Salt water depth chart
Today's read
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
105,568-acre Anson Bay. Sector 05 Australian saltwater fishing map showing only directly measured AusBathyTopo 2026 cells, source-qualified fishing spots, official regional fish evidence, seasonal forage context, access guidance and current-rule links. Sector 05 trip-scale surveyed footprint within Anson Bay. A remote west Top End bay of the Daly River mouth, mangrove flats, channels and exposed outer water. The displayed footprint is not a legal boundary or a claim of complete named-water coverage. The water tops out around 148 ft. The depth chart comes from Geoscience Australia / AusSeabed bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. The rest of this page walks each species through its year, using the map's own scoring.
Anson Bay - Sector 05 maps at 105,567 acres behind 50.8 miles of shoreline. At index 1.1 the outline is almost a bowl — read the depth changes, not the shoreline. 2% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. Figure 15.3 mi of water from one end to the other, 14.9 mi at the beam. Anson Bay - Sector 09 sits 11 mi south — the closest neighbouring chart.
Regional occurrence does not mean equal abundance, child-specific catch rate, retention permission or a promised catch. Live state, territory, Commonwealth, protected-area and local rules always control. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| golden snapper (Golden Snapper) | official species listing | — |
| black jewfish (Black Jewfish) | official species listing | — |
| queenfish (Queenfish) | official species listing | — |
| giant trevally (Giant Trevally) | official species listing | — |
| Spanish mackerel (Narrow-barred Spanish Mackerel) | official species listing | — |
| coral trout (Coral Trout) | official species listing | — |
Official species-evidence source.
Spring puts golden snapper in skinny water — 8 to 35 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 8 to 35 ft, and winter fish hold in 21 to 80 ft. Fall golden snapper concentrate at Sharp break, a good-rated drop-off around 28 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (28 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (28 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (28 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 21 to 80 ft | midday | Sharp break (28 ft) | see map |
Early season black jewfish use the shallows, holding in 8 to 35 ft. Even in summer they hold at 8 to 35 ft; winter keeps them in 21 to 90 ft. Put Sharp break first on the milk run — a drop-off near 28 ft that grades good for fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (28 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (28 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 63 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (28 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 21 to 90 ft | midday | Sharp break (28 ft) | see map |
Come spring, look for queenfish tight to the bank in 3 to 25 ft. Through summer count on 3 to 25 ft; the winter hold is 15 to 55 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Sharp break: a drop-off around 28 ft that scores prime in fall. Best bite is early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | see map |
| Summer | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | see map |
| Fall | 3 to 39 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (28 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 15 to 55 ft | midday | Sharp break (28 ft) | see map |
In spring, giant trevally run shallow here, mostly 4 to 30 ft. Summer keeps them at 4 to 30 ft, and they winter in 18 to 80 ft. Sharp break is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 28 ft, rated prime for fall giant trevally. Time it for early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (28 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (28 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 4 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (28 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 18 to 80 ft | midday | Sharp break (28 ft) | see map |
When the water first warms, narrow-barred spanish mackerel slide up into 8 to 45 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 8 to 45 ft, winter 27 to 120 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Sharp break: a drop-off around 28 ft that scores prime in fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (28 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (28 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 84 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (28 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 27 to 120 ft | midday | Sharp break (28 ft) | see map |
Come spring, look for coral trout tight to the bank in 8 to 35 ft. Through summer count on 8 to 35 ft; the winter hold is 21 to 100 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Sharp break: a drop-off around 28 ft that scores prime in fall. Best bite is early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (28 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (28 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 70 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (28 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 21 to 100 ft | midday | Sharp break (28 ft) | see map |
Structure-wise the chart holds 6 features, led in depth by Deepest basin at roughly 140 ft.
No facility from the cited Northern Territory boat ramps source was spatially attached within 3 km of this directly measured map footprint during the 2026-09-08 audit. This is an evidence gap, not a claim that public access is absent. Check the official portal, live site signs, tides, ramp condition, vessel suitability, fees, parking, working-port restrictions and landowner permissions before travel: https://nt.gov.au/marine/for-all-harbour-and-boat-users/boat-ramps
Private land and private launches need the owner's permission — please ask first.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Northern Territory waters are set by the Northern Territory Government (current recreational-fishing rules) — and special regulations can apply to Anson Bay - Sector 05 specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish. Check the Northern Territory's live possession and size limits and rules for specific areas before every trip. Seasonal barramundi controls, protected species, marine-park and Aboriginal land or sea-country permissions, method limits, vessel rules and local closures can apply. Remote-water access often needs separate landowner or permit approval. A mapped survey footprint, fishing spot or access lead never grants fishing, retention, entry, parking, camping or launching permission.
Check the official Northern Territory fishing regulations →
Northern Territory possession and size limits →
Check special-area and water-specific rules →
Anson Bay - Sector 05 is about 148 ft (45 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from Geoscience Australia / AusSeabed bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Official coastal monitoring from Northern Territory Department of Agriculture and Fisheries regional evidence informs the golden snapper, black jewfish, queenfish, giant trevally, narrow-barred spanish mackerel, coral trout roster for Anson Bay - Sector 05. 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 28 ft of water that rates prime for queenfish in fall. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
For golden snapper, 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 Anson Bay - Sector 05 is regulated by the Northern Territory Government (current recreational-fishing rules). Check the official Northern Territory regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Anson Bay - Sector 09 11 mi · Anson Bay - Sector 06 13 mi · Anson Bay - Sector 10 15 mi · Anson Bay - Sector 02 19 mi · Fog Bay - West 32 mi · Fog Bay - Central 40 mi · Fog Bay - North 52 mi · Bynoe Harbour - West 55 mi · Fog Bay - Northeast 62 mi · Bynoe Harbour - Northwest 67 mi · Port Darwin - West 71 mi · Bynoe Harbour - North 75 mi
Browse all Northern Territory fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry: published agency survey data. 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.