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86,829-acre Waterford Harbour. Inner saltwater fishing map with official INFOMAR survey bathymetry, measured-cell fishing spots, official fish evidence, seasonal forage guidance, access context and current-rule links. The inner trip-scale survey reach of Waterford Harbour, retaining only official survey-backed seabed cells that pass the Ireland release gates. The water tops out around 135 ft. The depth chart comes from INFOMAR (Geological Survey Ireland and Marine Institute) bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Drawn out, this is 86,731 acres of water rimmed by 91.9 miles of bank. A development index of 2.2 means a maze of bays and points: far more casting targets than a round bowl of the same size. 6% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. Figure 23.8 mi of water from one end to the other, 15.4 mi at the beam. The nearest mapped water is Waterford Harbour - Outer East, 11 mi to the south.
Marine Institute spawning, nursery, observation and range layers support the principal surveyed pelagic and groundfish. IFI's national and regional sea-angling publications support additional habitat-compatible recreational targets. This is occurrence and search guidance, not equal abundance, a section-level population estimate or a promised catch. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bass (European Seabass) | official species listing | — |
| Mackerel (Atlantic Mackerel) | official species listing | — |
| Herring (Atlantic Herring) | official species listing | — |
| Whiting (Whiting) | official species listing | — |
| Flounder (European Flounder) | official species listing | — |
| Plaice (European Plaice) | official species listing | — |
| Sole (Common Sole) | official species listing | — |
| Thornback ray (Thornback Ray) | official species listing | — |
| Brill (Brill) | official species listing | — |
| Thick-lipped grey mullet (Thick-lipped Grey Mullet) | official species listing | — |
| Garfish (Garfish) | official species listing | — |
| Cod (Atlantic Cod) | official species listing | — |
Official species-evidence source.
Spring puts european seabass in skinny water — 3 to 25 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 2 to 30 ft; cold water stacks them in 10 to 55 ft. Shoreline point is the standout, a point at roughly 37 ft, rated good for fall european seabass. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. 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 | Feeding flat (16 ft) | Paddle-tail soft plastic, Shallow minnow plug |
| Summer | 2 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Feeding flat (16 ft) | Surface lure, Paddle-tail soft plastic |
| Fall | 4 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (37 ft) | Slim metal lure, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 10 to 55 ft | midday | open water | Slow soft-plastic shad, Suspending minnow |
Spring atlantic mackerel on Waterford Harbour - Inner hold shallow, usually 5 to 45 ft. They move out to 15 to 80 ft in summer and finish the year down in 30 to 120 ft. Put INFOMAR measured current seam first on the milk run — a current seam near 61 ft that grades prime for fall. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a feather rig or a small vertical jig.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (37 ft) | Mackerel feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Summer | 15 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (11 ft) | Feather rig, Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 65 ft | dawn & dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (61 ft) | Compact silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 30 to 120 ft | midday | Deepest basin (134 ft) | Small deep jig |
Spring puts atlantic herring in skinny water — 5 to 25 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 15 to 50 ft; cold water stacks them in 20 to 60 ft. Sharp break is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 11 ft, rated good for fall atlantic herring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A herring feather rig or a small silver jig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Feeding flat (16 ft) | Small herring feather rig, Micro jig rig |
| Summer | 15 to 50 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (11 ft) | Herring feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Fall | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (11 ft) | Small feather rig, Compact silver spoon |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | midday | open water | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
In spring, whiting run shallow here, mostly 15 to 55 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 20 to 70 ft, and winter fish settle into 15 to 70 ft. INFOMAR measured current seam is the standout, a current seam at roughly 61 ft, rated good for fall whiting. Time it for early morning. 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 | INFOMAR measured current seam (61 ft) | Small silver jig, Two-hook feather rig |
