Cape Wessel
Headland·Northern Territory·Australia·
Field notes
Northern tip of the Wessel Islands chain, named feature on AHO charts and a mothership target zone. Strong tidal current draws Spanish mackerel, dogtooth tuna and big GTs; bottom country holds red emperor.
Current conditions
Wind
10.5 kt E
Gusts 14.6 kt
Waves
0.9 m
Period 5 s
Swell
0.8 m
Period 4.3 s
Sea temp
27.1°C
Air 26.5°C
Next 12 hours
01:00
10.5 E
0.9m
02:00
9.6 E
0.9m
03:00
11.9 E
0.8m
04:00
11.5 E
0.9m
05:00
15.9 E
0.9m
06:00
15.3 E
0.9m
07:00
15.2 E
1m
08:00
17.8 E
1m
09:00
17.9 E
1.1m
10:00
15.9 E
1.1m
11:00
15.3 E
1.1m
12:00
13.7 E
1.1m
Tides
Nearest BOM tide station: Cape Wessel ↗ (3.3 km · secondary)
We don't predict tides on-site — BOM's published tables are authoritative.
BOM · Arafura CoastIssued at 2:30 am CST on Wednesday 21 October 2026
Situation. A weak ridge lies across the Gulf of Carpentaria and the Top End. Winds are tending west to northwesterly through the western waters as a broad trough moves in from the west.
Wednesday 21 October until midnight. Winds: West to northwesterly 10 to 15 knots tending northwest to northeasterly in the early morning then tending west to northwesterly in the early afternoon. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: Westerly below 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy. The chance of a thunderstorm.
Thursday 22 October. Winds: Variable about 10 knots becoming north to northwesterly 10 to 15 knots in the middle of the day then tending west to northwesterly in the early afternoon. Seas: Below 0.5 metres, increasing to below 1 metre south of Channel Point. Swell: Westerly below 1 metre. Weather: Mostly sunny morning. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening.
Friday 23 October. Winds: Westerly 10 to 15 knots becoming variable about 10 knots during the morning then becoming west to northwesterly 10 to 15 knots during the day. Seas: Below 0.5 metres, increasing to below 1 metre south of Channel Point. Swell: Westerly below 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy. The chance of a thunderstorm in the morning and afternoon. North Tiwi Coast: Cape Fourcroy to Cape Don
Wednesday 21 October until midnight. Winds: Easterly 10 to 15 knots turning northeasterly in the late afternoon. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: East to northeasterly below 1 metre. Weather: Mostly sunny.
Source: Open-Meteo Marine + ECMWF (15-min cache) · BOM (1-hr cache). Not for navigation.
Sun & moon
Today
Sun↑ 05:57↓ 18:20
Moon↑ 14:08↓ 02:48
PhaseWaxing gibbous 73%
Best windows
- Dawn05:35 – 06:57
- Dusk17:20 – 18:42
Tomorrow
Sun↑ 05:56↓ 18:20
Moon↑ 14:55↓ 03:28
PhaseWaxing gibbous 81%
Best windows
- Dawn05:35 – 06:56
- Dusk17:20 – 18:42
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
Headland
Region
Northern Territory, Australia
Fishing style
rock fishing and land-based fishing
Structure
Typically holds washes, points 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.
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