Salt water depth chart
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133,895-acre Bowling Green Bay. East 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. East 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 120 ft. The depth chart comes from Geoscience Australia / AusSeabed bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
The drawn water covers 133,881 acres wrapped in 68.5 miles of bank. At index 1.3 the outline is almost a bowl — read the depth changes, not the shoreline. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 11% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. Tip to tip the water measures near 16.1 mi with a 14.4-mi widest point. Its nearest charted neighbour, Bowling Green Bay - Southeast, is 10 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.
In spring, barramundi run shallow here, mostly 2 to 18 ft. Summer keeps them at 2 to 18 ft, and they winter in 11 to 35 ft. Offshore hump is the standout, an offshore hump at roughly 29 ft, rated good for winter barramundi. Time it for early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (6 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 2 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (6 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | see map |
| Winter | 11 to 35 ft | midday | Offshore hump (29 ft) | see map |
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 56 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 | Shoreline point (21 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (21 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (56 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 21 to 80 ft | midday | Sharp break (56 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 56 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 | Shoreline point (21 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (21 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 63 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (56 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 21 to 90 ft | midday | Sharp break (56 ft) | see map |
In spring, king threadfin run shallow here, mostly 2 to 16 ft. Summer keeps them at 2 to 16 ft, and they winter in 10 to 35 ft. Shallow measured flat is the standout, a feeding flat at roughly 3 ft, rated prime for spring king threadfin. Time it for early morning and the evening.
| 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 | Offshore hump (29 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 52 ft that scores prime in winter. Best bite is early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (21 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (21 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 3 to 39 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (48 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 15 to 55 ft | midday | Sharp break (52 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. Shoreline point is the standout, a point at roughly 21 ft, rated prime for spring 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 | Shoreline point (21 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (21 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 4 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (56 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 18 to 80 ft | midday | Sharp break (56 ft) | see map |
Bowling Green Bay - East 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.
16 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deepest basin, around 120 ft, is the deepest of them.
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 - East 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 - East is about 120 ft (37 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 - East. 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 map above holds the full rated-spot list for every 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 - East 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.
Bowling Green Bay - Southeast 10 mi · Bowling Green Bay - Central 14 mi · Bowling Green Bay - South 16 mi · Cleveland Bay - East 23 mi · Bowling Green Bay - West 23 mi · Cleveland Bay - West 25 mi · Cleveland Bay - Northeast 43 mi · Coconut Bay 123 mi · White Bay 126 mi · Joseph Bay 172 mi · Trinity Inlet - North 199 mi · Trinity Inlet - Northwest 202 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.