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58,002-acre Van Diemen Gulf. Sector 13 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 13 trip-scale surveyed footprint within Van Diemen Gulf. A very large tropical gulf between the Top End and Cobourg Peninsula, divided across major channels and coastal sectors. The displayed footprint is not a legal boundary or a claim of complete named-water coverage. The water tops out around 120 ft. The depth chart comes from Geoscience Australia / AusSeabed bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
The drawn water covers 58,001 acres wrapped in 81 miles of bank. With a shoreline index of 2.4, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 5% of this chart. Tip to tip the water measures near 20.5 mi with an 18.2-mi widest point. If the bite dies, Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 14 is 17 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Spanish mackerel (Narrow-barred Spanish Mackerel) | official species listing | — |
| coral trout (Coral Trout) | official species listing | — |
Official species-evidence source.
Spring narrow-barred spanish mackerel on Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 13 hold shallow, usually 8 to 45 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 8 to 45 ft in summer, 27 to 120 ft once it turns cold. Put Sharp break first on the milk run — a drop-off near 63 ft that grades prime for fall. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 84 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (63 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 27 to 120 ft | midday | Sharp break (63 ft) | see map |
Spring coral trout on Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 13 hold shallow, usually 8 to 35 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 8 to 35 ft in summer, 21 to 100 ft once it turns cold. The chart's best answer is Sharp break — drop-off, 63 ft, prime for fall. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 70 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (63 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 21 to 100 ft | midday | Sharp break (63 ft) | see map |
Structure-wise the chart holds 6 features, led in depth by Sharp break at roughly 93 ft.
No facility from the cited Northern Territory boat ramps 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://nt.gov.au/marine/for-all-harbour-and-boat-users/boat-ramps
Private land and private launches need the owner's permission — please ask first.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Northern Territory waters are set by the Northern Territory Government (current recreational-fishing rules) — and special regulations can apply to Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 13 specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish. Check the Northern Territory's live possession and size limits and rules for specific areas before every trip. Seasonal barramundi controls, protected species, marine-park and Aboriginal land or sea-country permissions, method limits, vessel rules and local closures can apply. Remote-water access often needs separate landowner or permit approval. A mapped survey footprint, fishing spot or access lead never grants fishing, retention, entry, parking, camping or launching permission.
Check the official Northern Territory fishing regulations →
Northern Territory possession and size limits →
Check special-area and water-specific rules →
Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 13 is about 120 ft (37 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 Northern Territory Department of Agriculture and Fisheries regional evidence informs the narrow-barred spanish mackerel, coral trout roster for Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 13. 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 63 ft of water that rates prime for narrow-barred spanish mackerel in fall. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
For narrow-barred spanish mackerel, 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 Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 13 is regulated by the Northern Territory Government (current recreational-fishing rules). Check the official Northern Territory regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 14 17 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 12 17 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 20 20 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 19 22 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 18 38 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 26 42 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 34 47 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 33 48 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 35 51 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 24 59 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 31 70 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 39 74 mi
Browse all Northern Territory 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.