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104,997-acre Normanby Sound 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 Normanby Sound. An official Australian sound 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. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Normanby Sound maps at 104,989 acres behind 93.8 miles of shoreline, with 2 islands in the mix. A middling shoreline index (2.1) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 28% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. The basin spans about 18.8 mi end to end and 16.9 mi across at its widest. Its nearest charted neighbour, Simpson Bay, is 18 mi to the southeast.
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.
The spring pattern is a shallow one: barramundi in 2 to 18 ft. The depth story barely changes: 2 to 18 ft through summer, 11 to 35 ft in winter. Top water on the chart: Sharp break, a drop-off in the 6 ft range, good in fall. Time it for 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 (16 ft) | see map |
Start shallow in spring: golden snapper sit in 8 to 35 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 8 to 35 ft covers summer, 15 to 59 ft covers winter. The spot to know is Sharp break, a drop-off in about 16 ft of water that rates good for golden snapper in fall. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (16 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (16 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (16 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 15 to 59 ft | midday | Sharp break (16 ft) | see map |
When the water first warms, black jewfish slide up into 8 to 35 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 8 to 35 ft, winter 14 to 59 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deepest basin: a deep basin around 59 ft that scores prime in fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (16 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (16 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 7 to 59 ft | dawn & dusk | Deepest basin (59 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 14 to 59 ft | midday | Deepest basin (59 ft) | see map |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: king threadfin in 2 to 16 ft. The depth story barely changes: 2 to 16 ft through summer, 10 to 35 ft in winter. Top water on the chart: Shallow measured flat, a feeding flat in the 7 ft range, prime in spring. Time it for early morning and the evening.
| 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 (16 ft) | see map |
Early season queenfish use the shallows, holding in 3 to 25 ft. Even in summer they hold at 3 to 25 ft; winter keeps them in 15 to 55 ft. The chart's best answer is Sharp break — drop-off, 6 ft, prime for fall. Best bite is early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (16 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (16 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 3 to 39 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (6 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 15 to 55 ft | midday | Sharp break (16 ft) | see map |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: giant trevally in 4 to 30 ft. The depth story barely changes: 4 to 30 ft through summer, 13 to 59 ft in winter. Top water on the chart: Shoreline point, a point in the 16 ft range, prime in spring. Time it for early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (16 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (16 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 4 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (6 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 13 to 59 ft | midday | Sharp break (16 ft) | see map |
Normanby Sound 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.
24 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deepest basin, around 59 ft, is the deepest of them.
No facility from the cited Queensland recreational boating facilities 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://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/recreational-boating-facilities-queensland
Private land and private launches need the owner's permission — please ask first.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Queensland waters are set by the Queensland Government (current recreational-fishing rules) — and special regulations can apply to Normanby Sound specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish. Check Queensland's live tidal-water size and possession limits, closed seasons and closed waters before every trip. During a closed season, official guidance can prohibit targeting a species even for catch-and-release. Also verify marine-park zoning, protected and no-take species, gear rules, bait-movement controls and local access directions. A mapped survey footprint or fishing spot is not legal permission to fish, retain catch, enter, park or launch.
Check the official Queensland fishing regulations →
Queensland Government tidal-water limits →
Check special-area and water-specific rules →
Normanby Sound 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 Queensland Department of Primary Industries regional evidence informs the barramundi, golden snapper, black jewfish, king threadfin, queenfish, giant trevally, mangrove jack, narrow-barred spanish mackerel, coral trout roster for Normanby Sound. 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 59 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 Normanby Sound is regulated by the Queensland Government (current recreational-fishing rules). Check the official Queensland regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Simpson Bay 18 mi · Philip Harbour 37 mi · Princess Charlotte Bay - Sector 01 244 mi · Princess Charlotte Bay - Sector 02 252 mi · Princess Charlotte Bay - Sector 05 257 mi · Princess Charlotte Bay - Sector 06 264 mi · Quarantine Bay 401 mi · Cedar Bay 424 mi · Alexandra Bay 448 mi · Walbor Inlet 454 mi · Trinity Inlet - Northwest 497 mi · Trinity Inlet - North 500 mi
Browse all Queensland 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.