Salt water depth chart
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65,257-acre Pilots Bay 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 Pilots Bay. An official Australian bay 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 195 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.
Drawn out, this is 65,223 acres of water rimmed by 84.6 miles of bank. With a shoreline index of 2.4, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. Roughly 14% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. The basin spans about 17.6 mi end to end and 16.5 mi across at its widest. For a second option, St Albans Bay lies 28 mi east.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| sand flathead (Sand Flathead) | official species listing | — |
| black bream (Black Bream) | official species listing | — |
| Australian salmon (Australian Salmon) | official species listing | — |
| silver trevally (Silver Trevally) | official species listing | — |
| gummy shark (Gummy Shark) | official species listing | — |
| yellowtail kingfish (Yellowtail Kingfish) | official species listing | — |
Official species-evidence source.
Start shallow in spring: sand flathead sit in 8 to 35 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 16 to 80 ft; cold water stacks them in 8 to 35 ft. Top water on the chart: Shallow measured flat, a feeding flat in the 7 ft range, prime in spring. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (7 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 16 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (58 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (58 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 8 to 35 ft | dawn | Shallow measured flat (7 ft) | see map |
When the water first warms, black bream slide up into 2 to 16 ft. By summer they slide out to 7 to 35 ft, and by winter most fish are in 2 to 16 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Offshore hump: an offshore hump around 18 ft that scores good in summer. 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 | open water | see map |
| Summer | 7 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Offshore hump (18 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Offshore hump (18 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 2 to 16 ft | dawn | open water | see map |
Early season australian salmon use the shallows, holding in 4 to 30 ft. Summer is a 14 to 80 ft game here, winter a 4 to 30 ft one. The chart's best answer is Sharp break — drop-off, 58 ft, prime for summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (26 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 14 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (58 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 4 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (58 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 4 to 30 ft | dawn | Shoreline point (26 ft) | see map |
When the water first warms, silver trevally slide up into 4 to 30 ft. By summer they slide out to 14 to 80 ft, and by winter most fish are in 18 to 80 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Sharp break: a drop-off around 58 ft that scores prime in summer. 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 (26 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 14 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (58 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 4 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (58 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 18 to 80 ft | midday | Sharp break (58 ft) | see map |
When the water first warms, gummy shark slide up into 8 to 40 ft. By summer they slide out to 18 to 120 ft, and by winter most fish are in 8 to 40 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Sharp break: a drop-off around 93 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (7 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 18 to 120 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (93 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 84 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (58 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Shallow measured flat (7 ft) | see map |
In spring, yellowtail kingfish run shallow here, mostly 8 to 45 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 20 to 130 ft, and winter fish settle into 27 to 130 ft. Shoreline point is the standout, a point at roughly 26 ft, rated prime for spring yellowtail kingfish. Time it for early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (26 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 20 to 130 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (93 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 91 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (58 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 27 to 130 ft | midday | Sharp break (93 ft) | see map |
21 pieces of structure are mapped here — Sharp break, around 111 ft, is the deepest of them.
No facility from the cited Marine and Safety Tasmania 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://mast.tas.gov.au/recreational/boating-facilities/
Private land and private launches need the owner's permission — please ask first.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Tasmania waters are set by the Fishing Tasmania (current recreational sea-fishing rules) — and special regulations can apply to Pilots Bay specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish. Check Fishing Tasmania's live sea-fishing rules and licensing pages before every trip. Current species limits, licences for particular fisheries, seasonal and area closures, marine reserves, protected species, gear controls and biosecurity measures may apply. A directly measured depth footprint, fishing-spot marker or access lead is planning context only and never grants permission to fish, keep catch, enter private or port land, park or launch.
Check the official Tasmania fishing regulations →
Fishing Tasmania species and licence information →
Check special-area and water-specific rules →
Pilots Bay is about 195 ft (59 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 Tasmania Department of Natural Resources and Environment regional evidence informs the sand flathead, black bream, australian salmon, silver trevally, gummy shark, yellowtail kingfish roster for Pilots Bay. 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 58 ft of water that rates prime for australian salmon in summer. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
For sand flathead, 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 Pilots Bay is regulated by the Fishing Tasmania (current recreational sea-fishing rules). Check the official Tasmania regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
St Albans Bay 28 mi · Emu Bay 45 mi · Ringarooma Bay 55 mi · Cave Bay 68 mi · Great Musselroe Bay - Northwest 69 mi · Maclaines Bay 78 mi · Great Musselroe Bay - West 79 mi · Great Musselroe Bay - North 80 mi · Perkins Bay - West 81 mi · Perkins Bay - North 85 mi · Gunters Bay 94 mi · Perkins Bay - Northwest 95 mi
Browse all Tasmania 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.