Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up freeSalt water depth chart
Today's read
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
126,119-acre Spencer Gulf. Sector 98 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 98 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 137 ft. The depth chart comes from Geoscience Australia / AusSeabed bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Here's the year, species by species, as the scoring engine sees it.
Drawn out, this is 126,124 acres of water rimmed by 61 miles of bank. A shoreline index of 1.2 says round and simple: fish relate to depth changes here, not shoreline features. Roughly 1% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. End to end it runs roughly 21.5 mi, about 16.9 mi across. The nearest mapped water is Gulf St Vincent - Sector 22, 11 mi to the south.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| sand flathead (Sand Flathead) | official species listing | — |
| gummy shark (Gummy Shark) | official species listing | — |
| mulloway (Mulloway) | official species listing | — |
Official species-evidence source.
The spring pattern is a shallow one: sand flathead in 8 to 35 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 16 to 80 ft before dropping to 8 to 35 ft for winter. The spot to know is Sharp break, a drop-off in about 92 ft of water that rates good for sand flathead 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 35 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | see map |
| Summer | 16 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (92 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | see map |
| Winter | 8 to 35 ft | dawn | open water | see map |
Come spring, look for gummy shark tight to the bank in 8 to 40 ft. Expect a summer slide to 18 to 120 ft, then a winter hold in 8 to 40 ft. Start at Sharp break. It's a drop-off holding about 92 ft of water and rates prime come summer. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | see map |
| Summer | 18 to 120 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (92 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 84 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (92 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | open water | see map |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: mulloway in 5 to 30 ft. As the season builds they drop to 14 to 100 ft, wintering in 18 to 100 ft. Top water on the chart: Sharp break, a drop-off in the 92 ft range, good in summer. Time it for early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | see map |
| Summer | 14 to 100 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (92 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 5 to 70 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | see map |
| Winter | 18 to 100 ft | midday | Sharp break (92 ft) | see map |
Spencer Gulf - Sector 98 carries 6 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deepest basin, about 136 ft down.
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 98 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 98 is about 137 ft (42 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 sand flathead, gummy shark, mulloway roster for Spencer Gulf - Sector 98. 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 92 ft of water that rates prime for gummy shark in summer. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
For sand flathead, 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 98 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.
Gulf St Vincent - Sector 22 11 mi · Gulf St Vincent - Sector 19 12 mi · Spencer Gulf - Sector 105 14 mi · Spencer Gulf - Sector 97 15 mi · Gulf St Vincent - Sector 21 20 mi · Gulf St Vincent - Sector 14 21 mi · Spencer Gulf - Sector 90 23 mi · Gulf St Vincent - Sector 15 23 mi · Gulf St Vincent - Sector 26 28 mi · Spencer Gulf - Sector 84 29 mi · Gulf St Vincent - Sector 10 35 mi · Spencer Gulf - Sector 103 35 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.