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Carpentaria Shoal
Reef·Northern Territory·Australia·
Field notes
Remote Arafura Sea shoal northwest of the Wessel Islands, charted feature used by mothership operators. Holds Spanish mackerel, sailfish, dogtooth tuna and big GTs on surface lures; bottom country produces large red emperor.
Current conditions
Wind
15 kt ESE
Gusts 19.7 kt
Waves
1 m
Period 4.3 s
Swell
0.6 m
Period 4.7 s
Sea temp
28.5°C
Air 27.9°C
Next 12 hours
13:00
15 ESE
1m
14:00
14.6 ESE
1m
15:00
14.6 ESE
1m
16:00
15 ESE
1m
17:00
15.8 ESE
1m
18:00
17.3 SE
1.1m
19:00
18.7 SE
1.1m
20:00
19.1 ESE
1.2m
21:00
18.1 ESE
1.2m
22:00
17.7 ESE
1.3m
23:00
17.9 SE
1.3m
00:00
18.5 SE
1.3m
Tides
Nearest BOM tide station: North West Crocodile Island ↗ (93.4 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↑ 06:38↓ 18:13
Moon↑ —↓ 20:38
PhaseWaxing crescent 10%
Best windows
- Dawn06:16 – 07:38
- Dusk17:13 – 18:36
Tomorrow
Sun↑ 06:38↓ 18:13
Moon↑ 09:56↓ 21:42
PhaseWaxing crescent 18%
Best windows
- Dawn06:16 – 07:38
- Dusk17:13 – 18:36
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
Reef
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.
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