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58,842-acre Van Diemen Gulf. Sector 47 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 47 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 75 ft. The depth chart comes from Geoscience Australia / AusSeabed bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. The rest of this page walks each species through its year, using the map's own scoring.
Traced from the shoreline, Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 47 runs 58,841 acres with 95.3 miles of edge. The 2.8 development index tells the story — a convoluted bank whose fishable edge far outruns the acreage. Roughly 10% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. The basin spans about 16.9 mi end to end and 10.4 mi across at its widest. For a second option, Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 48 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 | — |
| 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.
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 20 to 75 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Sharp break: a drop-off around 37 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 | Sharp break (37 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (37 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (37 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 20 to 75 ft | midday | Sharp break (69 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, 18 to 75 ft covers winter. The spot to know is Deepest basin, a deep basin in about 75 ft of water that rates prime for black jewfish in winter. 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 | Sharp break (37 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (37 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 63 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (37 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 18 to 75 ft | midday | Deepest basin (75 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 17 to 75 ft. Start at Sharp break. It's a drop-off holding about 37 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 (37 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 17 to 75 ft | midday | Sharp break (69 ft) | see map |
Start shallow in spring: narrow-barred spanish mackerel sit in 8 to 45 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 8 to 45 ft covers summer, 17 to 75 ft covers winter. Top water on the chart: Sharp break, a drop-off in the 69 ft range, prime 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 45 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (37 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (37 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 7 to 75 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (69 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 17 to 75 ft | midday | Sharp break (69 ft) | see map |
In spring, coral trout run shallow here, mostly 8 to 35 ft. Summer keeps them at 8 to 35 ft, and they winter in 16 to 75 ft. Fall coral trout concentrate at Sharp break, a prime-rated drop-off around 69 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 | Sharp break (37 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (37 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 70 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (69 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 16 to 75 ft | midday | Sharp break (69 ft) | see map |
5 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deepest basin, around 75 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 47 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 47 is about 75 ft (23 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, giant trevally, narrow-barred spanish mackerel, coral trout roster for Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 47. 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.
Deepest basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 75 ft of water that rates prime for black jewfish 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 47 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 48 13 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 46 15 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 39 24 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 33 30 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 34 32 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 38 36 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 26 38 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 35 40 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 31 43 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 37 51 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 24 52 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 30 52 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.