spots, official regional fish evidence, seasonal forage guidance, public shore-use context and current-rule links. The lower Vilaine and coastal approaches, with river plume, mud banks, rock points and tidal channels. This page covers the south central angler-scale survey window. The water tops out around 76 ft. The depth chart comes from Shom (Service hydrographique et océanographique de la Marine) 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.
Traced from the shoreline, Vilaine Estuary - South Central runs 38,467 acres with 34.7 miles of edge. At index 1.3 the outline is almost a bowl — read the depth changes, not the shoreline. About 16% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. End to end it runs roughly 11.4 mi, about 7.2 mi across. For a second option, Golfe du Morbihan - South East lies 9 mi north.
Vilaine Estuary — South Central, France : carte SHOM officielle jusqu’à 23 m; spots pour bar commun, sole commune. Pour préparer la pêche, jamais pour naviguer. Les profondeurs et les points de structure proviennent de la grille bathymétrique officielle du Shom. Les données servent à préparer la pêche et ne doivent jamais être utilisées pour la navigation.
Regional occurrence supports a search target, not equal abundance, child-specific catch rate, retention permission or a promised catch. Current national, EU, regional, protected-area and species rules always control. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| bar commun (European Seabass) | official species listing | — |
| sole commune (Common Sole) | official species listing | — |
| flet commun (European Flounder) | official species listing | — |
| plie commune (European Plaice) | official species listing | — |
| merlan (Whiting) | official species listing | — |
| orphie (Garfish) | official species listing | — |
| maquereau commun (Atlantic Mackerel) | official species listing | — |
| mulet lippu (Thick-lipped Grey Mullet) | official species listing | — |
| mulet cabot (Flathead Grey Mullet) | official species listing | — |
| barbue (Brill) | official species listing | — |
| raie bouclée (Thornback Ray) | official species listing | — |
| anguille européenne (European Eel) | official species listing | — |
| saumon atlantique (Atlantic Salmon) | official species listing | — |
Official species-evidence source.
Spring puts european seabass in skinny water — 3 to 25 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 2 to 30 ft, wintering in 10 to 55 ft. Summer european seabass concentrate at SHOM-grid current seam, a prime-rated current seam around 30 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. A surface lure or a paddle-tail soft plastic covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (4 ft) | Paddle-tail soft plastic, Shallow minnow plug |
| Summer | 2 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid current seam (30 ft) | Surface lure, Paddle-tail soft plastic |
| Fall | 4 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid current seam (30 ft) | Slim metal lure, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 10 to 55 ft | midday | SHOM-grid channel edge (38 ft) | Slow soft-plastic shad, Suspending minnow |
Come spring, look for common sole tight to the bank in 6 to 30 ft. Through summer count on 3 to 30 ft; the winter hold is 20 to 70 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Feeding flat: a feeding flat around 9 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is the evening. A light rolling-lead rig is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 6 to 30 ft | dusk | Feeding flat (9 ft) | Tiny bottom jig |
| Summer | 3 to 30 ft | dusk | Feeding flat (9 ft) | Light rolling-lead rig |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dusk | SHOM-grid channel edge (38 ft) | Compact bottom jig |
| Winter | 20 to 70 ft | night | Deepest basin (76 ft) |
Spring european flounder on Vilaine Estuary - South Central hold shallow, usually 5 to 25 ft. By summer they slide out to 6 to 35 ft, and by winter most fish are in 15 to 50 ft. The chart's best answer is Feeding flat — feeding flat, 9 ft, prime for spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a bottom jig with spinner blade.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dusk | Feeding flat (9 ft) | Small bucktail dragged on bottom |
| Summer | 6 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Feeding flat (9 ft) | Bottom jig with spinner blade |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dusk | Feeding flat (9 ft) | Compact bottom jig |
| Winter | 15 to 50 ft | midday | SHOM-grid channel edge (38 ft) | Small bottom jig |
In spring, european plaice run shallow here, mostly 8 to 35 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 6 to 40 ft before dropping to 23 to 76 ft for winter. Spring european plaice concentrate at Feeding flat, a prime-rated feeding flat around 9 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a light spooned bottom rig or a beaded trace most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 35 ft | dusk | Feeding flat (9 ft) | Beaded flowing trace |
| Summer | 6 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Feeding flat (9 ft) | Light spooned bottom rig, Beaded trace |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk | SHOM-grid channel edge (38 ft) | Beaded bottom trace |
