Salt water depth chart
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85,694-acre Desault Bay 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. Trip-scale surveyed footprint within Desault Bay. An official Australian bay evaluated inside a compact 24-kilometre trip-planning window centred on the Composite Gazetteer feature. The public outline is limited to retained direct AusBathyTopo survey cells, not a legal or navigational boundary. The displayed footprint is not a legal boundary or a claim of complete named-water coverage. The water tops out around 59 ft. The depth chart comes from Geoscience Australia / AusSeabed bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
Desault Bay maps at 85,691 acres behind 51.2 miles of shoreline. A shoreline index of 1.2 says round and simple: fish relate to depth changes here, not shoreline features. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 19% of this chart. Tip to tip the water measures near 17.9 mi with an 11.6-mi widest point. If the bite dies, Lagrange Bay is 26 mi to the northeast.
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. Fall barramundi concentrate at Sharp break, a good-rated drop-off around 18 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 | 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 15 to 59 ft. Sharp break is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 18 ft, rated good for fall golden snapper. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (9 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (9 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (18 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 15 to 59 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 14 to 59 ft. The chart's best answer is Deepest basin — deep basin, 57 ft, prime for fall. Best bite is early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (9 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (9 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 7 to 59 ft | dawn & dusk | Deepest basin (57 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 14 to 59 ft | midday | Deepest basin (57 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. Spring king threadfin concentrate at Shallow measured flat, a prime-rated feeding flat around 7 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 | 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 (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 15 to 55 ft. Start at Sharp break. It's a drop-off holding about 18 ft of water and rates prime come fall. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (3 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (3 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 3 to 39 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (18 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 15 to 55 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 13 to 59 ft. Spring giant trevally concentrate at Shoreline point, a prime-rated point around 9 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 | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (9 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (9 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 4 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (18 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 13 to 59 ft | midday | Sharp break (18 ft) | see map |
Desault Bay 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 17 features, led in depth by Deepest basin at roughly 57 ft.
No facility from the cited Western Australia Department of Transport Public Boat Ramps (DOT-033) 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://catalogue.data.wa.gov.au/dataset/boat-ramps
Private land and private launches need the owner's permission — please ask first.
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 Desault Bay 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 →
Desault Bay is about 59 ft (18 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 barramundi, golden snapper, black jewfish, king threadfin, queenfish, giant trevally, mangrove jack, narrow-barred spanish mackerel, coral trout roster for Desault Bay. 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 57 ft of water that rates prime for black jewfish in fall. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
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 Desault Bay 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.
Lagrange Bay 26 mi · Roebuck Bay - Southwest 52 mi · Roebuck Bay - Central 79 mi · Roebuck Bay - North 85 mi · Carnot Bay 136 mi · King Sound - Sector 29 152 mi · King Sound - Sector 22 161 mi · Breaker Inlet 166 mi · King Sound - Sector 23 172 mi · King Sound - Sector 40 174 mi · King Sound - Sector 32 178 mi · King Sound - Sector 16 181 mi
See how Desault Bay stacks up: best barramundi lakes in Western Australia · best golden snapper lakes in Western Australia · best black jewfish lakes in Western Australia · best king threadfin 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.