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113,258-acre Shoalwater Bay. Sector 09 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 09 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 125 ft. The depth chart comes from Geoscience Australia / AusSeabed bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
Traced from the shoreline, Shoalwater Bay - Sector 09 runs 113,250 acres with 97.1 miles of edge — one island included. The shoreline is moderately structured (index 2.1) — enough points and pockets to pattern. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 7% of this chart. End to end it runs roughly 18.3 mi, about 16.9 mi across. For a second option, Shoalwater Bay - Sector 10 lies 9 mi east.
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.
Spring barramundi on Shoalwater Bay - Sector 09 hold shallow, usually 2 to 18 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 2 to 18 ft in summer, 11 to 35 ft once it turns cold. The chart's best answer is Sharp break — drop-off, 20 ft, good for fall. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (12 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 2 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (12 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (20 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 11 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (20 ft) | see map |
Early season golden snapper use the shallows, holding in 8 to 35 ft. Even in summer they hold at 8 to 35 ft; winter keeps them in 21 to 80 ft. Put Sharp break first on the milk run — a drop-off near 36 ft that grades good for fall. 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 (32 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (32 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (36 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 21 to 80 ft | midday | Sharp break (36 ft) | see map |
Spring puts black jewfish 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 90 ft. Fall black jewfish concentrate at Sharp break, a good-rated drop-off around 36 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 (32 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (32 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 63 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (36 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 21 to 90 ft | midday | Sharp break (36 ft) | see map |
Spring king threadfin on Shoalwater Bay - Sector 09 hold shallow, usually 2 to 16 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 2 to 16 ft in summer, 10 to 35 ft once it turns cold. The chart's best answer is Sharp break — drop-off, 20 ft, good for fall. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 16 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (12 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 2 to 16 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (12 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (20 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 10 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (20 ft) | see map |
Start shallow in spring: queenfish sit in 3 to 25 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 3 to 25 ft covers summer, 15 to 55 ft covers winter. Top water on the chart: Sharp break, a drop-off in the 36 ft range, prime 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 | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (20 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (20 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 3 to 39 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (36 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 15 to 55 ft | midday | Sharp break (36 ft) | see map |
Spring giant trevally on Shoalwater Bay - Sector 09 hold shallow, usually 4 to 30 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 4 to 30 ft in summer, 18 to 80 ft once it turns cold. The chart's best answer is Sharp break — drop-off, 36 ft, prime for fall. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (32 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (32 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 4 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (36 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 18 to 80 ft | midday | Sharp break (36 ft) | see map |
Shoalwater Bay - Sector 09 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.
Count 17 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deepest basin, sits near 120 ft.
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 09 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 09 is about 125 ft (38 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 09. 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 36 ft of water that rates prime for queenfish in fall. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each 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 09 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 10 9 mi · Shoalwater Bay - Sector 14 11 mi · Shoalwater Bay - Sector 03 18 mi · Shoalwater Bay - Sector 15 18 mi · Statue Bay 74 mi · Joseph Bay 103 mi · Shoal Bay 130 mi · White Bay 156 mi · Hervey Bay - Sector 04 246 mi · Hervey Bay - Sector 07 249 mi · Hervey Bay - Sector 08 255 mi · Hervey Bay - Sector 14 264 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.