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49,924-acre Shoalwater Bay. Sector 15 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 15 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 94 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.
The outline encloses 49,925 acres, worked by 70.3 miles of shoreline. That shoreline is heavily fingered (development index 2.2) — bays, points and pockets everywhere, which multiplies the fishable edge. Roughly 43% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. Tip to tip the water measures near 16.3 mi with an 11-mi widest point. Shoalwater Bay - Sector 14 sits 12 mi west — the closest neighbouring chart.
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 puts barramundi in skinny water — 2 to 18 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 2 to 18 ft, and winter fish hold in 11 to 35 ft. Sharp break is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 31 ft, rated good for winter barramundi. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (7 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 2 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (7 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (30 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 11 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (31 ft) | see map |
In spring, golden snapper run shallow here, mostly 8 to 35 ft. Summer keeps them at 8 to 35 ft, and they winter in 21 to 80 ft. Fall golden snapper concentrate at Sharp break, a good-rated drop-off around 31 ft. 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 (12 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (12 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (31 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 21 to 80 ft | midday | Sharp break (65 ft) | see map |
Spring black jewfish on Shoalwater Bay - Sector 15 hold shallow, usually 8 to 35 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 8 to 35 ft in summer, 21 to 90 ft once it turns cold. Put Sharp break first on the milk run — a drop-off near 31 ft that grades good for 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 (12 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (12 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 63 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (31 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 21 to 90 ft | midday | Sharp break (65 ft) | see map |
Spring puts king threadfin in skinny water — 2 to 16 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 2 to 16 ft, and winter fish hold in 10 to 35 ft. Shallow measured flat is the standout, a feeding flat at roughly 7 ft, rated prime for spring king threadfin. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 16 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (7 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 2 to 16 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (7 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (7 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 10 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (31 ft) | see map |
When the water first warms, queenfish slide up into 3 to 25 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 3 to 25 ft, winter 15 to 55 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Sharp break: a drop-off around 31 ft that scores prime in fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (7 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (7 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 3 to 39 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (31 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 15 to 55 ft | midday | Sharp break (31 ft) | see map |
Spring puts giant trevally in skinny water — 4 to 30 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 4 to 30 ft, and winter fish hold in 18 to 80 ft. Shoreline point is the standout, a point at roughly 7 ft, rated prime for spring giant trevally. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (7 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (7 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 4 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (31 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 18 to 80 ft | midday | Sharp break (65 ft) | see map |
Shoalwater Bay - Sector 15 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 14 structure features on Shoalwater Bay - Sector 15; the deepest is Sharp break at about 65 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 15 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 15 is about 94 ft (29 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 15. 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 7 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 15 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 14 12 mi · Shoalwater Bay - Sector 10 14 mi · Shoalwater Bay - Sector 09 18 mi · Shoalwater Bay - Sector 03 36 mi · Statue Bay 56 mi · Shoal Bay 113 mi · Joseph Bay 121 mi · White Bay 173 mi · Hervey Bay - Sector 04 228 mi · Hervey Bay - Sector 07 231 mi · Hervey Bay - Sector 08 237 mi · Hervey Bay - Sector 14 247 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.