Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up freeSalt water depth chart
Today's read
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
101,205-acre Van Diemen Gulf. Sector 43 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 43 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 213 ft. The depth chart comes from Geoscience Australia / AusSeabed bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
Drawn out, this is 101,202 acres of water rimmed by 117.4 miles of bank, with 2 islands in the mix. That shoreline is heavily fingered (development index 2.6) — bays, points and pockets everywhere, which multiplies the fishable edge. 19% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. End to end it runs roughly 22 mi, about 16.5 mi across. The nearest mapped water is Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 36, 12 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
When the water first warms, barramundi slide up into 2 to 18 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 2 to 18 ft, winter 11 to 35 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Sharp break: a drop-off around 23 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 | 2 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (15 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 2 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (15 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (23 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 11 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (23 ft) | see map |
Come spring, look for golden snapper tight to the bank in 8 to 35 ft. Through summer count on 8 to 35 ft; the winter hold is 21 to 80 ft. Start at Sharp break. It's a drop-off holding about 23 ft of water and rates good come 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 | Shoreline point (15 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (15 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (23 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 21 to 80 ft | midday | Sharp break (23 ft) | see map |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: black jewfish in 8 to 35 ft. The depth story barely changes: 8 to 35 ft through summer, 21 to 90 ft in winter. Top water on the chart: Sharp break, a drop-off in the 23 ft range, good 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 | Shoreline point (15 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (15 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 63 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (23 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 21 to 90 ft | midday | Sharp break (23 ft) | see map |
When the water first warms, king threadfin slide up into 2 to 16 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 2 to 16 ft, winter 10 to 35 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Shallow measured flat: a feeding flat around 8 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall 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 (8 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 2 to 16 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (8 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow measured flat (8 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 10 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (23 ft) | see map |
Spring puts queenfish in skinny water — 3 to 25 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 3 to 25 ft, and winter fish hold in 15 to 55 ft. Sharp break is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 23 ft, rated prime for fall queenfish. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (15 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (15 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 3 to 39 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (23 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 15 to 55 ft | midday | Sharp break (23 ft) | see map |
When the water first warms, giant trevally slide up into 4 to 30 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 4 to 30 ft, winter 18 to 80 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Shoreline point: a point around 15 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (15 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (15 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 4 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (23 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 18 to 80 ft | midday | Sharp break (23 ft) | see map |
Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 43 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.
Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 43 carries 24 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deepest basin, about 210 ft down.
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 43 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 43 is about 213 ft (65 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 43. 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 8 ft of water that rates prime for king threadfin in spring. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
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 43 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 36 12 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 50 13 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 44 14 mi · Port Darwin - North 19 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 37 23 mi · Bynoe Harbour - Northeast 26 mi · Port Darwin - Northwest 27 mi · Port Darwin - Central 32 mi · Shoal Bay 33 mi · Bynoe Harbour - East 34 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 30 34 mi · Bynoe Harbour - North 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.