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41,086-acre Warrnambool Harbour 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. Trip-scale surveyed footprint within Warrnambool Harbour. An official Australian harbour evaluated inside a compact 24-kilometre trip-planning window centred on the Composite Gazetteer feature. The public outline is limited to retained direct AusBathyTopo survey cells, not a legal or navigational boundary. The displayed footprint is not a legal boundary or a claim of complete named-water coverage. The water tops out around 148 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 41,085 acres of water rimmed by 45.4 miles of bank. Index 1.6 on the shoreline: a few honest points and pockets, nothing labyrinthine. Roughly 8% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. Tip to tip the water measures near 18.2 mi with a 5.2-mi widest point. For a second option, Curdies Inlet lies 26 mi southeast.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| snapper (Australasian Snapper) | official species listing | — |
| King George whiting (King George Whiting) | official species listing | — |
| sand flathead (Sand Flathead) | official species listing | — |
| black bream (Black Bream) | official species listing | — |
| Australian salmon (Australian Salmon) | official species listing | — |
| silver trevally (Silver Trevally) | official species listing | — |
| gummy shark (Gummy Shark) | official species listing | — |
| yellowtail kingfish (Yellowtail Kingfish) | official species listing | — |
Official species-evidence source.
Start shallow in spring: australasian snapper sit in 6 to 35 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 16 to 120 ft; cold water stacks them in 21 to 120 ft. Top water on the chart: Sharp break, a drop-off in the 53 ft range, prime in summer. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 6 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (20 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 16 to 120 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (53 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 6 to 84 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (53 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 21 to 120 ft | midday | Sharp break (53 ft) | see map |
Spring puts king george whiting in skinny water — 3 to 18 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 8 to 45 ft; cold water stacks them in 11 to 45 ft. Sharp break is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 35 ft, rated good for summer king george whiting. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (7 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (35 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 3 to 31 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (7 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 11 to 45 ft | midday | Sharp break (35 ft) | see map |
Start shallow in spring: sand flathead sit in 8 to 35 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 16 to 80 ft, and winter fish settle into 8 to 35 ft. The spot to know is Sharp break, a drop-off in about 53 ft of water that rates good for sand flathead in summer. 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 (35 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 16 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (53 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 8 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (53 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 8 to 35 ft | dawn | Sharp break (35 ft) | see map |
When the water first warms, black bream slide up into 2 to 16 ft. Summer is a 7 to 35 ft game here, winter a 2 to 16 ft one. Start at Sharp break. It's a drop-off holding about 35 ft of water and rates good come summer. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 16 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (7 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 7 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (35 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (7 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 2 to 16 ft | dawn | Sharp break (7 ft) | see map |
Early season australian salmon use the shallows, holding in 4 to 30 ft. Expect a summer slide to 14 to 80 ft, then a winter hold in 4 to 30 ft. Put Sharp break first on the milk run — a drop-off near 53 ft that grades prime for summer. 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 (20 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 14 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (53 ft) | see map |
| Fall | 4 to 56 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (53 ft) | see map |
| Winter | 4 to 30 ft | dawn | Shoreline point (20 ft) | see map |
When the water first warms, silver trevally slide up into 4 to 30 ft. Summer is a 14 to 80 ft game here, winter an 18 to 80 ft one. Start at Sharp break. It's a drop-off holding about 53 ft of water and rates prime come summer. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (20 ft) | see map |
| Summer | 14 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (53 ft) | 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 |
Warrnambool Harbour also holds gummy shark (18 to 120 ft in summer), yellowtail kingfish (20 to 130 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
The chart marks 14 structure features on Warrnambool Harbour; the deepest is Deepest basin at about 145 ft.
No facility from the cited Victorian recreational boating facilities 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://discover.data.vic.gov.au/dataset/recreational-boating-facilities
Private land and private launches need the owner's permission — please ask first.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Victoria waters are set by the Victorian Fisheries Authority (current recreational-fishing guide) — and special regulations can apply to Warrnambool Harbour specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish. Check the live Victorian recreational-fishing guide and licence requirements before every trip. Size and possession limits, closed seasons and waters, marine parks, protected species, permitted equipment and local port or council directions may all apply. A directly measured bathymetry footprint, fishing-spot marker or nearby access lead is planning context only; it never grants fishing, retention, entry, parking or launching permission.
Check the official Victoria fishing regulations →
Victorian Fisheries Authority →
Check special-area and water-specific rules →
Warrnambool Harbour is about 148 ft (45 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 Victorian Fisheries Authority regional evidence informs the australasian snapper, king george whiting, sand flathead, black bream, australian salmon, silver trevally, gummy shark, yellowtail kingfish roster for Warrnambool Harbour. 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 australasian snapper in summer. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.
For australasian 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 Warrnambool Harbour is regulated by the Victorian Fisheries Authority (current recreational-fishing guide). Check the official Victoria regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Curdies Inlet 26 mi · Portland Bay - North 43 mi · Portland Bay - West 45 mi · Devils Kitchen 46 mi · Portland Bay - Northeast 52 mi · Crayfish Bay 65 mi · Port Phillip - West 116 mi · Port Phillip - Central 128 mi · Port Phillip - North 133 mi · Port Phillip - Southeast 136 mi · Western Port - Northwest 139 mi · Port Phillip - Northeast 139 mi
Browse all Victoria 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.