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58,252-acre Cockburn Sound. Central 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. Central trip-scale surveyed footprint within Cockburn Sound. Perth's island-sheltered sound, with shipping channels, seagrass, reefs, jetties and measured port approaches. The displayed footprint is not a legal boundary or a claim of complete named-water coverage. The water tops out around 91 ft. The depth chart comes from Geoscience Australia / AusSeabed bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Traced from the shoreline, Cockburn Sound - Central runs 58,257 acres with 50.3 miles of edge. Index 1.5 on the shoreline: a few honest points and pockets, nothing labyrinthine. 13% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. End to end it runs roughly 13.1 mi, about 8.8 mi across. The nearest mapped water is Cockburn Sound - West, 13 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 |
|---|---|---|
| mulloway (Mulloway) | official species listing | — |
| yellowtail kingfish (Yellowtail Kingfish) | official species listing | — |
| tailor (Tailor) | official species listing | — |
| silver trevally (Silver Trevally) | official species listing | — |
| gummy shark (Gummy Shark) | official species listing | — |
| King George whiting (King George Whiting) | official species listing | — |
Official species-evidence source.
Start shallow in spring: mulloway sit in 5 to 30 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 13 to 91 ft, and winter fish settle into 16 to 91 ft. The spot to know is Deepest basin, a deep basin in about 85 ft of water that rates prime for mulloway in summer. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (7 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 13 to 91 ft | dawn & dusk | Deepest basin (85 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 5 to 70 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (7 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 16 to 91 ft | midday | Deepest basin (85 ft) | see map |
In spring, yellowtail kingfish run shallow here, mostly 8 to 45 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 14 to 91 ft, and winter fish settle into 19 to 91 ft. Shoreline point is the standout, a point at roughly 25 ft, rated prime for spring yellowtail kingfish. Time it for early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (25 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 14 to 91 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (76 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 91 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (76 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 19 to 91 ft | midday | Sharp break (76 ft) | see map |
Early season tailor use the shallows, holding in 3 to 25 ft. Expect a summer slide to 11 to 65 ft, then a winter hold in 15 to 65 ft. Put Sharp break first on the milk run — a drop-off near 15 ft that grades prime for summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (25 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 11 to 65 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (15 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 3 to 46 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (7 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 15 to 65 ft | midday | Sharp break (15 ft) | see map |
When the water first warms, silver trevally slide up into 4 to 30 ft. By summer they slide out to 14 to 80 ft, and by winter most fish are in 18 to 80 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Sharp break: a drop-off around 76 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (25 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 14 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (76 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 4 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (7 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 18 to 80 ft | midday | Sharp break (76 ft) | see map |
When the water first warms, gummy shark slide up into 8 to 40 ft. By summer they slide out to 14 to 91 ft, and by winter most fish are in 8 to 40 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deepest basin: a deep basin around 85 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (15 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 14 to 91 ft | dawn & dusk | Deepest basin (85 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 84 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (76 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Sharp break (15 ft) | see map |
Spring puts king george whiting in skinny water — 3 to 18 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 8 to 45 ft, wintering in 11 to 45 ft. Summer king george whiting concentrate at Sharp break, a good-rated drop-off around 15 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (7 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (15 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 3 to 31 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (7 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 11 to 45 ft | midday | Sharp break (15 ft) | see map |
Count 13 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deepest basin, sits near 85 ft.
Access data: Western Australia Department of Transport Public Boat Ramps (DOT-033). Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Western Australia waters are set by the WA DPIRD (current recreational-fishing rules) — and special regulations can apply to Cockburn Sound - Central specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish. Check WA DPIRD's live regional guide, licences, demersal-management measures, species limits, seasonal and spatial closures, marine parks, protected species and permitted gear before every trip. Species available to target can change by bioregion and date; a regional occurrence record is not an open-season signal. A directly measured contour, fishing spot or access lead never grants fishing, retention, port entry, parking or launching permission.
Check the official Western Australia fishing regulations →
WA DPIRD current recreational-fishing guides →
Check special-area and water-specific rules →
Cockburn Sound - Central is about 91 ft (28 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 Western Australia Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development regional evidence informs the mulloway, yellowtail kingfish, tailor, silver trevally, gummy shark, king george whiting roster for Cockburn Sound - Central. 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 85 ft of water that rates prime for mulloway in summer. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
For mulloway, 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 Cockburn Sound - Central is regulated by the WA DPIRD (current recreational-fishing rules). Check the official Western Australia regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Cockburn Sound - West 13 mi · Cockburn Sound - Northeast 13 mi · Cockburn Sound - Northwest 26 mi · Yanchep Lagoon 55 mi · Geographe Bay - Sector 04 64 mi · Geographe Bay - Sector 03 66 mi · Geographe Bay - Sector 08 75 mi · Geographe Bay - Sector 07 81 mi · Geographe Bay - Sector 06 90 mi · Geographe Bay - Sector 11 90 mi · Geographe Bay - Sector 05 91 mi · Geographe Bay - Sector 10 92 mi
See how Cockburn Sound - Central stacks up: best mulloway lakes in Western Australia · best yellowtail kingfish lakes in Western Australia · best king george whiting lakes in Western Australia · best tailor lakes in Western Australia
Browse all Western Australia 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.