Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up freeSalt water depth chart
Today's read
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
5,994-acre Boston Bay. Northwest 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. Northwest trip-scale surveyed footprint within Boston Bay. Port Lincoln's natural harbour system, with islands, channels, reefs and protected inshore flats. The displayed footprint is not a legal boundary or a claim of complete named-water coverage. The water tops out around 60 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.
The outline encloses 5,995 acres, worked by 18.4 miles of shoreline. A middling shoreline index (1.7) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. About 27% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. Call it 6 mi long by 3.9 mi wide at the broadest reach. Spencer Gulf - Sector 78 sits 34 mi northeast — 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 |
|---|---|---|
| King George whiting (King George Whiting) | official species listing | — |
| sand flathead (Sand Flathead) | official species listing | — |
| Australian salmon (Australian Salmon) | official species listing | — |
| silver trevally (Silver Trevally) | official species listing | — |
| gummy shark (Gummy Shark) | official species listing | — |
| yellowtail kingfish (Yellowtail Kingfish) | official species listing | — |
| mulloway (Mulloway) | official species listing | — |
Official species-evidence source.
Early season king george whiting use the shallows, holding in 3 to 18 ft. Summer is an 8 to 45 ft game here, winter an 11 to 45 ft one. The chart's best answer is Sharp break — drop-off, 23 ft, good for summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (23 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 3 to 31 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (23 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 11 to 45 ft | midday | Sharp break (23 ft) | see map |
Come spring, look for sand flathead tight to the bank in 8 to 35 ft. Expect a summer slide to 12 to 60 ft, then a winter hold in 8 to 35 ft. Start at Deepest basin. It's a deep basin holding about 58 ft of water and rates prime come summer. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (23 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 12 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Deepest basin (58 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Deepest basin (58 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 8 to 35 ft | dawn | Sharp break (23 ft) | see map |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: australian salmon in 4 to 30 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 11 to 60 ft before dropping to 4 to 30 ft for winter. The spot to know is Sharp break, a drop-off in about 23 ft of water that rates prime for australian salmon in summer. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (23 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 11 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (23 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 4 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (23 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 4 to 30 ft | dawn | Sharp break (23 ft) | see map |
In spring, silver trevally run shallow here, mostly 4 to 30 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 11 to 60 ft, and winter fish settle into 14 to 60 ft. Sharp break is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 23 ft, rated prime for summer silver 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 (23 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 11 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (23 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 4 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (23 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 14 to 60 ft | midday | Sharp break (23 ft) | see map |
In spring, gummy shark run shallow here, mostly 8 to 40 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 9 to 60 ft, and winter fish settle into 8 to 40 ft. Deepest basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 58 ft, rated prime for summer gummy shark. Time it for early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (23 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 9 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Deepest basin (58 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 6 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Deepest basin (58 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Sharp break (23 ft) | see map |
Spring yellowtail kingfish on Boston Bay - Northwest hold shallow, usually 8 to 45 ft. They move out to 9 to 60 ft in summer and finish the year down in 12 to 60 ft. Put Sharp break first on the milk run — a drop-off near 23 ft that grades prime for summer. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (23 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 9 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (23 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 5 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (23 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 12 to 60 ft | midday | Sharp break (23 ft) | see map |
Boston Bay - Northwest also holds mulloway (8 to 60 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
4 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deepest basin, around 58 ft, is the deepest of them.
No facility from the cited South Australian boat ramps and marine facilities 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://www.sa.gov.au/topics/boating-and-marine/boat-ramps-and-marine-facilities
Private land and private launches need the owner's permission — please ask first.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for South Australia waters are set by the PIRSA (current recreational species limits) — and special regulations can apply to Boston Bay - Northwest specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish. Check PIRSA's live species lookup, closures and SA Fishing app before every trip. Snapper remains absent from these page rosters because the current management closure prohibits targeting and catch-and-release in the affected South Australian waters through the stated closure period. Verify all size, boat and possession limits, protected areas, gear controls and local access directions. A contour, spot or access lead never grants fishing, retention, entry, parking or launching permission.
Check the official South Australia fishing regulations →
PIRSA SA Fishing app and live rules →
Check special-area and water-specific rules →
Boston Bay - Northwest is about 60 ft (18 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 Primary Industries and Regions South Australia regional evidence informs the king george whiting, sand flathead, australian salmon, silver trevally, gummy shark, yellowtail kingfish, mulloway roster for Boston Bay - Northwest. 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.
Deepest basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 58 ft of water that rates prime for sand flathead in summer. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
For king george whiting, 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 Boston Bay - Northwest is regulated by the PIRSA (current recreational species limits). Check the official South Australia regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Spencer Gulf - Sector 78 34 mi · Spencer Gulf - Sector 71 44 mi · Spencer Gulf - Sector 64 55 mi · Spencer Gulf - Sector 72 58 mi · Spencer Gulf - Sector 65 66 mi · Spencer Gulf - Sector 73 70 mi · Spencer Gulf - Sector 66 78 mi · Spencer Gulf - Sector 59 89 mi · Spencer Gulf - Sector 102 96 mi · Spencer Gulf - Sector 52 98 mi · Spencer Gulf - Sector 60 99 mi · Spencer Gulf - Sector 103 104 mi
Browse all South Australia 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.