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65,138-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 82 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.
Shoal Bay maps at 65,136 acres behind 124.5 miles of shoreline. With a shoreline index of 3.5, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. Roughly 39% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. Call it 17.1 mi long by 16.6 mi wide at the broadest reach. If the bite dies, Statue Bay is 57 mi to the northwest.
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.
In spring, barramundi run shallow here, mostly 2 to 18 ft. Summer keeps them at 2 to 18 ft, and they winter in 11 to 35 ft. Sharp break is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 22 ft, rated good for fall barramundi. Time it for early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (12 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 2 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (12 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (22 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 11 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (22 ft) | see map |
Spring puts golden snapper in skinny water — 8 to 35 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 8 to 35 ft, and winter fish hold in 21 to 80 ft. Fall golden snapper concentrate at Sharp break, a good-rated drop-off around 50 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (22 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (22 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (50 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 21 to 80 ft | midday | Sharp break (50 ft) | see map |
Early season black jewfish use the shallows, holding in 8 to 35 ft. Even in summer they hold at 8 to 35 ft; winter keeps them in 19 to 82 ft. Put Deepest basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 82 ft that grades prime for winter. 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 | Shoreline point (22 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (22 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 63 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (50 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 19 to 82 ft | midday | Deepest basin (82 ft) | see map |
In spring, king threadfin run shallow here, mostly 2 to 16 ft. Summer keeps them at 2 to 16 ft, and they winter in 10 to 35 ft. Shallow measured flat is the standout, a feeding flat at roughly 8 ft, rated prime for spring king threadfin. Time it for early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 16 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (8 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 2 to 16 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (8 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (8 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 10 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (22 ft) | see map |
Come spring, look for queenfish tight to the bank in 3 to 25 ft. Through summer count on 3 to 25 ft; the winter hold is 15 to 55 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Sharp break: a drop-off around 22 ft that scores prime in fall. Best bite is early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (22 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (22 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 3 to 39 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (22 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 15 to 55 ft | midday | Sharp break (50 ft) | see map |
In spring, giant trevally run shallow here, mostly 4 to 30 ft. Summer keeps them at 4 to 30 ft, and they winter in 18 to 80 ft. Shoreline point is the standout, a point at roughly 22 ft, rated prime for spring giant trevally. Time it for early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (22 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (22 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 4 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (50 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 18 to 80 ft | midday | Sharp break (50 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.
Shoal Bay carries 16 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deepest basin, about 82 ft down.
No facility from the cited Queensland 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://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/recreational-boating-facilities-queensland
Private land and private launches need the owner's permission — please ask first.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Queensland waters are set by the Queensland Government (current recreational-fishing rules) — and special regulations can apply to Shoal Bay specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish. Check Queensland's live tidal-water size and possession limits, closed seasons and closed waters before every trip. During a closed season, official guidance can prohibit targeting a species even for catch-and-release. Also verify marine-park zoning, protected and no-take species, gear rules, bait-movement controls and local access directions. A mapped survey footprint or fishing spot is not legal permission to fish, retain catch, enter, park or launch.
Check the official Queensland fishing regulations →
Queensland Government tidal-water limits →
Check special-area and water-specific rules →
Shoal Bay is about 82 ft (25 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 Queensland Department of Primary Industries 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 82 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 Queensland Government (current recreational-fishing rules). Check the official Queensland regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Statue Bay 57 mi · Shoalwater Bay - Sector 15 113 mi · Shoalwater Bay - Sector 14 121 mi · Hervey Bay - Sector 07 125 mi · Shoalwater Bay - Sector 10 126 mi · Hervey Bay - Sector 04 128 mi · Shoalwater Bay - Sector 09 130 mi · Hervey Bay - Sector 08 133 mi · Hervey Bay - Sector 14 135 mi · Hervey Bay - Sector 15 142 mi · Shoalwater Bay - Sector 03 148 mi · Hervey Bay - Sector 19 150 mi
Browse all Queensland 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.