Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up freeSalt water depth chart
Today's read
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
36,884-acre Nickol Bay. Sector 12 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 12 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 53 ft. The depth chart comes from Geoscience Australia / AusSeabed bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
Traced from the shoreline, Nickol Bay - Sector 12 runs 36,882 acres with 51.6 miles of edge. Index 1.9 on the shoreline: a few honest points and pockets, nothing labyrinthine. Roughly 51% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. The basin spans about 14.9 mi end to end and 8.2 mi across at its widest. For a second option, Nickol Bay - Sector 07 lies 12 mi 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 6 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 (6 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 2 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (6 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (6 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 11 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (24 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 14 to 53 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Sharp break: a drop-off around 40 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 (24 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (24 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 53 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (40 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 14 to 53 ft | midday | Sharp break (40 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, 12 to 53 ft in winter. The spot to know is Deepest basin, a deep basin in about 53 ft of water that rates prime 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 (24 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (24 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 7 to 53 ft | dawn & dusk | Deepest basin (53 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 12 to 53 ft | midday | Deepest basin (53 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 Shallow measured flat. It's a feeding flat holding about 5 ft of water and rates prime come spring. 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 | Shallow measured flat (5 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 2 to 16 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (5 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (5 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 10 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (24 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 14 to 53 ft. Fall queenfish concentrate at Sharp break, a prime-rated drop-off around 6 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 | 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 (6 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 14 to 53 ft | midday | Sharp break (40 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 12 to 53 ft. Start at Shoreline point. It's a point holding about 6 ft of water and rates prime come spring. 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 | Shoreline point (6 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (6 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 4 to 53 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (6 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 12 to 53 ft | midday | Sharp break (40 ft) | see map |
Nickol Bay - Sector 12 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.
Nickol Bay - Sector 12 carries 14 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deepest basin, about 53 ft down.
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 12 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 12 is about 53 ft (16 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 12. 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 53 ft of water that rates prime for black jewfish 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 Nickol Bay - Sector 12 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 07 12 mi · Nickol Bay - Sector 13 13 mi · Nickol Bay - Sector 06 16 mi · Nickol Bay - Sector 11 17 mi · Nickol Bay - Sector 08 19 mi · Nickol Bay - Sector 14 31 mi · Nickol Bay - Sector 09 32 mi · Nickol Bay - Sector 15 44 mi · Nickol Bay - Sector 10 46 mi · Diver Inlet 48 mi · Forestier Bay 68 mi · Claret Bay 80 mi
See how Nickol Bay - Sector 12 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.