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36,143-acre Port Phillip. East 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. East 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 79 ft. The depth chart comes from Geoscience Australia / AusSeabed bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
On the chart, Port Phillip - East draws 36,147 acres inside 71 miles of shoreline. With a shoreline index of 2.7, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 18% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. Tip to tip the water measures near 17.8 mi with a 13-mi widest point. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Western Port - Northwest, 10 mi south of here.
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.
Spring puts australasian snapper in skinny water — 6 to 35 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 11 to 79 ft; cold water stacks them in 14 to 79 ft. Sharp break is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 22 ft, rated prime for summer australasian snapper. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 6 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (20 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 11 to 79 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (22 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 6 to 79 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (22 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 14 to 79 ft | midday | Sharp break (22 ft) | see map |
Start shallow in spring: king george whiting sit in 3 to 18 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 8 to 45 ft; cold water stacks them in 11 to 45 ft. Top water on the chart: Sharp break, a drop-off in the 22 ft range, good in summer. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (5 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (22 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 3 to 31 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (22 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 11 to 45 ft | midday | Sharp break (22 ft) | see map |
In spring, sand flathead run shallow here, mostly 8 to 35 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 16 to 79 ft, and winter fish settle into 8 to 35 ft. Deepest basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 79 ft, rated prime for summer sand flathead. Time it for early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (22 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 16 to 79 ft | dawn & dusk | Deepest basin (79 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (22 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 8 to 35 ft | dawn | Sharp break (22 ft) | see map |
Early season black bream use the shallows, holding in 2 to 16 ft. Summer is a 7 to 35 ft game here, winter a 2 to 16 ft one. The chart's best answer is Sharp break — drop-off, 22 ft, good for summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 16 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (5 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 7 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (22 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (22 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 2 to 16 ft | dawn | Shoreline point (5 ft) | see map |
Come spring, look for australian salmon tight to the bank in 4 to 30 ft. Expect a summer slide to 14 to 79 ft, then a winter hold in 4 to 30 ft. Start at Sharp break. It's a drop-off holding about 22 ft of water and rates prime come summer. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (5 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 14 to 79 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (22 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 4 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (22 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 4 to 30 ft | dawn | Shoreline point (5 ft) | see map |
Early season silver trevally use the shallows, holding in 4 to 30 ft. Summer is a 14 to 79 ft game here, winter an 18 to 79 ft one. The chart's best answer is Sharp break — drop-off, 22 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 (5 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 14 to 79 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (22 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 4 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (22 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 18 to 79 ft | midday | Sharp break (22 ft) | see map |
Port Phillip - East also holds gummy shark (12 to 79 ft in summer), yellowtail kingfish (12 to 79 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Count 11 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deepest basin, sits near 79 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 - East 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 - East is about 79 ft (24 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 - East. 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 22 ft of water that rates prime for australasian snapper in summer. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
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 - East 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.
Western Port - Northwest 10 mi · Port Phillip - Central 12 mi · Port Phillip - Northeast 12 mi · Port Phillip - Southeast 13 mi · Port Phillip - North 14 mi · Western Port - North 22 mi · Port Phillip - West 23 mi · Western Port - West 27 mi · Western Port - Central 28 mi · Western Port - Southwest 32 mi · Western Port - East 33 mi · Western Port - South 36 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.