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13,661-acre Trial Bay. Northwest 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. Northwest trip-scale surveyed footprint within Trial Bay. A north-coast bay around Smoky Cape and the Macleay entrance, with beaches, rock and open-ocean exchange. The displayed footprint is not a legal boundary or a claim of complete named-water coverage. The water tops out around 131 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:
The drawn water covers 13,660 acres wrapped in 30.9 miles of bank. A middling shoreline index (1.9) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 19% of this chart. Figure 10.6 mi of water from one end to the other, 4.5 mi at the beam. Its nearest charted neighbour, Port Stephens - North, is 138 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 |
|---|---|---|
| snapper (Australasian Snapper) | official species listing | — |
| mulloway (Mulloway) | official species listing | — |
| yellowtail kingfish (Yellowtail Kingfish) | official species listing | — |
| dusky flathead (Dusky Flathead) | official species listing | — |
| yellowfin bream (Yellowfin Bream) | official species listing | — |
| Australian salmon (Australian Salmon) | official species listing | — |
| tailor (Tailor) | official species listing | — |
| silver trevally (Silver Trevally) | official species listing | — |
| luderick (Luderick) | official species listing | — |
Official species-evidence source.
Early season australasian snapper use the shallows, holding in 6 to 35 ft. Summer is a 16 to 120 ft game here, winter a 21 to 120 ft one. The chart's best answer is Sharp break — drop-off, 51 ft, prime for summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 6 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (6 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 16 to 120 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (51 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 6 to 84 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (51 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 21 to 120 ft | midday | Sharp break (51 ft) | see map |
Early season mulloway use the shallows, holding in 5 to 30 ft. Summer is a 14 to 100 ft game here, winter an 18 to 100 ft one. The chart's best answer is Sharp break — drop-off, 51 ft, good for summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (6 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 14 to 100 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (51 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 5 to 70 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (51 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 18 to 100 ft | midday | Sharp break (51 ft) | see map |
Early season yellowtail kingfish use the shallows, holding in 8 to 45 ft. Expect a summer slide to 20 to 130 ft, then a winter hold in 27 to 130 ft. Put Shoreline point first on the milk run — a point near 40 ft that grades prime for 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 45 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (40 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 20 to 130 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (51 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 91 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (51 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 27 to 130 ft | midday | Sharp break (51 ft) | see map |
Early season dusky flathead use the shallows, holding in 2 to 15 ft. Summer is a 7 to 35 ft game here, winter a 9 to 35 ft one. The chart's best answer is Shoreline point — point, 6 ft, good for spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (6 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 7 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | see map |
| Winter | 9 to 35 ft | midday | open water | see map |
Spring puts yellowfin bream in skinny water — 2 to 16 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 7 to 40 ft; cold water stacks them in 10 to 40 ft. Sharp break is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 45 ft, rated good for summer yellowfin bream. 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 | Shoreline point (6 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 7 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (45 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 28 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | see map |
| Winter | 10 to 40 ft | midday | Sharp break (45 ft) | see map |
Start shallow in spring: australian salmon sit in 4 to 30 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 14 to 80 ft, and winter fish settle into 4 to 30 ft. The spot to know is Sharp break, a drop-off in about 51 ft of water that rates prime for australian salmon in summer. 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 (6 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 14 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (51 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 4 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (51 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 4 to 30 ft | dawn | Shoreline point (6 ft) | see map |
Trial Bay - Northwest also holds tailor (11 to 65 ft in summer), silver trevally (14 to 80 ft in summer), luderick (6 to 35 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
The chart marks 8 structure features on Trial Bay - Northwest; the deepest is Deepest basin at about 114 ft.
Access data: Transport for NSW Maritime Boat Ramps. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for New South Wales waters are set by the NSW DPIRD (current saltwater recreational-fishing guide) — and special regulations can apply to Trial Bay - Northwest specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish. Check the live NSW saltwater guide before every trip, including current size and possession limits, seasonal and spatial closures, marine parks, protected species, permitted gear, intertidal collection rules and any local harbour or council directions. A directly measured depth cell, fishing-spot marker or access lead does not establish permission to fish, retain a catch, enter port land, park or launch, and rules can differ across one mapped operational section.
Check the official New South Wales fishing regulations →
NSW DPIRD fish species and current rules →
Check special-area and water-specific rules →
Trial Bay - Northwest is about 131 ft (40 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 NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development regional evidence informs the australasian snapper, mulloway, yellowtail kingfish, dusky flathead, yellowfin bream, australian salmon, tailor, silver trevally, luderick roster for Trial Bay - Northwest. 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 51 ft of water that rates prime for australasian snapper in summer. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
For australasian snapper, 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 Trial Bay - Northwest is regulated by the NSW DPIRD (current saltwater recreational-fishing guide). Check the official New South Wales regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Port Stephens - North 138 mi · Port Stephens - West 147 mi · Byron Bay - North 151 mi · Port Stephens - Northeast 152 mi · Byron Bay - Northwest 160 mi · Wommin Lagoon 185 mi · Broken Bay - Northwest 210 mi · Broken Bay - North 216 mi · Moreton Bay - Sector 11 230 mi, QLD · Sydney Harbour 233 mi · Moreton Bay - Sector 07 243 mi, QLD · Botany Bay 243 mi
See how Trial Bay - Northwest stacks up: best australasian snapper lakes in New South Wales · best mulloway lakes in New South Wales · best yellowtail kingfish lakes in New South Wales · best dusky flathead lakes in New South Wales
Browse all New South Wales 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.