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178,843-acre river near Harlingen. The water tops out around 86 ft. The depth chart is built from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the humps, channels and drop-offs you see are measured, not guessed. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
The chart traces 0 miles of shoreline here, with a single island in the mix. With a NaN development index there's bank structure worth casting at, in moderation. NaN% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. If the bite dies, Terschelling Coast is 15 mi to the northwest.
Vis- en dieptekaart van Waddenzee Central, Nederland: gemeten dieptelijnen (Rijkswaterstaat) tot 26 m, met visstekken voor haring, bot, geep. De dieptelijnen zijn berekend uit gemeten bodemhoogten van Rijkswaterstaat en het officiële lokale streefpeil (NAP). Gebruik de kaart als visgids, nooit voor navigatie.
Early season atlantic herring use the shallows, holding in 5 to 25 ft. Expect a summer slide to 15 to 50 ft, then a winter hold in 20 to 60 ft. Put Measured coastal depth break first on the milk run — a drop-off near 31 ft that grades prime for summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in 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 | Measured shallow feeding flat (9 ft) | Small herring feather rig, Micro jig rig |
| Summer | 15 to 50 ft | dawn & dusk | Measured coastal depth break (31 ft) | Herring feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Fall | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Measured coastal depth break (31 ft) | Small feather rig, Compact silver spoon |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | midday | Measured coastal depth break (31 ft) | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
In spring, european flounder run shallow here, mostly 5 to 25 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 6 to 35 ft, and winter fish settle into 15 to 50 ft. Measured shallow feeding flat is the standout, a feeding flat at roughly 9 ft, rated prime for spring european flounder. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a bottom jig with spinner blade most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dusk | Measured shallow feeding flat (9 ft) | Small bucktail dragged on bottom |
| Summer | 6 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Measured shallow feeding flat (9 ft) | Bottom jig with spinner blade |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dusk | Measured coastal depth break (31 ft) | Compact bottom jig |
| Winter | 15 to 50 ft | midday | Measured coastal depth break (31 ft) | Small bottom jig |
Spring garfish on Waddenzee Central hold shallow, usually 1 to 15 ft. They move out to 2 to 20 ft in summer and finish the year down in 20 to 60 ft. Put Measured coastal depth break first on the milk run — a drop-off near 31 ft that grades prime for fall. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a slim casting spoon or a surface-skipping fly.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 15 ft | dawn & midday | open water | Slim silver spoon, Small inline spinner |
| Summer | 2 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Measured coastal depth break (7 ft) | Slim casting spoon, Surface-skipping fly |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Measured coastal depth break (31 ft) | Weighted slim spoon, Small silver jig |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | midday | Measured coastal depth break (31 ft) |
Count 12 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Measured coastal depth break, sits near 58 ft.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Netherlands waters are set by the Sportvisserij Nederland (zeevissen — sea angling rules) — and special regulations can apply to Waddenzee Central specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Netherlands fishing regulations →
Waddenzee Central is about 86 ft (26 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the contours reflect measured depths.
Anglers target atlantic herring, european flounder, garfish on Waddenzee Central. This isn't a survey of the water — none is published for it — but an informed estimate from the species common to the region, narrowed by this water's depth, size and each species' range.
Measured shallow feeding flat is the top-rated area: a feeding flat in about 9 ft of water that rates prime for european flounder in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
For atlantic herring, 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 Waddenzee Central is regulated by the Sportvisserij Nederland (zeevissen — sea angling rules). Check the official Netherlands regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Terschelling Coast 15 mi · Waddenzee Mainland Coast West 15 mi · Pikmeer 17 mi · Borndiep Offshore 17 mi · Terhornstermeer 17 mi · Sneekermeer 17 mi · Wijde Ee (Grou) 18 mi · Witte en Zwarte Brekken 18 mi · Wijde Ee (De Veenhoop) 18 mi · Oudegaasterbrekken 18 mi · Terkaplesterpoelen 18 mi · De Hop (Oudega) 19 mi
See how Waddenzee Central stacks up: best atlantic herring lakes in Netherlands · best european flounder lakes in Netherlands · best garfish lakes in Netherlands
Browse all Netherlands fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: Rijkswaterstaat measured bed elevations and official target water levels, CC0. 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.