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15,955-acre Portland Bay. West 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. West trip-scale surveyed footprint within Portland Bay. A southwest Victorian bay with harbor walls, reefs, beach contours and exposed Southern Ocean approaches. The displayed footprint is not a legal boundary or a claim of complete named-water coverage. The water tops out around 151 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.
Portland Bay - West maps at 15,954 acres behind 25.1 miles of shoreline. Its 1.4 shoreline index means few bank features; the contours below do the pattern work. About 7% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. The basin spans about 8.5 mi end to end and 4.7 mi across at its widest. Its nearest charted neighbour, Portland Bay - Northeast, is 7 mi to the west.
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.
Early season australasian snapper use the shallows, holding in 6 to 35 ft. Expect a summer slide to 16 to 120 ft, then a winter hold in 21 to 120 ft. Put Sharp break first on the milk run — a drop-off near 39 ft that grades prime for summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 6 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (13 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 16 to 120 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (39 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 6 to 84 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (39 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 21 to 120 ft | midday | Sharp break (39 ft) | see map |
Spring king george whiting on Portland Bay - West hold shallow, usually 3 to 18 ft. They move out to 8 to 45 ft in summer and finish the year down in 11 to 45 ft. Put Sharp break first on the milk run — a drop-off near 39 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 | 3 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (13 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (39 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 3 to 31 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (39 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 11 to 45 ft | midday | Sharp break (39 ft) | see map |
When the water first warms, sand flathead slide up into 8 to 35 ft. By summer they slide out to 16 to 80 ft, and by winter most fish are in 8 to 35 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Sharp break: a drop-off around 39 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 | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (39 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 16 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (39 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (39 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 8 to 35 ft | dawn | Sharp break (39 ft) | see map |
Spring puts black bream in skinny water — 2 to 16 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 7 to 35 ft, wintering in 2 to 16 ft. Summer black bream concentrate at Sharp break, a good-rated drop-off around 39 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 | Shoreline point (13 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 7 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (39 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | see map |
| Winter | 2 to 16 ft | dawn | Shoreline point (13 ft) | see map |
Start shallow in spring: australian salmon sit in 4 to 30 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 14 to 80 ft; cold water stacks them in 4 to 30 ft. Top water on the chart: Sharp break, a drop-off in the 39 ft range, prime 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 | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (13 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 14 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (39 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 4 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (39 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 4 to 30 ft | dawn | Shoreline point (13 ft) | see map |
Spring puts silver trevally in skinny water — 4 to 30 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 14 to 80 ft, wintering in 18 to 80 ft. Summer silver trevally concentrate at Sharp break, a prime-rated drop-off around 39 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 (13 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 14 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (39 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 4 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (39 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 18 to 80 ft | midday | Sharp break (39 ft) | see map |
Portland Bay - West also holds gummy shark (18 to 120 ft in summer), yellowtail kingfish (20 to 130 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
The chart marks 8 structure features on Portland Bay - West; the deepest is Deepest basin at about 148 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 Portland Bay - West 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 →
Portland Bay - West is about 151 ft (46 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 Portland Bay - West. 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 39 ft of water that rates prime for australasian snapper in summer. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by 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 Portland Bay - West 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.
Portland Bay - Northeast 7 mi · Portland Bay - North 7 mi · Warrnambool Harbour 45 mi · Curdies Inlet 69 mi · Devils Kitchen 88 mi · Crayfish Bay 107 mi · Port Phillip - West 160 mi · Port Phillip - Central 172 mi · Port Phillip - North 177 mi · Port Phillip - Southeast 181 mi · Port Phillip - Northeast 182 mi · Western Port - Northwest 183 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.