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.
40,679-acre Trinity Inlet. North 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. North 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 118 ft. The depth chart comes from Geoscience Australia / AusSeabed bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
Traced from the shoreline, Trinity Inlet - North runs 40,676 acres with 38.3 miles of edge. The basin is a simple one (shoreline index 1.4) — close to a bowl, so the structure on the chart matters more than the bank. Roughly 13% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. Tip to tip the water measures near 12.1 mi with a 10.4-mi widest point. The nearest mapped water is Trinity Inlet - Northwest, 7 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Come spring, look for barramundi tight to the bank in 2 to 18 ft. Through summer count on 2 to 18 ft; the winter hold is 11 to 35 ft. Start at Sharp break. It's a drop-off holding about 20 ft of water and rates good come fall. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (6 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 2 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (6 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (20 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 11 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (20 ft) | see map |
When the water first warms, golden snapper slide up into 8 to 35 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 8 to 35 ft, winter 21 to 80 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Sharp break: a drop-off around 20 ft that scores good in fall. 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 | Sharp break (20 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (20 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (20 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 21 to 80 ft | midday | Sharp break (48 ft) | see map |
Start shallow in spring: black jewfish sit in 8 to 35 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 8 to 35 ft covers summer, 21 to 90 ft covers winter. The spot to know is Sharp break, a drop-off in about 20 ft of water that rates good for black jewfish in fall. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (20 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (20 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 63 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (20 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 21 to 90 ft | midday | Sharp break (48 ft) | see map |
Come spring, look for king threadfin tight to the bank in 2 to 16 ft. Through summer count on 2 to 16 ft; the winter hold is 10 to 35 ft. Start at Shallow measured flat. It's a feeding flat holding about 3 ft of water and rates prime come spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 16 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (3 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 2 to 16 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (3 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (3 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 10 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (20 ft) | see map |
In spring, queenfish run shallow here, mostly 3 to 25 ft. Summer keeps them at 3 to 25 ft, and they winter in 15 to 55 ft. Fall queenfish concentrate at Sharp break, a prime-rated drop-off around 20 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (6 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (6 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 3 to 39 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (20 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 15 to 55 ft | midday | Sharp break (20 ft) | see map |
Come spring, look for giant trevally tight to the bank in 4 to 30 ft. Through summer count on 4 to 30 ft; the winter hold is 18 to 80 ft. Start at Shoreline point. It's a point holding about 6 ft of water and rates prime come spring. Prime time lands in 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 | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (6 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 4 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (20 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 18 to 80 ft | midday | Sharp break (20 ft) | see map |
Trinity Inlet - North also holds mangrove jack (2 to 18 ft in summer), narrow-barred spanish mackerel (8 to 45 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.
10 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deepest basin, around 116 ft, is the deepest of them.
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 - North 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 - North is about 118 ft (36 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 - North. 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 threadfin in spring. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every 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 - North 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 - Northwest 7 mi · Alexandra Bay 52 mi · Cedar Bay 76 mi · Coconut Bay 81 mi · Quarantine Bay 100 mi · Cleveland Bay - Northeast 174 mi · Cleveland Bay - West 182 mi · Bowling Green Bay - West 190 mi · Cleveland Bay - East 191 mi · Bowling Green Bay - Central 194 mi · Bowling Green Bay - East 199 mi · Bowling Green Bay - South 200 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.