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26,469-acre Cleveland Bay. Northeast 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. Northeast trip-scale surveyed footprint within Cleveland Bay. Townsville's tropical bay, including creek mouths, port channels, reef approaches and Magnetic Island-facing water. The displayed footprint is not a legal boundary or a claim of complete named-water coverage. The water tops out around 63 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.
Traced from the shoreline, Cleveland Bay - Northeast runs 26,469 acres with 67.1 miles of edge. A development index of 2.9 means a maze of bays and points: far more casting targets than a round bowl of the same size. About 39% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. Tip to tip the water measures near 16.9 mi with a 10.9-mi widest point. The nearest mapped water is Cleveland Bay - West, 19 mi to the east.
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.
Early season barramundi use the shallows, holding in 2 to 18 ft. Even in summer they hold at 2 to 18 ft; winter keeps them in 11 to 35 ft. The chart's best answer is Sharp break — drop-off, 22 ft, good for fall. Best bite is early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (4 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 2 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (4 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (22 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 11 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (34 ft) | see map |
Spring golden snapper on Cleveland Bay - Northeast hold shallow, usually 8 to 35 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 8 to 35 ft in summer, 17 to 63 ft once it turns cold. Put Sharp break first on the milk run — a drop-off near 34 ft that grades good for 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 (18 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (18 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (34 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 17 to 63 ft | midday | Sharp break (34 ft) | see map |
In spring, black jewfish run shallow here, mostly 8 to 35 ft. Summer keeps them at 8 to 35 ft, and they winter in 15 to 63 ft. Fall black jewfish concentrate at Sharp break, a good-rated drop-off around 34 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 | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (18 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (18 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 63 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (34 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 15 to 63 ft | midday | Sharp break (34 ft) | see map |
Early season king threadfin use the shallows, holding in 2 to 16 ft. Even in summer they hold at 2 to 16 ft; winter keeps them in 10 to 35 ft. The chart's best answer is Shallow measured flat — feeding flat, 7 ft, prime for spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 16 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (7 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 2 to 16 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (7 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (7 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 10 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (34 ft) | see map |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: queenfish in 3 to 25 ft. The depth story barely changes: 3 to 25 ft through summer, 15 to 55 ft in winter. Top water on the chart: Sharp break, a drop-off in the 34 ft range, prime in fall. Time it for early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (18 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (18 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 3 to 39 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (34 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 15 to 55 ft | midday | Sharp break (34 ft) | see map |
Early season giant trevally use the shallows, holding in 4 to 30 ft. Even in summer they hold at 4 to 30 ft; winter keeps them in 14 to 63 ft. The chart's best answer is Shoreline point — point, 18 ft, prime for spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (18 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (18 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 4 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (34 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 14 to 63 ft | midday | Sharp break (34 ft) | see map |
Cleveland Bay - Northeast 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.
10 pieces of structure are mapped here — Sharp break, around 35 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 Cleveland Bay - Northeast 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 →
Cleveland Bay - Northeast is about 63 ft (19 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 Cleveland Bay - Northeast. 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 7 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 Cleveland Bay - Northeast 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 - West 19 mi · Bowling Green Bay - West 21 mi · Cleveland Bay - East 23 mi · Bowling Green Bay - Central 31 mi · Bowling Green Bay - South 33 mi · Bowling Green Bay - East 43 mi · Bowling Green Bay - Southeast 47 mi · Coconut Bay 93 mi · White Bay 166 mi · Trinity Inlet - North 174 mi · Trinity Inlet - Northwest 176 mi · Joseph Bay 210 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.