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22,758-acre Shoalwater Bay. Sector 03 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 03 trip-scale surveyed footprint within Shoalwater Bay. An island-rich central Queensland bay with mangrove estuaries, shoals, passages and reef-connected outer water. The displayed footprint is not a legal boundary or a claim of complete named-water coverage. The water tops out around 88 ft. The depth chart comes from Geoscience Australia / AusSeabed bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Here's the year, species by species, as the scoring engine sees it.
Traced from the shoreline, Shoalwater Bay - Sector 03 runs 22,760 acres with 71.8 miles of edge. With a shoreline index of 3.4, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 30% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. The basin spans about 12.2 mi end to end and 7 mi across at its widest. For a second option, Shoalwater Bay - Sector 09 lies 18 mi southeast.
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. Best bite is early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | see map |
| Summer | 2 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | see map |
| Winter | 11 to 35 ft | midday | open water | 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 52 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 (20 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (20 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (52 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 21 to 80 ft | midday | Sharp break (52 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, 21 to 88 ft covers winter. Top water on the chart: Sharp break, a drop-off in the 52 ft range, good in fall. 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 (20 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (20 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 63 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (52 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 21 to 88 ft | midday | Sharp break (52 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. Best bite is early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 16 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | see map |
| Summer | 2 to 16 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | see map |
| Winter | 10 to 35 ft | midday | open water | 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 52 ft, rated prime for winter 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 (20 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (20 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 3 to 39 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (52 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 15 to 55 ft | midday | Sharp break (52 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 20 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 (20 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (20 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 4 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (52 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 18 to 80 ft | midday | Sharp break (52 ft) | see map |
Shoalwater Bay - Sector 03 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.
Shoalwater Bay - Sector 03 carries 6 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Sharp break, about 59 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 Shoalwater Bay - Sector 03 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 →
Shoalwater Bay - Sector 03 is about 88 ft (27 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 Shoalwater Bay - Sector 03. 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 52 ft of water that rates prime for queenfish in winter. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.
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 Shoalwater Bay - Sector 03 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.
Shoalwater Bay - Sector 09 18 mi · Shoalwater Bay - Sector 10 25 mi · Shoalwater Bay - Sector 14 27 mi · Shoalwater Bay - Sector 15 36 mi · Joseph Bay 86 mi · Statue Bay 91 mi · White Bay 139 mi · Shoal Bay 148 mi · Bowling Green Bay - Southeast 247 mi · Bowling Green Bay - East 256 mi · Bowling Green Bay - South 259 mi · Bowling Green Bay - Central 263 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.