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27,133-acre Port Stephens. 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 Stephens. A large drowned-river harbour of channels, sand shoals, seagrass and exposed entrance structure. The displayed footprint is not a legal boundary or a claim of complete named-water coverage. The water tops out around 117 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.
Traced from the shoreline, Port Stephens - North runs 27,133 acres with 53.8 miles of edge. A development index of 2.3 means a maze of bays and points: far more casting targets than a round bowl of the same size. About 34% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. Figure 14.2 mi of water from one end to the other, 7 mi at the beam. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Port Stephens - West, 9 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 | — |
| mulloway (Mulloway) | official species listing | — |
| yellowtail kingfish (Yellowtail Kingfish) | official species listing | — |
| dusky flathead (Dusky Flathead) | official species listing | — |
| yellowfin bream (Yellowfin Bream) | official species listing | — |
| Australian salmon (Australian Salmon) | official species listing | — |
| tailor (Tailor) | official species listing | — |
| silver trevally (Silver Trevally) | official species listing | — |
| luderick (Luderick) | official species listing | — |
Official species-evidence source.
Spring puts australasian snapper in skinny water — 6 to 35 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 16 to 117 ft, wintering in 20 to 117 ft. Summer australasian snapper concentrate at Sharp break, a prime-rated drop-off around 110 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 6 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (12 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 16 to 117 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (110 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 6 to 84 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (71 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 20 to 117 ft | midday | Sharp break (110 ft) | see map |
Spring puts mulloway in skinny water — 5 to 30 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 14 to 100 ft, wintering in 18 to 100 ft. Summer mulloway concentrate at Sharp break, a good-rated drop-off around 71 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (17 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 14 to 100 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (71 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 5 to 70 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (17 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 18 to 100 ft | midday | Sharp break (71 ft) | see map |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: yellowtail kingfish in 8 to 45 ft. As the season builds they drop to 18 to 117 ft, wintering in 24 to 117 ft. Top water on the chart: Shoreline point, a point in the 12 ft range, prime in spring. 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 (12 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 18 to 117 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (110 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 91 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (71 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 24 to 117 ft | midday | Sharp break (110 ft) | see map |
Spring puts dusky flathead in skinny water — 2 to 15 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 7 to 35 ft, wintering in 9 to 35 ft. Spring dusky flathead concentrate at Shallow measured flat, a prime-rated feeding flat around 2 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (2 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 7 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (17 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (2 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 9 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (17 ft) | see map |
Early season yellowfin bream use the shallows, holding in 2 to 16 ft. Expect a summer slide to 7 to 40 ft, then a winter hold in 10 to 40 ft. Put Sharp break first on the milk run — a drop-off near 17 ft that grades good for 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 | Sharp break (17 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 7 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (17 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 28 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (17 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 10 to 40 ft | midday | Sharp break (17 ft) | see map |
Come spring, look for australian salmon tight to the bank in 4 to 30 ft. They move out to 14 to 80 ft in summer and finish the year down in 4 to 30 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Sharp break: a drop-off around 71 ft that scores prime in 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 (12 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 14 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (71 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 4 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (17 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 4 to 30 ft | dawn | Shoreline point (12 ft) | see map |
Port Stephens - North also holds tailor (11 to 65 ft in summer), silver trevally (14 to 80 ft in summer), luderick (6 to 35 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
The chart marks 11 structure features on Port Stephens - North; the deepest is Deepest basin at about 117 ft.
Access data: Transport for NSW Maritime Boat Ramps. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for New South Wales waters are set by the NSW DPIRD (current saltwater recreational-fishing guide) — and special regulations can apply to Port Stephens - North specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish. Check the live NSW saltwater guide before every trip, including current size and possession limits, seasonal and spatial closures, marine parks, protected species, permitted gear, intertidal collection rules and any local harbour or council directions. A directly measured depth cell, fishing-spot marker or access lead does not establish permission to fish, retain a catch, enter port land, park or launch, and rules can differ across one mapped operational section.
Check the official New South Wales fishing regulations →
NSW DPIRD fish species and current rules →
Check special-area and water-specific rules →
Port Stephens - North is about 117 ft (36 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 NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development regional evidence informs the australasian snapper, mulloway, yellowtail kingfish, dusky flathead, yellowfin bream, australian salmon, tailor, silver trevally, luderick roster for Port Stephens - 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 110 ft of water that rates prime for australasian snapper in summer. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each 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 Stephens - North is regulated by the NSW DPIRD (current saltwater recreational-fishing guide). Check the official New South Wales regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Port Stephens - West 9 mi · Port Stephens - Northeast 16 mi · Broken Bay - Northwest 75 mi · Broken Bay - North 80 mi · Sydney Harbour 96 mi · Botany Bay 106 mi · Trial Bay - Northwest 138 mi · Batemans Bay - North 235 mi · Byron Bay - North 288 mi · Byron Bay - Northwest 296 mi · Wommin Lagoon 321 mi · Moreton Bay - Sector 11 363 mi, QLD
See how Port Stephens - North stacks up: best australasian snapper lakes in New South Wales · best mulloway lakes in New South Wales · best yellowtail kingfish lakes in New South Wales · best dusky flathead lakes in New South Wales
Browse all New South Wales 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.