Bare Sand Island
Shoal·Northern Territory·Australia·
Field notes
Low sand cay off the Cox Peninsula northwest of Darwin, notable as a flatback turtle rookery. Surrounding flats and edges hold golden snapper, queenfish and mackerel on the drift. No landing in turtle season.
Current conditions
Wind
8.8 kt WNW
Gusts 13.8 kt
Waves
0.3 m
Period 4.2 s
Swell
0.2 m
Period 2.2 s
Sea temp
28.5°C
Air 27.2°C
Next 12 hours
00:00
8.8 WNW
0.3m
01:00
7.3 WNW
0.3m
02:00
5.6 WNW
0.3m
03:00
5 WNW
0.3m
04:00
3.8 NW
0.2m
05:00
5 NE
0.2m
06:00
9.8 NE
0.2m
07:00
10.4 NE
0.2m
08:00
9.7 NE
0.2m
09:00
8 NE
0.2m
10:00
5.5 NNE
0.2m
11:00
5.3 NW
0.2m
Tides
Nearest BOM tide station: Fish Reef ↗ (13.1 km · secondary)
We don't predict tides on-site — BOM's published tables are authoritative.
BOM · Beagle Bonaparte CoastIssued at 8:30 am CST on Sunday 6 September 2026
Situation. A weak ridge extends over eastern coastal waters. A weak trough will form through western coastal waters in the new week.
Sunday 6 September until midnight. Winds: Variable about 10 knots becoming west to northwesterly 10 to 15 knots in the early afternoon then decreasing to about 10 knots in the late afternoon. Seas: Below 1 metre, increasing to around 1 metre inshore during the afternoon. Swell: Westerly below 1 metre. Weather: Mostly sunny.
Monday 7 September. Winds: Westerly 10 to 15 knots becoming variable about 10 knots in the early morning. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: Westerly below 1 metre. Weather: Cloud clearing.
Tuesday 8 September. Winds: Northwest to southwesterly 10 to 15 knots becoming variable about 10 knots during the morning then becoming northwest to southwesterly 10 to 15 knots during the afternoon. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: Westerly below 1 metre. Weather: Mostly sunny. North Tiwi Coast: Cape Fourcroy to Cape Don
Sunday 6 September until midnight. Winds: Variable about 10 knots. Seas: Below 0.5 metres. Swell: East to northeasterly below 1 metre. Weather: Sunny.
Source: Open-Meteo Marine + ECMWF (15-min cache) · BOM (1-hr cache). Not for navigation.
Sun & moon
Today
Sun↑ 06:50↓ 18:45
Moon↑ 03:27↓ 14:05
PhaseWaning crescent 30%
Best windows
- Dawn06:29 – 07:50
- Dusk17:45 – 19:07
Tomorrow
Sun↑ 06:50↓ 18:45
Moon↑ 04:23↓ 15:10
PhaseWaning crescent 20%
Best windows
- Dawn06:28 – 07:50
- Dusk17:45 – 19:07
Best windows combine civil twilight with the hour either side of sun transit — the universal low-light feeding window most species respond to. Moon phase influence is folkloric; full and new moons coincide with the strongest tide swings.
What's biting
Recent reports from the community. Sign in to log your own catches.
Access & logistics
Spot type
Shoal
Region
Northern Territory, Australia
Fishing style
offshore and bluewater fishing
Structure
Typically holds bommies and drop-offs — work the structure for holding fish.
Licence
Recreational fishing licence may apply — check the Northern Territory fisheries regulator before fishing.
Closures
Always confirm current marine park / closure status and seasonal bag limits.
Saved.
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