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30,014-acre Botany Bay 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. Trip-scale surveyed footprint within Botany Bay. A broad urban bay with river mouths, seagrass, runway walls, channels and an exposed ocean entrance. The displayed footprint is not a legal boundary or a claim of complete named-water coverage. The water tops out around 419 ft. The depth chart comes from Geoscience Australia / AusSeabed bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
The drawn water covers 30,013 acres wrapped in 78.4 miles of bank. That shoreline is heavily fingered (development index 3.2) — bays, points and pockets everywhere, which multiplies the fishable edge. 41% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. End to end it runs roughly 15.2 mi, about 9.2 mi across. If the bite dies, Sydney Harbour is 11 mi to the north.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| snapper (Australasian Snapper) | official species listing | — |
| mulloway (Mulloway) | official species listing | — |
| yellowtail kingfish (Yellowtail Kingfish) | official species listing | — |
| dusky flathead (Dusky Flathead) | official species listing | — |
| yellowfin bream (Yellowfin Bream) | official species listing | — |
| Australian salmon (Australian Salmon) | official species listing | — |
| tailor (Tailor) | official species listing | — |
| silver trevally (Silver Trevally) | official species listing | — |
| luderick (Luderick) | official species listing | — |
Official species-evidence source.
Spring australasian snapper on Botany Bay hold shallow, usually 6 to 35 ft. By summer they slide out to 16 to 120 ft, and by winter most fish are in 21 to 120 ft. The chart's best answer is Sharp break — drop-off, 53 ft, prime for summer. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 6 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (11 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 16 to 120 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (53 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 6 to 84 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (53 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 21 to 120 ft | midday | Sharp break (53 ft) | see map |
Spring mulloway on Botany Bay hold shallow, usually 5 to 30 ft. By summer they slide out to 14 to 100 ft, and by winter most fish are in 18 to 100 ft. The chart's best answer is Sharp break — drop-off, 53 ft, good for summer. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (11 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 14 to 100 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (53 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 5 to 70 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (53 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 18 to 100 ft | midday | Sharp break (53 ft) | see map |
Spring yellowtail kingfish on Botany Bay hold shallow, usually 8 to 45 ft. They move out to 20 to 130 ft in summer and finish the year down in 27 to 130 ft. Put Shoreline point first on the milk run — a point near 11 ft that grades prime for spring. 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 | Shoreline point (11 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 20 to 130 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (53 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 91 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (53 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 27 to 130 ft | midday | Sharp break (53 ft) | see map |
Spring dusky flathead on Botany Bay hold shallow, usually 2 to 15 ft. By summer they slide out to 7 to 35 ft, and by winter most fish are in 9 to 35 ft. The chart's best answer is Shallow measured flat — feeding flat, 4 ft, prime for spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (4 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 7 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Offshore hump (28 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (4 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 9 to 35 ft | midday | Offshore hump (28 ft) | see map |
In spring, yellowfin bream run shallow here, mostly 2 to 16 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 7 to 40 ft, and winter fish settle into 10 to 40 ft. Offshore hump is the standout, an offshore hump at roughly 28 ft, rated good for summer yellowfin bream. Time it for early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 16 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (11 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 7 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Offshore hump (28 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 28 ft | dawn & dusk | Offshore hump (28 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 10 to 40 ft | midday | Offshore hump (28 ft) | see map |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: australian salmon in 4 to 30 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 14 to 80 ft before dropping to 4 to 30 ft for winter. The spot to know is Sharp break, a drop-off in about 53 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 | Shoreline point (11 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 14 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (53 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 4 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (53 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 4 to 30 ft | dawn | Shoreline point (11 ft) | see map |
Botany Bay also holds tailor (11 to 65 ft in summer), silver trevally (14 to 80 ft in summer), luderick (6 to 35 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Count 9 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Shoreline point, sits near 94 ft.
Access data: Transport for NSW Maritime Boat Ramps. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for New South Wales waters are set by the NSW DPIRD (current saltwater recreational-fishing guide) — and special regulations can apply to Botany Bay specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish. Check the live NSW saltwater guide before every trip, including current size and possession limits, seasonal and spatial closures, marine parks, protected species, permitted gear, intertidal collection rules and any local harbour or council directions. A directly measured depth cell, fishing-spot marker or access lead does not establish permission to fish, retain a catch, enter port land, park or launch, and rules can differ across one mapped operational section.
Check the official New South Wales fishing regulations →
NSW DPIRD fish species and current rules →
Check special-area and water-specific rules →
Botany Bay is about 419 ft (128 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 NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development regional evidence informs the australasian snapper, mulloway, yellowtail kingfish, dusky flathead, yellowfin bream, australian salmon, tailor, silver trevally, luderick roster for Botany Bay. 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 53 ft of water that rates prime for australasian snapper in summer. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
For australasian 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 Botany Bay is regulated by the NSW DPIRD (current saltwater recreational-fishing guide). Check the official New South Wales regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Sydney Harbour 11 mi · Broken Bay - North 28 mi · Broken Bay - Northwest 35 mi · Port Stephens - Northeast 91 mi · Port Stephens - West 97 mi · Port Stephens - North 106 mi · Batemans Bay - North 130 mi · Trial Bay - Northwest 243 mi · Isman Inlet 260 mi, VIC · Byron Bay - North 393 mi · Byron Bay - Northwest 400 mi · Blind Inlet 404 mi, VIC
See how Botany Bay stacks up: best australasian snapper lakes in New South Wales · best mulloway lakes in New South Wales · best yellowtail kingfish lakes in New South Wales · best dusky flathead lakes in New South Wales
Browse all New South Wales 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.