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.
19,947-acre Bowling Green Bay. Southeast 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. Southeast 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 69 ft. The depth chart comes from Geoscience Australia / AusSeabed bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. The season-by-season read for each species follows, from the map's own numbers.
Drawn out, this is 19,946 acres of water rimmed by 40.2 miles of bank. Index 2 on the shoreline: a few honest points and pockets, nothing labyrinthine. Roughly 46% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. End to end it runs roughly 13.9 mi, about 6.6 mi across. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Bowling Green Bay - East, 10 mi north of here.
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.
Come spring, look for barramundi tight to the bank in 2 to 18 ft. Through summer count on 2 to 18 ft; the winter hold is 11 to 35 ft. Start at Sharp break. It's a drop-off holding about 7 ft of water and rates good come fall. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (7 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 2 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (7 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (7 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 11 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (26 ft) | see map |
When the water first warms, golden snapper slide up into 8 to 35 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 8 to 35 ft, winter 18 to 69 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Sharp break: a drop-off around 26 ft that scores good in 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 (12 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (12 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (26 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 18 to 69 ft | midday | Sharp break (26 ft) | see map |
Start shallow in spring: black jewfish sit in 8 to 35 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 8 to 35 ft covers summer, 16 to 69 ft covers winter. The spot to know is Deepest basin, a deep basin in about 68 ft of water that rates prime for black jewfish in winter. 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 (12 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (12 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 63 ft | dawn & dusk | Deepest basin (68 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 16 to 69 ft | midday | Deepest basin (68 ft) | see map |
Come spring, look for king threadfin tight to the bank in 2 to 16 ft. Through summer count on 2 to 16 ft; the winter hold is 10 to 35 ft. Start at Shallow measured flat. It's a feeding flat holding about 2 ft of water and rates prime come spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 16 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (2 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 2 to 16 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (2 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (2 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 10 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (26 ft) | see map |
In spring, queenfish run shallow here, mostly 3 to 25 ft. Summer keeps them at 3 to 25 ft, and they winter in 15 to 55 ft. Fall queenfish concentrate at Sharp break, a prime-rated drop-off around 26 ft. 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 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (6 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (6 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 3 to 39 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (26 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 15 to 55 ft | midday | Sharp break (26 ft) | see map |
Come spring, look for giant trevally tight to the bank in 4 to 30 ft. Through summer count on 4 to 30 ft; the winter hold is 16 to 69 ft. Start at Shoreline point. It's a point holding about 6 ft of water and rates prime come spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (6 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (6 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 4 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (26 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 16 to 69 ft | midday | Sharp break (26 ft) | see map |
Bowling Green Bay - Southeast 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 Deepest basin at roughly 68 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 - Southeast 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 - Southeast is about 69 ft (21 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 - Southeast. 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 68 ft of water that rates prime for black jewfish in winter. 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 - Southeast 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 - East 10 mi · Bowling Green Bay - South 15 mi · Bowling Green Bay - Central 16 mi · Cleveland Bay - East 25 mi · Bowling Green Bay - West 26 mi · Cleveland Bay - West 30 mi · Cleveland Bay - Northeast 47 mi · White Bay 120 mi · Coconut Bay 132 mi · Joseph Bay 165 mi · Trinity Inlet - North 208 mi · Trinity Inlet - Northwest 211 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.