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27,555-acre Bowling Green Bay. West 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. West trip-scale surveyed footprint within Bowling Green Bay. A large tropical bay of mangrove creeks, shallow flats and exposed reefward approaches south of Townsville. The displayed footprint is not a legal boundary or a claim of complete named-water coverage. The water tops out around 64 ft. The depth chart comes from Geoscience Australia / AusSeabed bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
The outline encloses 27,555 acres, worked by 31.1 miles of shoreline. A shoreline index of 1.3 says round and simple: fish relate to depth changes here, not shoreline features. Roughly 15% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. End to end it runs roughly 11.5 mi, about 6.5 mi across. If the bite dies, Cleveland Bay - East is 2 mi to the south.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| barramundi (Barramundi) | official species listing | — |
| golden snapper (Golden Snapper) | official species listing | — |
| black jewfish (Black Jewfish) | official species listing | — |
| king threadfin (King Threadfin) | official species listing | — |
| queenfish (Queenfish) | official species listing | — |
| giant trevally (Giant Trevally) | official species listing | — |
| mangrove jack (Mangrove Jack) | official species listing | — |
| Spanish mackerel (Narrow-barred Spanish Mackerel) | official species listing | — |
| coral trout (Coral Trout) | official species listing | — |
Official species-evidence source.
The spring pattern is a shallow one: barramundi in 2 to 18 ft. The depth story barely changes: 2 to 18 ft through summer, 11 to 35 ft in winter. The spot to know is Sharp break, a drop-off in about 18 ft of water that rates good for barramundi in fall. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (18 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 2 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (18 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (18 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 11 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (18 ft) | see map |
Start shallow in spring: golden snapper sit in 8 to 35 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 8 to 35 ft covers summer, 17 to 64 ft covers winter. Top water on the chart: Sharp break, a drop-off in the 18 ft range, good in fall. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (16 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (16 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (18 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 17 to 64 ft | midday | Sharp break (18 ft) | see map |
When the water first warms, black jewfish slide up into 8 to 35 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 8 to 35 ft, winter 15 to 64 ft. Start at Sharp break. It's a drop-off holding about 18 ft of water and rates good come fall. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (16 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (16 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 63 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (18 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 15 to 64 ft | midday | Sharp break (18 ft) | see map |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: king threadfin in 2 to 16 ft. The depth story barely changes: 2 to 16 ft through summer, 10 to 35 ft in winter. The spot to know is Shallow measured flat, a feeding flat in about 3 ft of water that rates prime for king threadfin in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 16 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (3 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 2 to 16 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (3 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (3 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 10 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (18 ft) | see map |
Early season queenfish use the shallows, holding in 3 to 25 ft. Even in summer they hold at 3 to 25 ft; winter keeps them in 15 to 55 ft. Put Sharp break first on the milk run — a drop-off near 18 ft that grades prime for fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (7 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (7 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 3 to 39 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (18 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 15 to 55 ft | midday | Sharp break (18 ft) | see map |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: giant trevally in 4 to 30 ft. The depth story barely changes: 4 to 30 ft through summer, 14 to 64 ft in winter. The spot to know is Shoreline point, a point in about 7 ft of water that rates prime for giant trevally in spring. 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 (7 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (7 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 4 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (18 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 14 to 64 ft | midday | Sharp break (18 ft) | see map |
Bowling Green Bay - West also holds mangrove jack (2 to 18 ft in summer), narrow-barred spanish mackerel (8 to 45 ft in summer), coral trout (8 to 35 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Structure-wise the chart holds 11 features, led in depth by Sharp break at roughly 42 ft.
No facility from the cited Queensland recreational boating 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.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/recreational-boating-facilities-queensland
Private land and private launches need the owner's permission — please ask first.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Queensland waters are set by the Queensland Government (current recreational-fishing rules) — and special regulations can apply to Bowling Green Bay - West specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish. Check Queensland's live tidal-water size and possession limits, closed seasons and closed waters before every trip. During a closed season, official guidance can prohibit targeting a species even for catch-and-release. Also verify marine-park zoning, protected and no-take species, gear rules, bait-movement controls and local access directions. A mapped survey footprint or fishing spot is not legal permission to fish, retain catch, enter, park or launch.
Check the official Queensland fishing regulations →
Queensland Government tidal-water limits →
Check special-area and water-specific rules →
Bowling Green Bay - West is about 64 ft (20 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 Queensland Department of Primary Industries regional evidence informs the barramundi, golden snapper, black jewfish, king threadfin, queenfish, giant trevally, mangrove jack, narrow-barred spanish mackerel, coral trout roster for Bowling Green Bay - 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.
Shallow measured flat is the top-rated area: a feeding flat in about 3 ft of water that rates prime for king threadfin in spring. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
For barramundi, 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 Bowling Green Bay - West is regulated by the Queensland Government (current recreational-fishing rules). Check the official Queensland regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Cleveland Bay - East 2 mi · Cleveland Bay - West 8 mi · Bowling Green Bay - Central 10 mi · Bowling Green Bay - South 12 mi · Cleveland Bay - Northeast 21 mi · Bowling Green Bay - East 23 mi · Bowling Green Bay - Southeast 26 mi · Coconut Bay 111 mi · White Bay 145 mi · Joseph Bay 189 mi · Trinity Inlet - North 190 mi · Trinity Inlet - Northwest 192 mi
Browse all Queensland 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.