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.
70,423-acre Port Darwin. North 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. North trip-scale surveyed footprint within Port Darwin. Darwin Harbour's arms, flats, reefs, wrecks and deep tide-scoured channels, divided around operational trip areas. The displayed footprint is not a legal boundary or a claim of complete named-water coverage. The water tops out around 101 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.
The drawn water covers 70,414 acres wrapped in 69 miles of bank. With a 1.9 development index there's bank structure worth casting at, in moderation. About 20% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. End to end it runs roughly 18.8 mi, about 12.4 mi across. Bynoe Harbour - Northeast sits 7 mi west — 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.
Spring puts barramundi in skinny water — 2 to 18 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 2 to 18 ft, and winter fish hold in 11 to 35 ft. Fall barramundi concentrate at Sharp break, a good-rated drop-off around 18 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (18 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 2 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (18 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (18 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 11 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (18 ft) | see map |
In spring, golden snapper run shallow here, mostly 8 to 35 ft. Summer keeps them at 8 to 35 ft, and they winter in 21 to 80 ft. Sharp break is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 18 ft, rated good for fall golden snapper. Time it for early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (9 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (9 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (18 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 21 to 80 ft | midday | Sharp break (37 ft) | see map |
Spring black jewfish on Port Darwin - North hold shallow, usually 8 to 35 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 8 to 35 ft in summer, 21 to 90 ft once it turns cold. The chart's best answer is Sharp break — drop-off, 18 ft, good for fall. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (9 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (9 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 63 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (18 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 21 to 90 ft | midday | Sharp break (84 ft) | see map |
Spring puts king threadfin in skinny water — 2 to 16 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 2 to 16 ft, and winter fish hold in 10 to 35 ft. Spring king threadfin concentrate at Shallow measured flat, a prime-rated feeding flat around 4 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 16 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (4 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 2 to 16 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (4 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (4 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 10 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (18 ft) | see map |
When the water first warms, queenfish slide up into 3 to 25 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 3 to 25 ft, winter 15 to 55 ft. Start at Sharp break. It's a drop-off holding about 18 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 | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (3 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (3 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 3 to 39 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (18 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 15 to 55 ft | midday | Sharp break (18 ft) | see map |
Spring puts giant trevally in skinny water — 4 to 30 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 4 to 30 ft, and winter fish hold in 18 to 80 ft. Spring giant trevally concentrate at Shoreline point, a prime-rated point around 9 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (9 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (9 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 4 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (18 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 18 to 80 ft | midday | Sharp break (18 ft) | see map |
Port Darwin - North 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.
The chart marks 18 structure features on Port Darwin - North; the deepest is Deepest basin at about 99 ft.
No facility from the cited Northern Territory boat ramps 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://nt.gov.au/marine/for-all-harbour-and-boat-users/boat-ramps
Private land and private launches need the owner's permission — please ask first.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Northern Territory waters are set by the Northern Territory Government (current recreational-fishing rules) — and special regulations can apply to Port Darwin - North specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish. Check the Northern Territory's live possession and size limits and rules for specific areas before every trip. Seasonal barramundi controls, protected species, marine-park and Aboriginal land or sea-country permissions, method limits, vessel rules and local closures can apply. Remote-water access often needs separate landowner or permit approval. A mapped survey footprint, fishing spot or access lead never grants fishing, retention, entry, parking, camping or launching permission.
Check the official Northern Territory fishing regulations →
Northern Territory possession and size limits →
Check special-area and water-specific rules →
Port Darwin - North is about 101 ft (31 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 Northern Territory Department of Agriculture and Fisheries regional evidence informs the barramundi, golden snapper, black jewfish, king threadfin, queenfish, giant trevally, mangrove jack, narrow-barred spanish mackerel, coral trout roster for Port Darwin - North. 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.
Shallow measured flat is the top-rated area: a feeding flat in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for king threadfin in spring. 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 Port Darwin - North is regulated by the Northern Territory Government (current recreational-fishing rules). Check the official Northern Territory regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Bynoe Harbour - Northeast 7 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 50 9 mi · Port Darwin - Northwest 10 mi · Port Darwin - Central 14 mi · Bynoe Harbour - East 15 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 43 19 mi · Bynoe Harbour - North 20 mi · Port Darwin - West 22 mi · Fog Bay - Northeast 29 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 36 30 mi · Bynoe Harbour - Northwest 31 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 44 32 mi
Browse all Northern Territory 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.