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.
11,233-acre Shark Bay. Sector 18 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. Sector 18 trip-scale surveyed footprint within Shark Bay. A World Heritage embayment of gulfs, banks, channels, seagrass and island passages, divided into trip-scale survey footprints. The displayed footprint is not a legal boundary or a claim of complete named-water coverage. The water tops out around 28 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.
Drawn out, this is 11,233 acres of water rimmed by 22.5 miles of bank. The shoreline is moderately structured (index 1.5) — enough points and pockets to pattern. 46% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. Figure 6.7 mi of water from one end to the other, 5 mi at the beam. The nearest mapped water is Shark Bay - Sector 65, 113 mi to the south.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| mulloway (Mulloway) | official species listing | — |
| yellowtail kingfish (Yellowtail Kingfish) | official species listing | — |
| tailor (Tailor) | official species listing | — |
| silver trevally (Silver Trevally) | official species listing | — |
| gummy shark (Gummy Shark) | official species listing | — |
| King George whiting (King George Whiting) | official species listing | — |
Official species-evidence source.
Spring puts mulloway in skinny water — 5 to 28 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 4 to 28 ft, and winter fish hold in 5 to 28 ft. Deepest basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 28 ft, rated prime for summer mulloway. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 28 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (15 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 4 to 28 ft | dawn & dusk | Deepest basin (28 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 28 ft | dawn & dusk | Deepest basin (28 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 5 to 28 ft | midday | Deepest basin (28 ft) | see map |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: yellowtail kingfish in 5 to 28 ft. The depth story barely changes: 4 to 28 ft through summer, 6 to 28 ft in winter. The spot to know is Shoreline point, a point in about 18 ft of water that rates prime for yellowtail kingfish in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 28 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (18 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 4 to 28 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (15 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 28 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (15 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 6 to 28 ft | midday | Sharp break (15 ft) | see map |
When the water first warms, tailor slide up into 3 to 25 ft. Summer is a 5 to 28 ft game here, winter a 6 to 28 ft one. Start at Sharp break. It's a drop-off holding about 15 ft of water and rates prime come summer. 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 (18 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 5 to 28 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (15 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 28 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (15 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 6 to 28 ft | midday | Sharp break (15 ft) | see map |
Early season silver trevally use the shallows, holding in 4 to 28 ft. Even in summer they hold at 5 to 28 ft; winter keeps them in 6 to 28 ft. The chart's best answer is Sharp break — drop-off, 15 ft, prime for summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 28 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (18 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 5 to 28 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (15 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 28 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (15 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 6 to 28 ft | midday | Sharp break (15 ft) | see map |
Early season gummy shark use the shallows, holding in 6 to 28 ft. Even in summer they hold at 4 to 28 ft; winter keeps them in 6 to 28 ft. The chart's best answer is Deepest basin — deep basin, 28 ft, prime for summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 6 to 28 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (5 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 4 to 28 ft | dawn & dusk | Deepest basin (28 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 3 to 28 ft | dawn & dusk | Deepest basin (28 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 6 to 28 ft | dawn | Shallow measured flat (5 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 5 to 28 ft; cold water stacks them in 7 to 28 ft. Top water on the chart: Shallow measured flat, a feeding flat in the 5 ft range, prime in spring. 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 | Shallow measured flat (5 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 5 to 28 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (15 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 3 to 28 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (15 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 7 to 28 ft | midday | Sharp break (15 ft) | see map |
Shark Bay - Sector 18 carries 10 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deepest basin, about 28 ft down.
Access data: Western Australia Department of Transport Public Boat Ramps (DOT-033). Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Western Australia waters are set by the WA DPIRD (current recreational-fishing rules) — and special regulations can apply to Shark Bay - Sector 18 specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish. Check WA DPIRD's live regional guide, licences, demersal-management measures, species limits, seasonal and spatial closures, marine parks, protected species and permitted gear before every trip. Species available to target can change by bioregion and date; a regional occurrence record is not an open-season signal. A directly measured contour, fishing spot or access lead never grants fishing, retention, port entry, parking or launching permission.
Check the official Western Australia fishing regulations →
WA DPIRD current recreational-fishing guides →
Check special-area and water-specific rules →
Shark Bay - Sector 18 is about 28 ft (9 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 Western Australia Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development regional evidence informs the mulloway, yellowtail kingfish, tailor, silver trevally, gummy shark, king george whiting roster for Shark Bay - Sector 18. 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.
Deepest basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 28 ft of water that rates prime for mulloway in summer. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
For mulloway, 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 Shark Bay - Sector 18 is regulated by the WA DPIRD (current recreational-fishing rules). Check the official Western Australia regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Shark Bay - Sector 65 113 mi · Exmouth Gulf - Sector 19 178 mi · Exmouth Gulf - Sector 15 191 mi · Exmouth Gulf - Sector 11 205 mi · Exmouth Gulf - Sector 12 209 mi · Exmouth Gulf - Sector 07 219 mi · Exmouth Gulf - Sector 08 224 mi · Exmouth Gulf - Sector 02 230 mi · Exmouth Gulf - Sector 03 232 mi · Exmouth Gulf - Sector 04 235 mi · Horseyard Bay 247 mi · Beadon Bay 247 mi
See how Shark Bay - Sector 18 stacks up: best mulloway lakes in Western Australia · best yellowtail kingfish lakes in Western Australia · best king george whiting lakes in Western Australia · best tailor lakes in Western Australia
Browse all Western Australia 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.