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Zoutkamperlaag-Groninger Wad West maps Western channels and flats of the eastern Wadden waterbody at an angler-useful scale, using the clipped official Rijkswaterstaat waterbody and gridded bathymetry rather than a modeled basin. The water tops out around 61 ft. The depth chart comes from Rijkswaterstaat 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.
The outline encloses 42,434 acres, worked by 65.3 miles of shoreline. An index of 2.3 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 65% of this chart. Figure 17.9 mi of water from one end to the other, 6.9 mi at the beam. Lauwersoog–Eemshaven Wadden Coast sits 6 mi southwest — the closest neighbouring chart.
Vis- en dieptekaart van Zoutkamperlaag–Groninger Wad West, Nederland: gemeten dieptelijnen (Rijkswaterstaat) tot 19 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.
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 RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone first on the milk run — a deep basin near 42 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 | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (8 ft) | Small herring feather rig, Micro jig rig |
| Summer | 15 to 50 ft | dawn & dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (42 ft) | Herring feather rig, Small silver jig |
| Fall | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (42 ft) | Small feather rig, Compact silver spoon |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | midday | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (42 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. RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone is the standout, a feeding flat at roughly 19 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 | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (19 ft) | Small bucktail dragged on bottom |
| Summer | 6 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (19 ft) | Bottom jig with spinner blade |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (20 ft) | Compact bottom jig |
| Winter | 15 to 50 ft | midday | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (42 ft) | Small bottom jig |
When the water first warms, european plaice slide up into 8 to 35 ft. By summer they slide out to 6 to 40 ft, and by winter most fish are in 18 to 61 ft. If you only fish one area, make it RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone: a feeding flat around 19 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a light spooned bottom rig or a beaded trace rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 35 ft | dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (19 ft) | Beaded flowing trace |
| Summer | 6 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (19 ft) | Light spooned bottom rig, Beaded trace |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (19 ft) | Beaded bottom trace |
| Winter | 18 to 61 ft | midday | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (42 ft) |
Start shallow in spring: common sole sit in 6 to 30 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 3 to 30 ft covers summer, 17 to 61 ft covers winter. Top water on the chart: RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone, a feeding flat in the 19 ft range, prime in spring. Fish it in the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a light rolling-lead rig until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 6 to 30 ft | dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (19 ft) | Tiny bottom jig |
| Summer | 3 to 30 ft | dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (19 ft) | Light rolling-lead rig |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (19 ft) | Compact bottom jig |
| Winter | 17 to 61 ft | night | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (42 ft) |
When the water first warms, whiting slide up into 15 to 55 ft. By summer they slide out to 17 to 61 ft, and by winter most fish are in 13 to 61 ft. If you only fish one area, make it RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone: a deep basin around 42 ft that scores prime in winter. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Keep a small vertical jig rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 55 ft | dawn & dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (42 ft) | Small silver jig, Two-hook feather rig |
| Summer | 17 to 61 ft | dawn | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (42 ft) | Small vertical jig |
| Fall | 10 to 60 ft | dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (42 ft) | Small silver jig, Sparse feather rig |
| Winter | 13 to 61 ft | dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (42 ft) | Compact vertical jig |
Early season european seabass use the shallows, holding in 3 to 25 ft. Expect a summer slide to 2 to 30 ft, then a winter hold in 10 to 55 ft. Put RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone first on the milk run — a point near 6 ft that grades good for fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a surface lure or a paddle-tail soft plastic and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (6 ft) | Paddle-tail soft plastic, Shallow minnow plug |
| Summer | 2 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (6 ft) | Surface lure, Paddle-tail soft plastic |
| Fall | 4 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (6 ft) | Slim metal lure, Minnow plug |
| Winter | 10 to 55 ft | midday | RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone (42 ft) | Slow soft-plastic shad, Suspending minnow |
Zoutkamperlaag–Groninger Wad West also holds european smelt (18 to 61 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.
The chart marks 14 structure features on Zoutkamperlaag–Groninger Wad West; the deepest is RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone at about 42 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 West specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Netherlands fishing regulations →
Zoutkamperlaag–Groninger Wad West is about 61 ft (19 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 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.
RWS bathymetry-derived fishing zone is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 42 ft of water that rates prime for atlantic herring in summer. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by 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 Zoutkamperlaag–Groninger Wad West 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.
Lauwersoog–Eemshaven Wadden Coast 6 mi · Schiermonnikoog Coast 8 mi · Friesche Zeegat Offshore 9 mi · Borndiep–Pinkegat East 15 mi · Zoutkamperlaag–Groninger Wad East 16 mi · Eemshaven–Dollard Wadden Coast 16 mi · Huibertgat–Lauwers Offshore 17 mi · Bergumermeer 18 mi · Wijde Ee (De Veenhoop) 19 mi · Borndiep Offshore 20 mi · De Leijen 20 mi · Rottum Coast 21 mi
See how Zoutkamperlaag–Groninger Wad West 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.