Salt water depth chart
Today's read
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
20,991-acre Trinity Inlet. 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 Trinity Inlet. Cairns' mangrove estuary and shipping-channel system, transitioning through tidal flats to the Coral Sea. The displayed footprint is not a legal boundary or a claim of complete named-water coverage. The water tops out around 44 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 20,989 acres wrapped in 40.5 miles of bank. A middling shoreline index (2) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. About 43% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. Figure 11.5 mi of water from one end to the other, 6 mi at the beam. Its nearest charted neighbour, Trinity Inlet - North, is 7 mi to the east.
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.
Start shallow in spring: barramundi sit in 2 to 18 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 2 to 18 ft covers summer, 11 to 35 ft covers winter. Top water on the chart: Sharp break, a drop-off in the 11 ft range, good in fall. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (11 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 2 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (11 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (11 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 11 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (11 ft) | see map |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: golden snapper in 8 to 35 ft. The depth story barely changes: 8 to 35 ft through summer, 12 to 44 ft in winter. The spot to know is Sharp break, a drop-off in about 11 ft of water that rates good for golden snapper in fall. 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 | Shoreline point (10 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (10 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 6 to 44 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (11 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 12 to 44 ft | midday | Sharp break (22 ft) | see map |
Come spring, look for black jewfish tight to the bank in 8 to 35 ft. Through summer count on 8 to 35 ft; the winter hold is 10 to 44 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deepest basin: a deep basin around 42 ft that scores prime in fall. Best bite is early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (10 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (10 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 6 to 44 ft | dawn & dusk | Deepest basin (42 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 10 to 44 ft | midday | Deepest basin (42 ft) | see map |
Start shallow in spring: king threadfin sit in 2 to 16 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 2 to 16 ft covers summer, 10 to 35 ft covers winter. Top water on the chart: Shallow measured flat, a feeding flat in the 5 ft range, prime in spring. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 16 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (5 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 2 to 16 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (5 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (5 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 10 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (11 ft) | see map |
Spring queenfish on Trinity Inlet - Northwest hold shallow, usually 3 to 25 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 3 to 25 ft in summer, 12 to 44 ft once it turns cold. The chart's best answer is Sharp break — drop-off, 11 ft, prime for fall. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (10 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (10 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 3 to 39 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (11 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 12 to 44 ft | midday | Sharp break (22 ft) | see map |
Start shallow in spring: giant trevally sit in 4 to 30 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 4 to 30 ft covers summer, 10 to 44 ft covers winter. Top water on the chart: Shoreline point, a point in the 10 ft range, prime in spring. 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 | Shoreline point (10 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (10 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 3 to 44 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (11 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 10 to 44 ft | midday | Sharp break (11 ft) | see map |
Trinity Inlet - Northwest also holds mangrove jack (2 to 18 ft in summer), narrow-barred spanish mackerel (8 to 44 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.
The chart marks 13 structure features on Trinity Inlet - Northwest; the deepest is Deepest basin at about 42 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 Trinity Inlet - Northwest 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 →
Trinity Inlet - Northwest is about 44 ft (13 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 Trinity Inlet - 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.
Deepest basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 42 ft of water that rates prime for black jewfish in fall. Open the map above to see every rated 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 Trinity Inlet - Northwest 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.
Trinity Inlet - North 7 mi · Alexandra Bay 49 mi · Cedar Bay 74 mi · Coconut Bay 83 mi · Quarantine Bay 98 mi · Cleveland Bay - Northeast 176 mi · Cleveland Bay - West 185 mi · Bowling Green Bay - West 192 mi · Cleveland Bay - East 194 mi · Bowling Green Bay - Central 197 mi · Bowling Green Bay - East 202 mi · Bowling Green Bay - South 203 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.