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92,636-acre Waterford Harbour. Outer West 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 outer west 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 241 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's the year, species by species, as the scoring engine sees it.
Waterford Harbour - Outer West maps at 92,657 acres behind 48.2 miles of shoreline. A shoreline index of 1.1 says round and simple: fish relate to depth changes here, not shoreline features. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 0% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. Call it 15.6 mi long by 14.1 mi wide at the broadest reach. Its nearest charted neighbour, Waterford Harbour - Outer East, is 11 mi to the east.
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.
Come spring, look for european seabass tight to the bank in 3 to 25 ft. Expect a summer slide to 2 to 30 ft, then a winter hold in 10 to 55 ft. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A surface lure or a paddle-tail soft plastic is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Paddle-tail soft plastic, Shallow minnow plug |
| Summer | 2 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Surface lure, Paddle-tail soft plastic |
| Fall | 4 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Slim metal lure, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 10 to 55 ft | midday | open water | Slow soft-plastic shad, Suspending minnow |
Start shallow in spring: atlantic mackerel sit in 5 to 45 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 15 to 80 ft, and winter fish settle into 30 to 120 ft. The spot to know is Sharp break, a drop-off in about 122 ft of water that rates good for atlantic mackerel in winter. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a feather rig or a small vertical jig until the fish tell you otherwise.
| 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 | open water | 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 | Sharp break (122 ft) | Small deep 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 whiting on Waterford Harbour - Outer West hold shallow, usually 15 to 55 ft. By summer they slide out to 20 to 70 ft, and by winter most fish are in 15 to 70 ft. Prime time lands in early morning. The summer box starts with a small vertical jig.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 55 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Small silver jig, Two-hook feather rig |
| Summer | 20 to 70 ft | dawn | open water | Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 60 ft | dusk | open water | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 15 to 70 ft | dusk | open water | Compact vertical jig |
Start shallow in spring: european flounder sit in 5 to 25 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 6 to 35 ft, and winter fish settle into 15 to 50 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a bottom jig with spinner blade until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dusk | open water | Small bucktail dragged on bottom |
| Summer | 6 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Bottom jig with spinner blade |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dusk | open water | Compact bottom jig |
| Winter | 15 to 50 ft | midday | open water | Small bottom jig |
Spring european plaice on Waterford Harbour - Outer West hold shallow, usually 8 to 35 ft. By summer they slide out to 6 to 40 ft, and by winter most fish are in 25 to 80 ft. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a light spooned bottom rig or a beaded trace.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 35 ft | dusk | open water | Beaded flowing trace |
| Summer | 6 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Light spooned bottom rig, Beaded trace |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk | open water | Beaded bottom trace |
| Winter | 25 to 80 ft | midday | open water |
Waterford Harbour - Outer West 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 (45 to 180 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Count 7 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deepest basin, sits near 241 ft.
The complete Marine Institute Fishing Ports layer returned no port point inside this operational section. DepthScout does not substitute a nearby road, beach or community slipway as verified public fishing access; confirm legal access, parking, tides and local restrictions before visiting.
Private land and private launches need the owner's permission — please ask first.
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 - Outer West 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 - Outer West is about 241 ft (73 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 - Outer West. 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.
Sharp break is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 122 ft of water that rates good for atlantic mackerel in winter. 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 - Outer West 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 - Inner 12 mi · Dungarvan Bay - Inner 13 mi · Dungarvan Bay - West 24 mi · Wexford Harbour and Rosslare Bay - Wexford Inner 25 mi · Youghal Bay - Harbour 28 mi · Wexford Harbour and Rosslare Bay - Wexford Outer South 35 mi · Youghal Bay - Outer 38 mi · Cork Harbour - East 40 mi · Wexford Harbour and Rosslare Bay - Wexford Outer North 43 mi · Wexford Harbour and Rosslare Bay - Rosslare South 43 mi · Cork Harbour - Middle 47 mi
See how Waterford Harbour - Outer West 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.