Salt water depth chart
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12,664-acre Bowling Green Bay. South 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. South 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 19 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.
Bowling Green Bay - South maps at 12,664 acres behind 33.5 miles of shoreline. A middling shoreline index (2.1) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. About 92% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. The basin spans about 13.6 mi end to end and 3 mi across at its widest. Bowling Green Bay - Central sits 7 mi north — 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Start shallow in spring: barramundi sit in 2 to 18 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 2 to 18 ft covers summer, 6 to 19 ft covers winter. Top water on the chart: Sharp break, a drop-off in the 12 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 | 2 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (12 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 2 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (12 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 19 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (12 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 6 to 19 ft | midday | Sharp break (12 ft) | see map |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: golden snapper in 4 to 19 ft. The depth story barely changes: 4 to 19 ft through summer, 5 to 19 ft in winter. The spot to know is Sharp break, a drop-off in about 12 ft of water that rates good for golden snapper in fall. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 19 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (6 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 4 to 19 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (6 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 3 to 19 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (12 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 5 to 19 ft | midday | Sharp break (12 ft) | see map |
Come spring, look for black jewfish tight to the bank in 4 to 19 ft. Through summer count on 4 to 19 ft; the winter hold is 4 to 19 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deepest basin: a deep basin around 19 ft that scores prime in fall. Best bite is early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 19 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (6 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 4 to 19 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (6 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 19 ft | dawn & dusk | Deepest basin (19 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 4 to 19 ft | midday | Deepest basin (19 ft) | see map |
Start shallow in spring: king threadfin sit in 2 to 16 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 2 to 16 ft covers summer, 5 to 19 ft covers winter. Top water on the chart: Shallow measured flat, a feeding flat in the 3 ft range, prime in spring. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite.
| 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 19 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (3 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 5 to 19 ft | midday | Sharp break (12 ft) | see map |
Spring queenfish on Bowling Green Bay - South hold shallow, usually 2 to 19 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 2 to 19 ft in summer, 5 to 19 ft once it turns cold. The chart's best answer is Sharp break — drop-off, 12 ft, prime for fall. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 19 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (6 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 2 to 19 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (6 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 1 to 19 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (12 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 5 to 19 ft | midday | Sharp break (12 ft) | see map |
Start shallow in spring: giant trevally sit in 3 to 19 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 3 to 19 ft covers summer, 4 to 19 ft covers winter. Top water on the chart: Shoreline point, a point in the 6 ft range, prime in spring. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 19 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (6 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 3 to 19 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (6 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 1 to 19 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (12 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 4 to 19 ft | midday | Sharp break (12 ft) | see map |
Bowling Green Bay - South also holds mangrove jack (2 to 18 ft in summer), narrow-barred spanish mackerel (3 to 19 ft in summer), coral trout (4 to 19 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Count 11 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deepest basin, sits near 19 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 - South 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 - South is about 19 ft (6 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 - South. 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 19 ft of water that rates prime for black jewfish in fall. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by 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 - South 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 - Central 7 mi · Cleveland Bay - East 10 mi · Bowling Green Bay - West 12 mi · Bowling Green Bay - Southeast 15 mi · Bowling Green Bay - East 16 mi · Cleveland Bay - West 18 mi · Cleveland Bay - Northeast 33 mi · Coconut Bay 122 mi · White Bay 133 mi · Joseph Bay 177 mi · Trinity Inlet - North 200 mi · Trinity Inlet - Northwest 203 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.