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.
22,596-acre Byron Bay. Northwest 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. Northwest trip-scale surveyed footprint within Byron Bay. An exposed subtropical bight of reefs, headlands, beach gutters and current-facing nearshore contours. The displayed footprint is not a legal boundary or a claim of complete named-water coverage. The water tops out around 136 ft. The depth chart comes from Geoscience Australia / AusSeabed bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Here's the year, species by species, as the scoring engine sees it.
Traced from the shoreline, Byron Bay - Northwest runs 22,594 acres with 28.3 miles of edge. At index 1.3 the outline is almost a bowl — read the depth changes, not the shoreline. Roughly 9% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. End to end it runs roughly 10.7 mi, about 5.6 mi across. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Byron Bay - North, 9 mi south 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
The spring pattern is a shallow one: australasian snapper in 6 to 35 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 16 to 120 ft before dropping to 21 to 120 ft for winter. The spot to know is Sharp break, a drop-off in about 19 ft of water that rates prime for australasian snapper in summer. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 6 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (24 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 16 to 120 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (19 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 6 to 84 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (19 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 21 to 120 ft | midday | Sharp break (24 ft) | see map |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: mulloway in 5 to 30 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 14 to 100 ft before dropping to 18 to 100 ft for winter. The spot to know is Sharp break, a drop-off in about 19 ft of water that rates good for mulloway in summer. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (19 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 14 to 100 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (19 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 5 to 70 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (19 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 18 to 100 ft | midday | Sharp break (19 ft) | see map |
Spring puts yellowtail kingfish in skinny water — 8 to 45 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 20 to 130 ft; cold water stacks them in 27 to 130 ft. Shoreline point is the standout, a point at roughly 24 ft, rated prime for spring yellowtail kingfish. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (24 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 20 to 130 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (19 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 91 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (19 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 27 to 130 ft | midday | Sharp break (66 ft) | see map |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: dusky flathead in 2 to 15 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 7 to 35 ft before dropping to 9 to 35 ft for winter. The spot to know is Sharp break, a drop-off in about 19 ft of water that rates good for dusky flathead in summer. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (4 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 7 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (19 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (19 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 9 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (19 ft) | see map |
Come spring, look for yellowfin bream tight to the bank in 2 to 16 ft. They move out to 7 to 40 ft in summer and finish the year down in 10 to 40 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Sharp break: a drop-off around 19 ft that scores good in summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 16 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (4 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 7 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (19 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 28 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (19 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 10 to 40 ft | midday | Sharp break (19 ft) | see map |
Spring australian salmon on Byron Bay - Northwest hold shallow, usually 4 to 30 ft. By summer they slide out to 14 to 80 ft, and by winter most fish are in 4 to 30 ft. The chart's best answer is Sharp break — drop-off, 19 ft, prime for summer. 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 (4 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 14 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (19 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 4 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (19 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 4 to 30 ft | dawn | Shoreline point (4 ft) | see map |
Byron Bay - Northwest 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 12 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deepest basin, sits near 132 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 Byron Bay - Northwest 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 →
Byron Bay - Northwest is about 136 ft (41 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 Byron Bay - Northwest. 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 19 ft of water that rates prime for australasian snapper in summer. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every 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 Byron Bay - Northwest 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.
Byron Bay - North 9 mi · Wommin Lagoon 26 mi · Moreton Bay - Sector 11 76 mi, QLD · Moreton Bay - Sector 08 91 mi, QLD · Moreton Bay - Sector 07 92 mi, QLD · Moreton Bay - Sector 05 102 mi, QLD · Moreton Bay - Sector 04 106 mi, QLD · Moreton Bay - Sector 02 119 mi, QLD · Moreton Bay - Sector 03 119 mi, QLD · Trial Bay - Northwest 160 mi · Wide Bay - North 199 mi, QLD · Hervey Bay - Sector 19 220 mi, QLD
See how Byron Bay - Northwest 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.