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22,448-acre Cleveland 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 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 45 ft. The depth chart comes from Geoscience Australia / AusSeabed bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. The rest of this page walks each species through its year, using the map's own scoring.
The outline encloses 22,446 acres, worked by 28.3 miles of shoreline. Nearly circular (index 1.3), so the story is the bottom, not the bank. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 23% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. End to end it runs roughly 10.6 mi, about 5.9 mi across. If the bite dies, Bowling Green Bay - West is 2 mi to the north.
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. Sharp break is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 18 ft, rated good for fall 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 | Sharp break (18 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 2 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (18 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (18 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 11 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (18 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 12 to 45 ft. Fall golden snapper concentrate at Sharp break, a good-rated drop-off around 18 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 (13 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (13 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 6 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (18 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 12 to 45 ft | midday | Sharp break (18 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 11 to 45 ft. Put Deepest basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 45 ft that grades prime 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 (13 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (13 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 6 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | Deepest basin (45 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 11 to 45 ft | midday | Deepest basin (45 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 4 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 (4 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 2 to 16 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (4 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (4 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 10 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (18 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 12 to 45 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Sharp break: a drop-off around 18 ft that scores prime in fall. 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 (13 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (13 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 3 to 39 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (18 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 12 to 45 ft | midday | Sharp break (18 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 10 to 45 ft. Shoreline point is the standout, a point at roughly 13 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 (13 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (13 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 3 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (18 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 10 to 45 ft | midday | Sharp break (18 ft) | see map |
Cleveland 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.
Structure-wise the chart holds 13 features, led in depth by Deepest basin at roughly 45 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 Cleveland 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 →
Cleveland Bay - East is about 45 ft (14 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 - 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.
Deepest basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 45 ft of water that rates prime for black jewfish in fall. 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 Cleveland 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 - West 2 mi · Cleveland Bay - West 9 mi · Bowling Green Bay - Central 10 mi · Bowling Green Bay - South 10 mi · Cleveland Bay - Northeast 23 mi · Bowling Green Bay - East 23 mi · Bowling Green Bay - Southeast 25 mi · Coconut Bay 112 mi · White Bay 144 mi · Joseph Bay 187 mi · Trinity Inlet - North 191 mi · Trinity Inlet - Northwest 194 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.