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22,025-acre Port Phillip. 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 Phillip. Victoria's largest enclosed marine bay, divided around its shallow banks, deep central basin, reefs and narrow entrance. The displayed footprint is not a legal boundary or a claim of complete named-water coverage. The water tops out around 61 ft. The depth chart comes from Geoscience Australia / AusSeabed bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
Traced from the shoreline, Port Phillip - North runs 22,024 acres with 35.9 miles of edge. The shoreline is moderately structured (index 1.7) — enough points and pockets to pattern. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 21% of this chart. Call it 10.7 mi long by 6.5 mi wide at the broadest reach. For a second option, Port Phillip - Northeast lies 6 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 |
|---|---|---|
| snapper (Australasian Snapper) | official species listing | — |
| King George whiting (King George Whiting) | official species listing | — |
| 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.
In spring, australasian snapper run shallow here, mostly 6 to 35 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 8 to 61 ft before dropping to 11 to 61 ft for winter. Summer australasian snapper concentrate at Sharp break, a prime-rated drop-off around 42 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 | 6 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (8 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 61 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (42 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 4 to 61 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (7 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 11 to 61 ft | midday | Sharp break (42 ft) | see map |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: king george whiting in 3 to 18 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 8 to 45 ft before dropping to 11 to 45 ft for winter. The spot to know is Shallow measured flat, a feeding flat in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for king george whiting in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (4 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (42 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 3 to 31 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (7 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 11 to 45 ft | midday | Sharp break (42 ft) | see map |
Spring puts sand flathead in skinny water — 8 to 35 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 12 to 61 ft, wintering in 8 to 35 ft. Summer sand flathead concentrate at Deepest basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 59 ft. 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 | Shallow measured flat (4 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 12 to 61 ft | dawn & dusk | Deepest basin (59 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Deepest basin (59 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 8 to 35 ft | dawn | Shallow measured flat (4 ft) | see map |
Spring black bream on Port Phillip - North hold shallow, usually 2 to 16 ft. They move out to 7 to 35 ft in summer and finish the year down in 2 to 16 ft. Put Sharp break first on the milk run — a drop-off near 7 ft that grades good for summer. 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 | Sharp break (7 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 7 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (7 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (7 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 2 to 16 ft | dawn | Sharp break (7 ft) | see map |
When the water first warms, australian salmon slide up into 4 to 30 ft. By summer they slide out to 11 to 61 ft, and by winter most fish are in 4 to 30 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Sharp break: a drop-off around 42 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 (8 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 11 to 61 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (42 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 4 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (7 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 4 to 30 ft | dawn | Shoreline point (8 ft) | see map |
Spring silver trevally on Port Phillip - North hold shallow, usually 4 to 30 ft. They move out to 11 to 61 ft in summer and finish the year down in 14 to 61 ft. Put Sharp break first on the milk run — a drop-off near 42 ft that grades prime for summer. 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 (8 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 11 to 61 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (42 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 4 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (7 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 14 to 61 ft | midday | Sharp break (42 ft) | see map |
Port Phillip - North also holds gummy shark (9 to 61 ft in summer), yellowtail kingfish (9 to 61 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Structure-wise the chart holds 9 features, led in depth by Deepest basin at roughly 59 ft.
No facility from the cited Victorian 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://discover.data.vic.gov.au/dataset/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 Victoria waters are set by the Victorian Fisheries Authority (current recreational-fishing guide) — and special regulations can apply to Port Phillip - North specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish. Check the live Victorian recreational-fishing guide and licence requirements before every trip. Size and possession limits, closed seasons and waters, marine parks, protected species, permitted equipment and local port or council directions may all apply. A directly measured bathymetry footprint, fishing-spot marker or nearby access lead is planning context only; it never grants fishing, retention, entry, parking or launching permission.
Check the official Victoria fishing regulations →
Victorian Fisheries Authority →
Check special-area and water-specific rules →
Port Phillip - North is about 61 ft (19 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 Victorian Fisheries Authority regional evidence informs the australasian snapper, king george whiting, sand flathead, black bream, australian salmon, silver trevally, gummy shark, yellowtail kingfish roster for Port Phillip - 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.
Sharp break is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 42 ft of water that rates prime for australasian snapper in summer. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
For australasian snapper, 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 Phillip - North is regulated by the Victorian Fisheries Authority (current recreational-fishing guide). Check the official Victoria regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Port Phillip - Northeast 6 mi · Port Phillip - Central 10 mi · Port Phillip - East 14 mi · Port Phillip - West 19 mi · Western Port - Northwest 23 mi · Port Phillip - Southeast 25 mi · Western Port - North 36 mi · Western Port - West 39 mi · Western Port - Central 42 mi · Western Port - Southwest 44 mi · Western Port - East 47 mi · Western Port - South 50 mi
Browse all Victoria 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.