Salt water depth chart
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16,803-acre Spencer Gulf. Sector 53 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 53 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 56 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 drawn water covers 16,805 acres wrapped in 38.6 miles of bank. A middling shoreline index (2.1) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. 49% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. Figure 10.7 mi of water from one end to the other, 6.6 mi at the beam. If the bite dies, Spencer Gulf - Sector 52 is 8 mi to the west.
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.
Spring king george whiting on Spencer Gulf - Sector 53 hold shallow, usually 3 to 18 ft. They move out to 8 to 45 ft in summer and finish the year down in 11 to 45 ft. Put Shallow measured flat first on the milk run — a feeding flat near 3 ft that grades prime for spring. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (3 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (15 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 3 to 31 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (15 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 11 to 45 ft | midday | Sharp break (15 ft) | see map |
When the water first warms, sand flathead slide up into 8 to 35 ft. By summer they slide out to 11 to 56 ft, and by winter most fish are in 8 to 35 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Shallow measured flat: a feeding flat around 7 ft that scores prime in spring. 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 | Shallow measured flat (7 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 11 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (15 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (15 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 8 to 35 ft | dawn | Shallow measured flat (7 ft) | see map |
Spring puts black bream in skinny water — 2 to 16 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 7 to 35 ft, wintering in 2 to 16 ft. Summer black bream concentrate at Sharp break, a good-rated drop-off around 15 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 (15 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 7 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (15 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (15 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 2 to 16 ft | dawn | Sharp break (15 ft) | see map |
Start shallow in spring: australian salmon sit in 4 to 30 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 10 to 56 ft; cold water stacks them in 4 to 30 ft. Top water on the chart: Sharp break, a drop-off in the 15 ft range, prime in summer. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (15 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 10 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (15 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 4 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (15 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 4 to 30 ft | dawn | Sharp break (15 ft) | see map |
Spring puts silver trevally in skinny water — 4 to 30 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 10 to 56 ft, wintering in 13 to 56 ft. Summer silver trevally concentrate at Sharp break, a prime-rated drop-off around 15 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 | Sharp break (15 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 10 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (15 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 4 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (15 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 13 to 56 ft | midday | Sharp break (15 ft) | see map |
Spring puts gummy shark in skinny water — 8 to 40 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 8 to 56 ft, wintering in 8 to 40 ft. Summer gummy shark concentrate at Sharp break, a prime-rated drop-off around 15 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (7 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (15 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 5 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (15 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Shallow measured flat (7 ft) | see map |
Spencer Gulf - Sector 53 also holds yellowtail kingfish (9 to 56 ft in summer), mulloway (8 to 56 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Count 5 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Sharp break, sits near 39 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 53 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 53 is about 56 ft (17 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 53. 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 3 ft of water that rates prime for king george whiting in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each 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 53 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 52 8 mi · Spencer Gulf - Sector 60 9 mi · Spencer Gulf - Sector 59 16 mi · Spencer Gulf - Sector 61 24 mi · Spencer Gulf - Sector 66 29 mi · Spencer Gulf - Sector 65 38 mi · Spencer Gulf - Sector 73 40 mi · Spencer Gulf - Sector 40 45 mi · Spencer Gulf - Sector 72 47 mi · Spencer Gulf - Sector 64 50 mi · Spencer Gulf - Sector 33 54 mi · Spencer Gulf - Sector 34 56 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.