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102,963-acre Van Diemen Gulf. Sector 38 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 38 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 158 ft. The depth chart comes from Geoscience Australia / AusSeabed bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. The season-by-season read for each species follows, from the map's own numbers.
Traced from the shoreline, Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 38 runs 102,958 acres with 78.5 miles of edge. The shoreline is moderately structured (index 1.7) — enough points and pockets to pattern. Roughly 2% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. The basin spans about 19.6 mi end to end and 15.9 mi across at its widest. For a second option, Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 39 lies 13 mi 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 |
|---|---|---|
| golden snapper (Golden Snapper) | official species listing | — |
| black jewfish (Black Jewfish) | official species listing | — |
| queenfish (Queenfish) | official species listing | — |
| giant trevally (Giant Trevally) | official species listing | — |
| Spanish mackerel (Narrow-barred Spanish Mackerel) | official species listing | — |
| coral trout (Coral Trout) | official species listing | — |
Official species-evidence source.
Spring golden snapper on Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 38 hold shallow, usually 8 to 35 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 8 to 35 ft in summer, 21 to 80 ft once it turns cold. Put Sharp break first on the milk run — a drop-off near 53 ft that grades good for 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 | open water | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (53 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 21 to 80 ft | midday | Sharp break (53 ft) | see map |
In spring, black jewfish run shallow here, mostly 8 to 35 ft. Summer keeps them at 8 to 35 ft, and they winter in 21 to 90 ft. Fall black jewfish concentrate at Sharp break, a good-rated drop-off around 53 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 | 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 (53 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 21 to 90 ft | midday | Sharp break (53 ft) | see map |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: queenfish in 3 to 25 ft. The depth story barely changes: 3 to 25 ft through summer, 15 to 55 ft in winter. Top water on the chart: Sharp break, a drop-off in the 53 ft range, prime in winter. Time it for early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | see map |
| Summer | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | see map |
| Fall | 3 to 39 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (53 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 15 to 55 ft | midday | Sharp break (53 ft) | see map |
Early season giant trevally use the shallows, holding in 4 to 30 ft. Even in summer they hold at 4 to 30 ft; winter keeps them in 18 to 80 ft. The chart's best answer is Sharp break — drop-off, 53 ft, prime for fall. Best bite is 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 (53 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 18 to 80 ft | midday | Sharp break (53 ft) | see map |
Spring puts narrow-barred spanish mackerel in skinny water — 8 to 45 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 8 to 45 ft, and winter fish hold in 27 to 120 ft. Fall narrow-barred spanish mackerel concentrate at Sharp break, a prime-rated drop-off around 53 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around 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 (53 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 27 to 120 ft | midday | Sharp break (53 ft) | see map |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: coral trout in 8 to 35 ft. The depth story barely changes: 8 to 35 ft through summer, 21 to 100 ft in winter. Top water on the chart: Sharp break, a drop-off in the 53 ft range, prime in fall. Time it for 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 (53 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 21 to 100 ft | midday | Sharp break (53 ft) | see map |
10 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deepest basin, around 155 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 38 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 38 is about 158 ft (48 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 golden snapper, black jewfish, queenfish, giant trevally, narrow-barred spanish mackerel, coral trout roster for Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 38. 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 53 ft of water that rates prime for queenfish in winter. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For golden snapper, 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 38 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 39 13 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 31 14 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 37 16 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 30 16 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 44 24 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 46 25 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 24 28 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 36 32 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 47 36 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 33 37 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 43 38 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 26 39 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.