| Winter | 23 to 76 ft | midday | Deepest basin (76 ft) |
In spring, whiting run shallow here, mostly 15 to 55 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 20 to 70 ft before dropping to 15 to 70 ft for winter. Spring whiting concentrate at SHOM-grid channel edge, a prime-rated channel edge around 38 ft. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a small vertical jig most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 55 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid channel edge (38 ft) | Small silver jig, Two-hook feather rig |
| Summer | 20 to 70 ft | dawn | SHOM-grid channel edge (38 ft) | Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 60 ft | dusk | SHOM-grid channel edge (38 ft) | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 15 to 70 ft | dusk | SHOM-grid channel edge (38 ft) | Compact vertical jig |
Start shallow in spring: garfish sit in 1 to 15 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 2 to 20 ft, and winter fish settle into 20 to 60 ft. The spot to know is Shoreline point, a point in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for garfish in spring. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a slim casting spoon or a surface-skipping fly until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 15 ft | dawn & midday | Shoreline point (4 ft) | Slim silver spoon, Small inline spinner |
| Summer | 2 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (4 ft) | Slim casting spoon, Surface-skipping fly |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | SHOM-grid current seam (30 ft) | Weighted slim spoon, Small silver jig |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | midday | SHOM-grid current seam (30 ft) |
Vilaine Estuary - South Central also holds atlantic mackerel (14 to 76 ft in summer), thick-lipped grey mullet (1 to 18 ft in summer), flathead grey mullet (1 to 22 ft in summer), brill (6 to 50 ft in summer), thornback ray (10 to 65 ft in summer), european eel (6 to 28 ft in summer), atlantic salmon (20 to 70 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
The chart marks 9 structure features on Vilaine Estuary - South Central; the deepest is Deepest basin at about 76 ft.
Access data: European Environment Agency — 2025 Bathing Water Directive Sites (France). Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for France waters are set by the Légifrance (current French recreational sea-fishing minimum sizes) — and special regulations can apply to Vilaine Estuary - South Central specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish. French recreational sea-fishing rules combine current national and European species measures with façade, prefectural, marine-protected-area, harbour and local access controls. Check live minimum sizes, quotas, seasonal or method closures, marking requirements and any no-take zone before every trip. A SHOM contour, fishing-spot marker or designated bathing-water lead is planning context only and never permission to fish, retain a catch, park, launch or enter restricted shore or port property.
Check the official France fishing regulations →
French Ministry for Ecological Transition — recreational sea fishing →
Check special-area and water-specific rules →
Check official shore-access information →
Vilaine Estuary - South Central is about 76 ft (23 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from Shom (Service hydrographique et océanographique de la Marine) bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Official coastal monitoring from Ifremer EVHOE and PELGAS regional survey evidence informs the european seabass, common sole, european flounder, european plaice, whiting, garfish, atlantic mackerel, thick-lipped grey mullet, flathead grey mullet, brill, thornback ray, european eel, atlantic salmon roster for Vilaine Estuary - South Central. 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.
SHOM-grid current seam is the top-rated area: a current seam in about 30 ft of water that rates prime for european seabass in summer. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
For european seabass, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Vilaine Estuary - South Central is regulated by the Légifrance (current French recreational sea-fishing minimum sizes). Check the official France regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Golfe du Morbihan - South East 9 mi · Vilaine Estuary - South East 10 mi · Loire Estuary - South West 1 10 mi · Quiberon and Belle-Île - South West 4 11 mi · Loire Estuary - South West 2 18 mi · Quiberon and Belle-Île - Middle West 4 18 mi · Golfe du Morbihan - Middle East 18 mi · Loire Estuary - North West 2 19 mi · Quiberon and Belle-Île - South West 3 20 mi · Baie de Bourgneuf - North West 22 mi · Quiberon and Belle-Île - Middle West 3 24 mi · Loire Estuary - North West 3 25 mi
See how Vilaine Estuary - South Central stacks up: best european flounder lakes in France · best garfish lakes in France · best european seabass lakes in France · best common sole lakes in France
Browse all France fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry: published agency survey data. 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.