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51,363-acre Shoal Bay 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. Trip-scale surveyed footprint within Shoal Bay. An official Australian bay evaluated inside a compact 24-kilometre trip-planning window centred on the Composite Gazetteer feature. The public outline is limited to retained direct AusBathyTopo survey cells, not a legal or navigational boundary. The displayed footprint is not a legal boundary or a claim of complete named-water coverage. The water tops out around 85 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 51,365 acres of water rimmed by 67.4 miles of bank. Index 2.1 on the shoreline: a few honest points and pockets, nothing labyrinthine. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 51% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. Call it 16.2 mi long by 13.2 mi wide at the broadest reach. The nearest mapped water is Curtis Haven, 28 mi to the north.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| barramundi (Barramundi) | official species listing | — |
| golden snapper (Golden Snapper) | official species listing | — |
| black jewfish (Black Jewfish) | official species listing | — |
| king threadfin (King Threadfin) | official species listing | — |
| queenfish (Queenfish) | official species listing | — |
| giant trevally (Giant Trevally) | official species listing | — |
| mangrove jack (Mangrove Jack) | official species listing | — |
| Spanish mackerel (Narrow-barred Spanish Mackerel) | official species listing | — |
| coral trout (Coral Trout) | official species listing | — |
Official species-evidence source.
Come spring, look for barramundi tight to the bank in 2 to 18 ft. Through summer count on 2 to 18 ft; the winter hold is 11 to 35 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Sharp break: a drop-off around 9 ft that scores good in fall. Best bite is early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (9 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 2 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (9 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (9 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 11 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (27 ft) | see map |
When the water first warms, golden snapper slide up into 8 to 35 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 8 to 35 ft, winter 21 to 80 ft. Start at Sharp break. It's a drop-off holding about 38 ft of water and rates good come fall. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (18 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (18 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (38 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 21 to 80 ft | midday | Sharp break (38 ft) | see map |
Start shallow in spring: black jewfish sit in 8 to 35 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 8 to 35 ft covers summer, 20 to 85 ft covers winter. Top water on the chart: Deepest basin, a deep basin in the 81 ft range, prime in winter. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (18 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (18 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 63 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (38 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 20 to 85 ft | midday | Deepest basin (81 ft) | see map |
Come spring, look for king threadfin tight to the bank in 2 to 16 ft. Through summer count on 2 to 16 ft; the winter hold is 10 to 35 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Shallow measured flat: a feeding flat around 6 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 16 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (6 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 2 to 16 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (6 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (6 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 10 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (27 ft) | see map |
In spring, queenfish run shallow here, mostly 3 to 25 ft. Summer keeps them at 3 to 25 ft, and they winter in 15 to 55 ft. Sharp break is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 38 ft, rated prime for fall queenfish. Time it for 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 | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (18 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 3 to 39 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (38 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 15 to 55 ft | midday | Sharp break (38 ft) | see map |
Come spring, look for giant trevally tight to the bank in 4 to 30 ft. Through summer count on 4 to 30 ft; the winter hold is 18 to 80 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Shoreline point: a point around 18 ft that scores prime in spring. 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 (18 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (18 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 4 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (38 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 18 to 80 ft | midday | Sharp break (38 ft) | see map |
Shoal Bay also holds mangrove jack (2 to 18 ft in summer), narrow-barred spanish mackerel (8 to 45 ft in summer), coral trout (8 to 35 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Structure-wise the chart holds 14 features, led in depth by Deepest basin at roughly 81 ft.
No facility from the cited Northern Territory boat ramps 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://nt.gov.au/marine/for-all-harbour-and-boat-users/boat-ramps
Private land and private launches need the owner's permission — please ask first.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Northern Territory waters are set by the Northern Territory Government (current recreational-fishing rules) — and special regulations can apply to Shoal Bay specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish. Check the Northern Territory's live possession and size limits and rules for specific areas before every trip. Seasonal barramundi controls, protected species, marine-park and Aboriginal land or sea-country permissions, method limits, vessel rules and local closures can apply. Remote-water access often needs separate landowner or permit approval. A mapped survey footprint, fishing spot or access lead never grants fishing, retention, entry, parking, camping or launching permission.
Check the official Northern Territory fishing regulations →
Northern Territory possession and size limits →
Check special-area and water-specific rules →
Shoal Bay is about 85 ft (26 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 Northern Territory Department of Agriculture and Fisheries regional evidence informs the barramundi, golden snapper, black jewfish, king threadfin, queenfish, giant trevally, mangrove jack, narrow-barred spanish mackerel, coral trout roster for Shoal Bay. 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 81 ft of water that rates prime for black jewfish in winter. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
For barramundi, 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 Shoal Bay is regulated by the Northern Territory Government (current recreational-fishing rules). Check the official Northern Territory regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Curtis Haven 28 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 36 30 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 43 33 mi · Port Darwin - Northwest 35 mi · Port Darwin - North 38 mi · Bynoe Harbour - Northeast 38 mi · Bynoe Harbour - North 39 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 50 39 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 44 43 mi · Bynoe Harbour - Northwest 43 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 37 44 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 30 48 mi
Browse all Northern Territory 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.