Salt water depth chart
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Zoutkamperlaag-Groninger Wad East maps Eastern channels and flats toward the Eems transition at an angler-useful scale, using the clipped official Rijkswaterstaat waterbody and gridded bathymetry rather than a modeled basin. The water tops out around 40 ft. The depth chart comes from Rijkswaterstaat bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
Zoutkamperlaag–Groninger Wad East maps at 58,481 acres behind 55.5 miles of shoreline. A middling shoreline index (1.6) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 62% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. End to end it runs roughly 16.7 mi, about 10 mi across. Its nearest charted neighbour, Eemshaven–Dollard Wadden Coast, is 4 mi to the south.
Vis- en dieptekaart van Zoutkamperlaag–Groninger Wad East, Nederland: gemeten dieptelijnen (Rijkswaterstaat) tot 12 m, met visstekken voor haring, bot. De dieptelijnen zijn berekend uit gemeten bodemhoogten van Rijkswaterstaat en het officiële lokale streefpeil (NAP). Gebruik de kaart als visgids, nooit voor navigatie.
The roster combines Wadden Sea station records and long-running regional monitoring, filtered to this saltwater habitat. It does not imply equal abundance across a tidal basin. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Haring (Atlantic Herring) | coastal monitoring | — |
| Bot (European Flounder) | coastal monitoring | — |
| Schol (European Plaice) | coastal monitoring | — |
| Tong (Common Sole) | coastal monitoring | — |
| Wijting (Whiting) | coastal monitoring | — |
| Zeebaars (European Seabass) | coastal monitoring | — |
| Spiering (European Smelt) | coastal monitoring | — |
| Paling (European Eel) | coastal monitoring | — |
Official species-evidence source.
Come spring, look for atlantic herring tight to the bank in 5 to 25 ft. They move out to 12 to 40 ft in summer and finish the year down in 12 to 40 ft. If you only fish one area, make it RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone: a drop-off around 13 ft that scores good in summer. Best bite is 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 | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (7 ft) | Small herring feather rig, Micro jig rig |
| Summer | 12 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (13 ft) | Herring feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Fall | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (13 ft) | Small feather rig, Compact silver spoon |
| Winter | 12 to 40 ft | midday | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (13 ft) | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
Start shallow in spring: european flounder sit in 5 to 25 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 6 to 35 ft; cold water stacks them in 12 to 40 ft. Top water on the chart: RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone, a feeding flat in the 13 ft range, prime in spring. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. 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 | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (13 ft) | Small bucktail dragged on bottom |
| Summer | 6 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (13 ft) | Bottom jig with spinner blade |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (13 ft) | Compact bottom jig |
| Winter | 12 to 40 ft | midday | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (13 ft) | Small bottom jig |
Spring european plaice on Zoutkamperlaag–Groninger Wad East hold shallow, usually 8 to 35 ft. They move out to 6 to 40 ft in summer and finish the year down in 12 to 40 ft. Put RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone first on the milk run — a feeding flat near 13 ft that grades prime for spring. The feeding windows run 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 | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (13 ft) | Beaded flowing trace |
| Summer | 6 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (13 ft) | Light spooned bottom rig, Beaded trace |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (13 ft) | Beaded bottom trace |
| Winter | 12 to 40 ft | midday | open water |
Spring puts common sole in skinny water — 6 to 30 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 3 to 30 ft, and winter fish hold in 11 to 40 ft. Spring common sole concentrate at RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone, a prime-rated feeding flat around 13 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around the evening. A light rolling-lead rig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 6 to 30 ft | dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (13 ft) | Tiny bottom jig |
| Summer | 3 to 30 ft | dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (13 ft) | Light rolling-lead rig |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (13 ft) | Compact bottom jig |
| Winter | 11 to 40 ft | night | open water |
Spring whiting on Zoutkamperlaag–Groninger Wad East hold shallow, usually 11 to 40 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 11 to 40 ft in summer, 9 to 40 ft once it turns cold. The feeding windows run early morning. The summer box starts with a small vertical jig.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 11 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Small silver jig, Two-hook feather rig |
| Summer | 11 to 40 ft | dawn | open water | Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 7 to 40 ft | dusk | open water | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 9 to 40 ft | dusk | open water | Compact vertical jig |
Come spring, look for european seabass tight to the bank in 3 to 25 ft. They move out to 2 to 30 ft in summer and finish the year down in 7 to 40 ft. If you only fish one area, make it RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone: a feeding flat around 13 ft that scores good in summer. Best bite is 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 | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (13 ft) | Paddle-tail soft plastic, Shallow minnow plug |
| Summer | 2 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (13 ft) | Surface lure, Paddle-tail soft plastic |
| Fall | 4 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Slim metal lure, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 7 to 40 ft | midday | open water | Slow soft-plastic shad, Suspending minnow |
Zoutkamperlaag–Groninger Wad East also holds european smelt (12 to 40 ft in summer), european eel (6 to 28 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Structure-wise the chart holds 12 features, led in depth by RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone at roughly 13 ft.
Access data: Rijkswaterstaat Fairway Information Services. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Netherlands waters are set by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO — recreational saltwater fishing) — and special regulations can apply to Zoutkamperlaag–Groninger Wad East specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Netherlands fishing regulations →
Zoutkamperlaag–Groninger Wad East is about 40 ft (12 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from Rijkswaterstaat bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Official coastal monitoring from Wageningen Marine Research — Dutch Wadden Sea monitoring informs the atlantic herring, european flounder, european plaice, common sole, whiting, european seabass, european smelt, european eel roster for Zoutkamperlaag–Groninger Wad East. 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.
RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone is the top-rated area: a feeding flat in about 13 ft of water that rates prime for european flounder in spring. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
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 Zoutkamperlaag–Groninger Wad East is regulated by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO — recreational saltwater fishing). Check the official Netherlands regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Eemshaven–Dollard Wadden Coast 4 mi · Rottum Coast 6 mi · Huibertgat–Lauwers Offshore 9 mi · Eems-Dollard (kustwater) 10 mi · Schiermonnikoog Coast 10 mi · Zoutkamperlaag–Groninger Wad West 16 mi · Friesche Zeegat Offshore 19 mi · Lauwersoog–Eemshaven Wadden Coast 21 mi · Bergumermeer 26 mi · Eems-Dollard 27 mi · De Leijen 27 mi · Wijde Ee (De Veenhoop) 28 mi
See how Zoutkamperlaag–Groninger Wad East stacks up: best atlantic herring lakes in Netherlands · best european flounder lakes in Netherlands · best european seabass lakes in Netherlands · best common sole lakes in Netherlands
Browse all Netherlands fishing maps. 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.