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58,265-acre Simpson 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 Simpson 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 75 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:
Simpson Bay maps at 58,264 acres behind 50.4 miles of shoreline. With a 1.5 development index there's bank structure worth casting at, in moderation. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 10% of this chart. Call it 15.7 mi long by 9.3 mi wide at the broadest reach. Its nearest charted neighbour, Normanby Sound, is 18 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.
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. Fall barramundi concentrate at Sharp break, a good-rated drop-off around 10 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (10 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 2 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (10 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (10 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 11 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (10 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 20 to 75 ft. Sharp break is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 10 ft, rated good for fall golden snapper. Time it for early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (11 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (11 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (10 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 20 to 75 ft | midday | Sharp break (43 ft) | see map |
Spring black jewfish on Simpson Bay hold shallow, usually 8 to 35 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 8 to 35 ft in summer, 18 to 75 ft once it turns cold. The chart's best answer is Sharp break — drop-off, 10 ft, good for fall. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (11 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (11 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 63 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (10 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 18 to 75 ft | midday | Sharp break (43 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. Fall king threadfin concentrate at Sharp break, a good-rated drop-off around 10 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 16 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (10 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 2 to 16 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (10 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (10 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 10 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (10 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. Start at Sharp break. It's a drop-off holding about 10 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 | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (11 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (11 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 3 to 39 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (10 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 15 to 55 ft | midday | Sharp break (43 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 17 to 75 ft. Spring giant trevally concentrate at Shoreline point, a prime-rated point around 11 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (11 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (11 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 4 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (10 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 17 to 75 ft | midday | Sharp break (43 ft) | see map |
Simpson 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.
Structure-wise the chart holds 10 features, led in depth by Sharp break at roughly 44 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 Simpson 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 →
Simpson Bay is about 75 ft (23 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 Simpson 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.
Sharp break is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 10 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 Simpson 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.
Normanby Sound 18 mi · Philip Harbour 50 mi · Princess Charlotte Bay - Sector 01 228 mi · Princess Charlotte Bay - Sector 02 235 mi · Princess Charlotte Bay - Sector 05 241 mi · Princess Charlotte Bay - Sector 06 247 mi · Quarantine Bay 384 mi · Cedar Bay 407 mi · Alexandra Bay 431 mi · Walbor Inlet 448 mi · Trinity Inlet - Northwest 479 mi · Trinity Inlet - North 482 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.