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135,442-acre Nickol Bay. Sector 09 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 09 trip-scale surveyed footprint within Nickol Bay. A Pilbara bay around Dampier and Karratha, with island channels, reefs, port structure and tidal flats. The displayed footprint is not a legal boundary or a claim of complete named-water coverage. The water tops out around 98 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.
Traced from the shoreline, Nickol Bay - Sector 09 runs 135,441 acres with 59.8 miles of edge. At index 1.2 the outline is almost a bowl — read the depth changes, not the shoreline. 2% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. End to end it runs roughly 20.4 mi, about 19.3 mi across. For a second option, Nickol Bay - Sector 14 lies 11 mi 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.
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. Start at Sharp break. It's a drop-off holding about 5 ft of water and rates good come fall. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (5 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 2 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (5 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (5 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 11 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (31 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 21 to 80 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Sharp break: a drop-off around 31 ft that scores good in 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 | Sharp break (31 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (31 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (31 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 21 to 80 ft | midday | Sharp break (31 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, 21 to 90 ft in winter. The spot to know is Sharp break, a drop-off in about 31 ft of water that rates good for black jewfish in fall. 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 | Sharp break (31 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (31 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 63 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (31 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 21 to 90 ft | midday | Sharp break (31 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. Start at Sharp break. It's a drop-off holding about 5 ft of water and rates good come fall. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 16 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (5 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 2 to 16 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (5 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (5 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 10 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (31 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. Fall queenfish concentrate at Sharp break, a prime-rated drop-off around 5 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (5 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (5 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 3 to 39 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (5 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 15 to 55 ft | midday | Sharp break (31 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 18 to 80 ft. Start at Sharp break. It's a drop-off holding about 5 ft of water and rates prime come fall. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (5 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (5 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 4 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (5 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 18 to 80 ft | midday | Sharp break (31 ft) | see map |
Nickol Bay - Sector 09 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.
Count 9 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Sharp break, sits near 47 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 Nickol Bay - Sector 09 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 →
Nickol Bay - Sector 09 is about 98 ft (30 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 Nickol Bay - Sector 09. 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 5 ft of water that rates prime for queenfish 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 Nickol Bay - Sector 09 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.
Nickol Bay - Sector 14 11 mi · Nickol Bay - Sector 08 14 mi · Nickol Bay - Sector 10 15 mi · Nickol Bay - Sector 15 19 mi · Nickol Bay - Sector 13 20 mi · Nickol Bay - Sector 07 30 mi · Nickol Bay - Sector 12 32 mi · Forestier Bay 38 mi · Nickol Bay - Sector 06 43 mi · Nickol Bay - Sector 11 48 mi · Diver Inlet 79 mi · Oyster Inlet 83 mi
See how Nickol Bay - Sector 09 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.