Salt water depth chart
Today's read
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
29,722-acre Shoalwater Bay. Sector 10 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 10 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 179 ft. The depth chart comes from Geoscience Australia / AusSeabed bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
On the chart, Shoalwater Bay - Sector 10 draws 29,722 acres inside 57.6 miles of shoreline, with a single island in the mix. That shoreline is heavily fingered (development index 2.4) — bays, points and pockets everywhere, which multiplies the fishable edge. Roughly 33% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. Tip to tip the water measures near 12.2 mi with a 7.3-mi widest point. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Shoalwater Bay - Sector 09, 9 mi west of here.
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.
When the water first warms, barramundi slide up into 2 to 18 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 2 to 18 ft, winter 11 to 35 ft. Start at Sharp break. It's a drop-off holding about 27 ft of water and rates good come winter. The feeding windows run 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 | Sharp break (27 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 11 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (27 ft) | see map |
Come spring, look for golden snapper tight to the bank in 8 to 35 ft. Through summer count on 8 to 35 ft; the winter hold is 21 to 80 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Sharp break: a drop-off around 50 ft that scores good in fall. Best bite is early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (27 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (27 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 |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: black jewfish in 8 to 35 ft. The depth story barely changes: 8 to 35 ft through summer, 21 to 90 ft in winter. The spot to know is Sharp break, a drop-off in about 50 ft of water that rates good for black jewfish in fall. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (27 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (27 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 63 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (50 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 21 to 90 ft | midday | Sharp break (50 ft) | see map |
When the water first warms, king threadfin slide up into 2 to 16 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 2 to 16 ft, winter 10 to 35 ft. Start at Shallow measured flat. It's a feeding flat holding about 8 ft of water and rates prime come spring. The feeding windows run 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 (27 ft) | see map |
Spring puts queenfish in skinny water — 3 to 25 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 3 to 25 ft, and winter fish hold in 15 to 55 ft. Fall queenfish concentrate at Sharp break, a prime-rated drop-off around 27 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (8 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (8 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 3 to 39 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (27 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 15 to 55 ft | midday | Sharp break (50 ft) | see map |
When the water first warms, giant trevally slide up into 4 to 30 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 4 to 30 ft, winter 18 to 80 ft. Start at Sharp break. It's a drop-off holding about 50 ft of water and rates prime come fall. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (27 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (27 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 |
Shoalwater Bay - Sector 10 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.
The chart marks 11 structure features on Shoalwater Bay - Sector 10; the deepest is Sharp break at about 102 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 10 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 10 is about 179 ft (55 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 10. 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.
Shallow measured flat is the top-rated area: a feeding flat in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for king threadfin in spring. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every 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 10 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 9 mi · Shoalwater Bay - Sector 15 14 mi · Shoalwater Bay - Sector 14 15 mi · Shoalwater Bay - Sector 03 25 mi · Statue Bay 70 mi · Joseph Bay 108 mi · Shoal Bay 126 mi · White Bay 161 mi · Hervey Bay - Sector 04 239 mi · Hervey Bay - Sector 07 243 mi · Hervey Bay - Sector 08 248 mi · Hervey Bay - Sector 14 259 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.