Salt water depth chart
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91,160-acre Fog Bay. 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 Fog Bay. An open tropical bay linking Bynoe and Daly approaches, with reef, shoal, beach and estuary-mouth structure. The displayed footprint is not a legal boundary or a claim of complete named-water coverage. The water tops out around 65 ft. The depth chart comes from Geoscience Australia / AusSeabed bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
Drawn out, this is 91,152 acres of water rimmed by 70.9 miles of bank, with a single island in the mix. Index 1.7 on the shoreline: a few honest points and pockets, nothing labyrinthine. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 18% of this chart. End to end it runs roughly 15.2 mi, about 10.9 mi across. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Fog Bay - West, 13 mi west of here.
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.
When the water first warms, barramundi slide up into 2 to 18 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 2 to 18 ft, winter 11 to 35 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Sharp break: a drop-off around 15 ft that scores good in 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 | Sharp break (15 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 2 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (15 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (15 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 11 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (15 ft) | see map |
Come spring, look for golden snapper tight to the bank in 8 to 35 ft. Through summer count on 8 to 35 ft; the winter hold is 17 to 65 ft. Start at Sharp break. It's a drop-off holding about 15 ft of water and rates good come 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 (15 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (15 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (15 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 17 to 65 ft | midday | Sharp break (22 ft) | see map |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: black jewfish in 8 to 35 ft. The depth story barely changes: 8 to 35 ft through summer, 15 to 65 ft in winter. Top water on the chart: Sharp break, a drop-off in the 15 ft range, good in fall. 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 (15 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (15 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 63 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (15 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 15 to 65 ft | midday | Sharp break (15 ft) | see map |
When the water first warms, king threadfin slide up into 2 to 16 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 2 to 16 ft, winter 10 to 35 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Shallow measured flat: a feeding flat around 8 ft that scores prime in spring. 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 | Shallow measured flat (8 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 2 to 16 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (8 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (8 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 10 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (15 ft) | see map |
Spring puts queenfish in skinny water — 3 to 25 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 3 to 25 ft, and winter fish hold in 15 to 55 ft. Sharp break is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 15 ft, rated prime for fall queenfish. 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 | Shoreline point (6 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (6 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 3 to 39 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (15 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 15 to 55 ft | midday | Sharp break (15 ft) | see map |
When the water first warms, giant trevally slide up into 4 to 30 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 4 to 30 ft, winter 15 to 65 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Shoreline point: a point around 6 ft that scores prime in spring. 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 (6 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (6 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 4 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (15 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 15 to 65 ft | midday | Sharp break (15 ft) | see map |
Fog Bay - Central 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 12 features, led in depth by Sharp break at roughly 35 ft.
No facility from the cited Northern Territory boat ramps 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://nt.gov.au/marine/for-all-harbour-and-boat-users/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 Northern Territory waters are set by the Northern Territory Government (current recreational-fishing rules) — and special regulations can apply to Fog Bay - Central specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish. Check the Northern Territory's live possession and size limits and rules for specific areas before every trip. Seasonal barramundi controls, protected species, marine-park and Aboriginal land or sea-country permissions, method limits, vessel rules and local closures can apply. Remote-water access often needs separate landowner or permit approval. A mapped survey footprint, fishing spot or access lead never grants fishing, retention, entry, parking, camping or launching permission.
Check the official Northern Territory fishing regulations →
Northern Territory possession and size limits →
Check special-area and water-specific rules →
Fog Bay - Central is about 65 ft (20 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 Northern Territory Department of Agriculture and Fisheries regional evidence informs the barramundi, golden snapper, black jewfish, king threadfin, queenfish, giant trevally, mangrove jack, narrow-barred spanish mackerel, coral trout roster for Fog Bay - 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.
Shallow measured flat is the top-rated area: a feeding flat in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for king threadfin in spring. 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 Fog Bay - Central is regulated by the Northern Territory Government (current recreational-fishing rules). Check the official Northern Territory regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Fog Bay - West 13 mi · Fog Bay - North 15 mi · Bynoe Harbour - West 16 mi · Anson Bay - Sector 02 21 mi · Fog Bay - Northeast 22 mi · Bynoe Harbour - Northwest 29 mi · Port Darwin - West 32 mi · Anson Bay - Sector 06 33 mi · Bynoe Harbour - North 35 mi · Anson Bay - Sector 10 39 mi · Bynoe Harbour - East 40 mi · Anson Bay - Sector 05 40 mi
Browse all Northern Territory 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.