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79,557-acre Van Diemen Gulf. Sector 36 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 36 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 168 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.
On the chart, Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 36 draws 79,559 acres inside 80.3 miles of shoreline. Index 2 on the shoreline: a few honest points and pockets, nothing labyrinthine. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 11% of this chart. Tip to tip the water measures near 21 mi with a 13.3-mi widest point. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 43, 12 mi south of here.
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 Offshore hump. It's an offshore hump holding about 34 ft of water and rates good come winter. 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 | 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 | Offshore hump (34 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 50 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 | open water | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (50 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 21 to 80 ft | midday | Sharp break (63 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 63 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 | open water | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 63 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (63 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 21 to 90 ft | midday | Sharp break (63 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 7 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 (7 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 2 to 16 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (7 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (7 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 10 to 35 ft | midday | Offshore hump (34 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. Winter queenfish concentrate at Sharp break, a prime-rated drop-off around 50 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 | Shallow measured flat (7 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (7 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 3 to 39 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (7 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 15 to 55 ft | midday | Sharp break (50 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 Sharp break. It's a drop-off holding about 50 ft of water and rates prime come fall. 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 | open water | see map |
| Summer | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | see map |
| Fall | 4 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (50 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 18 to 80 ft | midday | Sharp break (63 ft) | see map |
Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 36 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 14 features, led in depth by Deepest basin at roughly 156 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 36 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 36 is about 168 ft (51 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 36. 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 7 ft of water that rates prime for king threadfin in spring. 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 36 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 43 12 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 44 13 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 37 15 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 30 24 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 50 25 mi · Port Darwin - North 30 mi · Shoal Bay 30 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 38 32 mi · Bynoe Harbour - Northeast 36 mi · Port Darwin - Northwest 36 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 31 36 mi · Port Darwin - Central 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.