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22,528-acre Van Diemen Gulf. Sector 48 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 48 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 72 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 48 maps at 22,528 acres behind 59.8 miles of shoreline. That shoreline is heavily fingered (development index 2.8) — bays, points and pockets everywhere, which multiplies the fishable edge. 20% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. End to end it runs roughly 14.8 mi, about 8.6 mi across. Its nearest charted neighbour, Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 47, is 13 mi to the west.
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.
In spring, golden snapper run shallow here, mostly 8 to 35 ft. Summer keeps them at 8 to 35 ft, and they winter in 19 to 72 ft. Sharp break is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 32 ft, rated good for fall golden snapper. 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 (28 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (28 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (32 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 19 to 72 ft | midday | Sharp break (32 ft) | see map |
Spring black jewfish on Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 48 hold shallow, usually 8 to 35 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 8 to 35 ft in summer, 17 to 72 ft once it turns cold. The chart's best answer is Deepest basin — deep basin, 60 ft, prime for 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 (28 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (28 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 63 ft | dawn & dusk | Deepest basin (60 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 17 to 72 ft | midday | Deepest basin (60 ft) | see map |
When the water first warms, queenfish slide up into 3 to 25 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 3 to 25 ft, winter 15 to 55 ft. Start at Sharp break. It's a drop-off holding about 32 ft of water and rates prime come fall. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (28 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (28 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 3 to 39 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (32 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 15 to 55 ft | midday | Sharp break (32 ft) | see map |
Spring puts giant trevally in skinny water — 4 to 30 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 4 to 30 ft, and winter fish hold in 16 to 72 ft. Spring giant trevally concentrate at Shoreline point, a prime-rated point around 28 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (28 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (28 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 4 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (32 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 16 to 72 ft | midday | Sharp break (32 ft) | see map |
Come spring, look for narrow-barred spanish mackerel tight to the bank in 8 to 45 ft. Through summer count on 8 to 45 ft; the winter hold is 16 to 72 ft. Start at Sharp break. It's a drop-off holding about 32 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 | 8 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (28 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (28 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 7 to 72 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (32 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 16 to 72 ft | midday | Sharp break (32 ft) | see map |
When the water first warms, coral trout slide up into 8 to 35 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 8 to 35 ft, winter 15 to 72 ft. Start at Sharp break. It's a drop-off holding about 32 ft of water and rates prime come 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 | Sharp break (32 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (32 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 70 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (32 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 15 to 72 ft | midday | Sharp break (32 ft) | see map |
Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 48 carries 5 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deepest basin, about 60 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 48 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 48 is about 72 ft (22 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 48. 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 60 ft of water that rates prime for black jewfish in fall. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
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 48 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 47 13 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 34 28 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 46 28 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 35 31 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 33 33 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 39 36 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 26 41 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 38 48 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 31 54 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 20 57 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 24 61 mi · Van Diemen Gulf - Sector 19 61 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.