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143,127-acre Van Diemen Gulf. Sector 31 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 31 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 190 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 143,131 acres wrapped in 63.7 miles of bank. At index 1.2 the outline is almost a bowl — read the depth changes, not the shoreline. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 2% of this chart. Tip to tip the water measures near 22.2 mi with an 18.3-mi widest point. If the bite dies, Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 30 is 13 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.
The spring pattern is a shallow one: barramundi in 2 to 18 ft. The depth story barely changes: 2 to 18 ft through summer, 11 to 35 ft in winter. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | see map |
| Summer | 2 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | see map |
| Winter | 11 to 35 ft | midday | open water | see map |
Start shallow in spring: golden snapper 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 80 ft covers winter. Top water on the chart: Sharp break, a drop-off in the 56 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 | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (20 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (20 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (56 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 21 to 80 ft | midday | Sharp break (56 ft) | see map |
When the water first warms, black jewfish slide up into 8 to 35 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 8 to 35 ft, winter 21 to 90 ft. Start at Sharp break. It's a drop-off holding about 56 ft of water and rates good come fall. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (20 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (20 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 63 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (56 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 21 to 90 ft | midday | Sharp break (56 ft) | see map |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: king threadfin in 2 to 16 ft. The depth story barely changes: 2 to 16 ft through summer, 10 to 35 ft in winter. 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 | open water | see map |
| Summer | 2 to 16 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | see map |
| Winter | 10 to 35 ft | midday | open water | see map |
Early season queenfish use the shallows, holding in 3 to 25 ft. Even in summer they hold at 3 to 25 ft; winter keeps them in 15 to 55 ft. Put Sharp break first on the milk run — a drop-off near 55 ft that grades prime for winter. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (20 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (20 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 3 to 39 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | see map |
| Winter | 15 to 55 ft | midday | Sharp break (55 ft) | see map |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: giant trevally in 4 to 30 ft. The depth story barely changes: 4 to 30 ft through summer, 18 to 80 ft in winter. The spot to know is Shoreline point, a point in about 20 ft of water that rates prime for giant trevally in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (20 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (20 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 4 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (56 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 18 to 80 ft | midday | Sharp break (56 ft) | see map |
Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 31 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.
Structure-wise the chart holds 10 features, led in depth by Deepest basin at roughly 188 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 31 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 31 is about 190 ft (58 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 barramundi, golden snapper, black jewfish, king threadfin, queenfish, giant trevally, mangrove jack, narrow-barred spanish mackerel, coral trout roster for Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 31. 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 55 ft of water that rates prime for queenfish in winter. The interactive chart above rates every 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 Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 31 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 30 13 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 38 14 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 24 14 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 39 20 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 37 23 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 26 32 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 33 34 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 44 34 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 18 36 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 46 36 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 36 36 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 47 43 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.