Salt water depth chart
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63,382-acre Van Diemen Gulf. Sector 33 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 33 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 231 ft. The depth chart comes from Geoscience Australia / AusSeabed bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 33 maps at 63,381 acres behind 133.6 miles of shoreline — one island included. The 3.8 development index tells the story — a convoluted bank whose fishable edge far outruns the acreage. Roughly 6% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. The basin spans about 19.4 mi end to end and 17.5 mi across at its widest. Its nearest charted neighbour, Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 26, is 9 mi to the north.
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.
When the water first warms, narrow-barred spanish mackerel slide up into 8 to 45 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 8 to 45 ft, winter 27 to 120 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Sharp break: a drop-off around 61 ft that scores prime 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 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 (61 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 27 to 120 ft | midday | Sharp break (61 ft) | see map |
Come spring, look for coral trout tight to the bank in 8 to 35 ft. Through summer count on 8 to 35 ft; the winter hold is 21 to 100 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Sharp break: a drop-off around 61 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 | open water | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 70 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (61 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 21 to 100 ft | midday | Sharp break (61 ft) | see map |
7 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deepest basin, around 231 ft, is the deepest of them.
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 33 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 33 is about 231 ft (70 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 33. 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 61 ft of water that rates prime for narrow-barred spanish mackerel in fall. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every 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 33 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 26 9 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 34 17 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 39 27 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 20 28 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 47 30 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 19 30 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 35 31 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 48 33 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 24 33 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 31 34 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 18 34 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 46 36 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.