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16,045-acre Spencer Gulf. Sector 40 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 40 trip-scale surveyed footprint within Spencer Gulf. Australia's long western gulf, divided from upper tidal flats through major bays and channels to its offshore-facing mouth. The displayed footprint is not a legal boundary or a claim of complete named-water coverage. The water tops out around 73 ft. The depth chart comes from Geoscience Australia / AusSeabed bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. The season-by-season read for each species follows, from the map's own numbers.
Spencer Gulf - Sector 40 maps at 16,042 acres behind 49.5 miles of shoreline. An index of 2.8 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 63% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. Tip to tip the water measures near 18.3 mi with a 4.6-mi widest point. Its nearest charted neighbour, Spencer Gulf - Sector 33, is 8 mi to the northeast.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| King George whiting (King George Whiting) | official species listing | — |
| sand flathead (Sand Flathead) | official species listing | — |
| black bream (Black Bream) | official species listing | — |
| Australian salmon (Australian Salmon) | official species listing | — |
| silver trevally (Silver Trevally) | official species listing | — |
| gummy shark (Gummy Shark) | official species listing | — |
| yellowtail kingfish (Yellowtail Kingfish) | official species listing | — |
| mulloway (Mulloway) | official species listing | — |
Official species-evidence source.
Come spring, look for king george whiting tight to the bank in 3 to 18 ft. Expect a summer slide to 8 to 45 ft, then a winter hold in 11 to 45 ft. Start at Shallow measured flat. It's a feeding flat holding about 2 ft of water and rates good come spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (2 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (45 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 3 to 31 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (3 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 11 to 45 ft | midday | Sharp break (45 ft) | see map |
Spring sand flathead on Spencer Gulf - Sector 40 hold shallow, usually 8 to 35 ft. They move out to 15 to 73 ft in summer and finish the year down in 8 to 35 ft. Put Sharp break first on the milk run — a drop-off near 45 ft that grades good for summer. 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 | Shallow measured flat (2 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 15 to 73 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (45 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (45 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 8 to 35 ft | dawn | Shallow measured flat (2 ft) | see map |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: black bream in 2 to 16 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 7 to 35 ft before dropping to 2 to 16 ft for winter. The spot to know is Sharp break, a drop-off in about 3 ft of water that rates good for black bream in fall. 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 | Sharp break (3 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 7 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (3 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (3 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 2 to 16 ft | dawn | Sharp break (3 ft) | see map |
Spring puts australian salmon in skinny water — 4 to 30 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 13 to 73 ft, wintering in 4 to 30 ft. Summer australian salmon concentrate at Sharp break, a prime-rated drop-off around 45 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 (4 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 13 to 73 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (45 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 4 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (45 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 4 to 30 ft | dawn | Shoreline point (4 ft) | see map |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: silver trevally in 4 to 30 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 13 to 73 ft before dropping to 16 to 73 ft for winter. The spot to know is Sharp break, a drop-off in about 45 ft of water that rates prime for silver trevally in summer. 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 (4 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 13 to 73 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (45 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 4 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (45 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 16 to 73 ft | midday | Sharp break (45 ft) | see map |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: gummy shark in 8 to 40 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 11 to 73 ft before dropping to 8 to 40 ft for winter. The spot to know is Sharp break, a drop-off in about 45 ft of water that rates prime for gummy shark in summer. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (2 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 11 to 73 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (45 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 7 to 73 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (45 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Shallow measured flat (2 ft) | see map |
Spencer Gulf - Sector 40 also holds yellowtail kingfish (11 to 73 ft in summer), mulloway (10 to 73 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Structure-wise the chart holds 9 features, led in depth by Sharp break at roughly 45 ft.
No facility from the cited South Australian boat ramps and marine 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.sa.gov.au/topics/boating-and-marine/boat-ramps-and-marine-facilities
Private land and private launches need the owner's permission — please ask first.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for South Australia waters are set by the PIRSA (current recreational species limits) — and special regulations can apply to Spencer Gulf - Sector 40 specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish. Check PIRSA's live species lookup, closures and SA Fishing app before every trip. Snapper remains absent from these page rosters because the current management closure prohibits targeting and catch-and-release in the affected South Australian waters through the stated closure period. Verify all size, boat and possession limits, protected areas, gear controls and local access directions. A contour, spot or access lead never grants fishing, retention, entry, parking or launching permission.
Check the official South Australia fishing regulations →
PIRSA SA Fishing app and live rules →
Check special-area and water-specific rules →
Spencer Gulf - Sector 40 is about 73 ft (22 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 Primary Industries and Regions South Australia regional evidence informs the king george whiting, sand flathead, black bream, australian salmon, silver trevally, gummy shark, yellowtail kingfish, mulloway roster for Spencer Gulf - Sector 40. 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 45 ft of water that rates prime for australian salmon in summer. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For king george whiting, 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 Spencer Gulf - Sector 40 is regulated by the PIRSA (current recreational species limits). Check the official South Australia regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Spencer Gulf - Sector 33 8 mi · Spencer Gulf - Sector 34 13 mi · Spencer Gulf - Sector 41 22 mi · Spencer Gulf - Sector 42 26 mi · Spencer Gulf - Sector 27 33 mi · Spencer Gulf - Sector 53 45 mi · Spencer Gulf - Sector 52 50 mi · Spencer Gulf - Sector 60 54 mi · Spencer Gulf - Sector 61 57 mi · Spencer Gulf - Sector 59 60 mi · Spencer Gulf - Sector 66 74 mi · Spencer Gulf - Sector 65 82 mi
Browse all South Australia 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.