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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
14.1 kt ESE
Gusts 18.3 kt
Waves
0.8 m
Period 4 s
Swell
0.5 m
Period 4.2 s
Sea temp
28.5°C
Air 28.5°C
Next 12 hours
13:00
14.1 ESE
0.8m
14:00
14.6 SE
0.9m
15:00
14.4 SE
0.9m
16:00
14.1 SE
0.9m
17:00
16.6 ESE
0.9m
18:00
16.4 ESE
1m
19:00
16.8 ESE
1m
20:00
16.8 ESE
1m
21:00
16.2 ESE
1m
22:00
15.4 ESE
1m
23:00
15.4 ESE
1m
00:00
15.7 SE
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 8:30 pm CST on Tuesday 19 May 2026
Situation. A ridge of high pressure strengthening over Central Australia is directing moderate to fresh southeasterly winds over coastal waters, persisting for most of the week.
Tuesday 19 May until midnight. Winds: Southeasterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: Below 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres offshore south of Channel Point. Swell: Below 0.5 metres. Weather: Partly cloudy.
Wednesday 20 May. Winds: Southeasterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres, decreasing to 1 metre by early evening. Swell: East to northeasterly below 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy.
Thursday 21 May. Winds: Southeasterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres, decreasing to 1 metre during the afternoon. Swell: East to northeasterly around 1 metre offshore. Weather: Sunny.
Friday 22 May. Winds: East to southeasterly 15 to 20 knots becoming variable about 10 knots during the day. Seas: Around 1 metre. Swell: Northeasterly below 1 metre. Weather: Sunny. North Tiwi Coast: Cape Fourcroy to Cape Don
Source: Open-Meteo Marine + ECMWF (15-min cache) · BOM (1-hr cache). Not for navigation.
Sun & moon
Today
Sun↑ 06:33↓ 18:08
Moon↑ —↓ 20:32
PhaseWaxing crescent 10%
Best windows
- Dawn06:10 – 07:33
- Dusk17:08 – 18:30
Tomorrow
Sun↑ 06:33↓ 18:08
Moon↑ 09:50↓ 21:37
PhaseWaxing crescent 18%
Best windows
- Dawn06:11 – 07:33
- Dusk17:08 – 18:30
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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