Salt water depth chart
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88,890-acre Exmouth Gulf. Sector 03 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. Sector 03 trip-scale surveyed footprint within Exmouth Gulf. A large tropical gulf with mangrove shallows, tidal channels, reefward points and deeper northern access. The displayed footprint is not a legal boundary or a claim of complete named-water coverage. The water tops out around 531 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.
Drawn out, this is 88,910 acres of water rimmed by 126.6 miles of bank, with a single island in the mix. The 3 development index tells the story — a convoluted bank whose fishable edge far outruns the acreage. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 6% of this chart. The basin spans about 19.1 mi end to end and 17.6 mi across at its widest. The nearest mapped water is Exmouth Gulf - Sector 07, 14 mi to the south.
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. Put Sharp break first on the milk run — a drop-off near 21 ft that grades good for fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | see map |
| Summer | 2 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (21 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 11 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (21 ft) | see map |
Spring golden snapper on Exmouth Gulf - Sector 03 hold shallow, usually 8 to 35 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 8 to 35 ft in summer, 21 to 80 ft once it turns cold. The chart's best answer is Sharp break — drop-off, 21 ft, good for fall. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (21 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (21 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (21 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 21 to 80 ft | midday | Sharp break (80 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 21 to 90 ft. Sharp break is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 21 ft, rated good for fall black jewfish. Time it for early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (21 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (21 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 63 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (21 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 21 to 90 ft | midday | Sharp break (80 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. Put Sharp break first on the milk run — a drop-off near 21 ft that grades good for fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 16 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | see map |
| Summer | 2 to 16 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (21 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 10 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (21 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. The spot to know is Sharp break, a drop-off in about 21 ft of water that rates prime for queenfish in fall. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (21 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (21 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 3 to 39 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (21 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 15 to 55 ft | midday | Sharp break (21 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 18 to 80 ft. Put Sharp break first on the milk run — a drop-off near 21 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 | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (21 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (21 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 4 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (21 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 18 to 80 ft | midday | Sharp break (80 ft) | see map |
Exmouth Gulf - Sector 03 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.
The chart marks 9 structure features on Exmouth Gulf - Sector 03; the deepest is Deepest basin at about 517 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 Exmouth Gulf - Sector 03 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 →
Exmouth Gulf - Sector 03 is about 531 ft (162 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 Exmouth Gulf - Sector 03. 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 21 ft of water that rates prime for queenfish in fall. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by 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 Exmouth Gulf - Sector 03 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.
Exmouth Gulf - Sector 07 14 mi · Exmouth Gulf - Sector 02 16 mi · Exmouth Gulf - Sector 04 18 mi · Exmouth Gulf - Sector 08 20 mi · Exmouth Gulf - Sector 11 28 mi · Exmouth Gulf - Sector 12 29 mi · Exmouth Gulf - Sector 15 43 mi · Beadon Bay 48 mi · Exmouth Gulf - Sector 19 55 mi · Bandicoot Bay 79 mi · Claret Bay 106 mi · Diver Inlet 119 mi
See how Exmouth Gulf - Sector 03 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.