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49,011-acre Philip Harbour 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 Philip Harbour. An official Australian harbour 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 58 ft. The depth chart comes from Geoscience Australia / AusSeabed bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
The outline encloses 49,010 acres, worked by 43.1 miles of shoreline. At index 1.4 the outline is almost a bowl — read the depth changes, not the shoreline. 16% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. Call it 15.1 mi long by 5.7 mi wide at the broadest reach. Normanby Sound sits 37 mi south — the closest neighbouring chart.
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.
In spring, barramundi run shallow here, mostly 2 to 18 ft. Summer keeps them at 2 to 18 ft, and they winter in 11 to 35 ft. Fall barramundi concentrate at Sharp break, a good-rated drop-off around 14 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (14 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 2 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (14 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (14 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 11 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (14 ft) | see map |
Spring puts golden snapper in skinny water — 8 to 35 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 8 to 35 ft, and winter fish hold in 15 to 58 ft. Sharp break is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 14 ft, rated good for fall golden snapper. 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 (14 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (14 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (14 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 15 to 58 ft | midday | Sharp break (44 ft) | see map |
Early season black jewfish use the shallows, holding in 8 to 35 ft. Even in summer they hold at 8 to 35 ft; winter keeps them in 14 to 58 ft. The chart's best answer is Deepest basin — deep basin, 54 ft, prime for 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 (14 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (14 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 7 to 58 ft | dawn & dusk | Deepest basin (54 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 14 to 58 ft | midday | Deepest basin (54 ft) | see map |
In spring, king threadfin run shallow here, mostly 2 to 16 ft. Summer keeps them at 2 to 16 ft, and they winter in 10 to 35 ft. Fall king threadfin concentrate at Sharp break, a good-rated drop-off around 14 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 16 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (14 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 2 to 16 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (14 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (14 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 10 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (14 ft) | see map |
Come spring, look for queenfish tight to the bank in 3 to 25 ft. Through summer count on 3 to 25 ft; the winter hold is 15 to 55 ft. Start at Sharp break. It's a drop-off holding about 14 ft of water and rates prime come fall. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (14 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (14 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 3 to 39 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (14 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 15 to 55 ft | midday | Sharp break (44 ft) | see map |
In spring, giant trevally run shallow here, mostly 4 to 30 ft. Summer keeps them at 4 to 30 ft, and they winter in 13 to 58 ft. Fall giant trevally concentrate at Sharp break, a prime-rated drop-off around 14 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (14 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (14 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 4 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (14 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 13 to 58 ft | midday | Sharp break (14 ft) | see map |
Philip Harbour 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.
8 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deepest basin, around 54 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 Philip Harbour 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 →
Philip Harbour is about 58 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 Philip Harbour. 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 54 ft of water that rates prime for black jewfish in fall. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
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 Philip Harbour 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.
Normanby Sound 37 mi · Simpson Bay 50 mi · Princess Charlotte Bay - Sector 01 277 mi · Princess Charlotte Bay - Sector 02 283 mi · Princess Charlotte Bay - Sector 05 290 mi · Princess Charlotte Bay - Sector 06 296 mi · Quarantine Bay 431 mi · Cedar Bay 454 mi · Alexandra Bay 478 mi · Walbor Inlet 489 mi · Trinity Inlet - Northwest 527 mi · Trinity Inlet - North 530 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.