| Summer | 20 to 70 ft | dawn | INFOMAR measured channel edge (74 ft) | Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 60 ft | dusk | INFOMAR measured current seam (61 ft) | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 15 to 70 ft | dusk | INFOMAR measured channel edge (74 ft) | Compact vertical jig |
Spring european flounder on Waterford Harbour - Inner hold shallow, usually 5 to 25 ft. They move out to 6 to 35 ft in summer and finish the year down in 15 to 50 ft. Put Feeding flat first on the milk run — a feeding flat near 16 ft that grades prime for spring. The feeding windows run 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 (16 ft) | Small bucktail dragged on bottom |
| Summer | 6 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Feeding flat (16 ft) | Bottom jig with spinner blade |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dusk | Sharp break (11 ft) | Compact bottom jig |
| Winter | 15 to 50 ft | midday | Sharp break (11 ft) | Small bottom jig |
In spring, european plaice run shallow here, mostly 8 to 35 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 6 to 40 ft, and winter fish settle into 25 to 80 ft. Feeding flat is the standout, a feeding flat at roughly 16 ft, rated prime for spring european plaice. Time it for early morning and the evening. 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 (16 ft) | Beaded flowing trace |
| Summer | 6 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Feeding flat (16 ft) | Light spooned bottom rig, Beaded trace |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk | Feeding flat (16 ft) | Beaded bottom trace |
| Winter | 25 to 80 ft | midday | INFOMAR measured channel edge (74 ft) |
Waterford Harbour - Inner also holds common sole (3 to 30 ft in summer), thornback ray (10 to 65 ft in summer), brill (6 to 50 ft in summer), thick-lipped grey mullet (1 to 18 ft in summer), garfish (2 to 20 ft in summer), atlantic cod (34 to 135 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Waterford Harbour - Inner carries 7 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deepest basin, about 134 ft down.
Access data: Marine Institute — Fishing Ports. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Ireland waters are set by the Inland Fisheries Ireland (current sea-angling regulations) — and special regulations can apply to Waterford Harbour - Inner specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish. Check the current national and water-specific rules before every trip, including bass measures, the 2026 recreational pollack controls, salmon and sea-trout licences and river-specific status, protected areas, harbour directions, private land and local signs. A mapped fishing port or measured seabed feature is not permission to fish, park, launch or enter a working harbour.
Check the official Ireland fishing regulations →
Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (2026 salmon and sea-trout status) →
Check special-area and water-specific rules →
Check official shore-access information →
Waterford Harbour - Inner is about 135 ft (41 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from INFOMAR (Geological Survey Ireland and Marine Institute) bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Official coastal monitoring from Marine Institute and Inland Fisheries Ireland informs the european seabass, atlantic mackerel, atlantic herring, whiting, european flounder, european plaice, common sole, thornback ray, brill, thick-lipped grey mullet, garfish, atlantic cod roster for Waterford Harbour - Inner. 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.
INFOMAR measured current seam is the top-rated area: a current seam in about 61 ft of water that rates prime for atlantic mackerel in fall. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
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 Waterford Harbour - Inner is regulated by the Inland Fisheries Ireland (current sea-angling regulations). Check the official Ireland regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Waterford Harbour - Outer East 11 mi · Waterford Harbour - Outer West 12 mi · Wexford Harbour and Rosslare Bay - Wexford Inner 15 mi · Dungarvan Bay - Inner 22 mi · Wexford Harbour and Rosslare Bay - Wexford Outer South 25 mi · Wexford Harbour and Rosslare Bay - Wexford Outer North 31 mi · Wexford Harbour and Rosslare Bay - Rosslare South 33 mi · Dungarvan Bay - West 34 mi · Wexford Harbour and Rosslare Bay - Rosslare North 38 mi · Youghal Bay - Harbour 39 mi · Youghal Bay - Outer 48 mi · Cork Harbour - East 51 mi
See how Waterford Harbour - Inner stacks up: best atlantic herring lakes in Ireland · best european flounder lakes in Ireland · best garfish lakes in Ireland · best european seabass lakes in Ireland
Browse all Ireland fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: INFOMAR (Geological Survey Ireland and Marine Institute) INFOMAR All Survey bathymetry mosaic (Source-survey vertical references retained in the INFOMAR All Survey mosaic; 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.