Melville Bay
- Saltwater
- Estuary
Melville Bay
- Saltwater
- Estuary
- Sq. miles
- 45
- Boat Ramps
- 0
- Access Points
- 0
- Species
- 11
Melville Bay is a significant saltwater embayment located on the Gove Peninsula in northeast Arnhem Land, Northern Territory. It serves as a primary marine access point for the Nhulunbuy township and the Yirrkala community, featuring a mix of developed infrastructure and remote, culturally significant coastline. The bay opens into the Arafura Sea and is characterized by its deep-water channels, rocky foreshores, and extensive intertidal zones, creating a diverse and productive fishery influenced by substantial tidal movements.
Species & education
Learn what type of fish are at Melville Bay and what's needed to catch them.
Find which waters have the species you want to catch
Barramundi
Lates calcarifer
Cobia
Rachycentron canadum
Coral Trout
Plectropomus leopardus
Estuary Cod
Epinephelus coioides
Fingermark
Lutjanus johnii
Giant Trevally
Caranx ignobilis
Mangrove Jack
Lutjanus argentimaculatus
Mulloway
Argyrosomus japonicus
Narrow-barred Spanish Mackerel
Scomberomorus commerson
Red Emperor
Lutjanus sebae
Redthroat Emperor
Lethrinus miniatus
Fishing spots, boat ramps & amenities
Learn how to get on Melville Bay. Uncover great fishing access points, boat ramps, and all the facilities you need for an unforgettable day on the water. Some locations shown may border or include private property. Always check property boundaries and applicable regulations before visiting. onWater's Public & Private Land layer can help you plan your access with confidence.
Key fishing locations include the Melville Bay Service Jetty, which offers deep-water land-based access. The many rocky outcrops and headlands around the bay are prime spots for casting. The man-made wharf structures attract a variety of species. Offshore reefs in 10-15 meters of water are productive for bottom species like snapper and coral trout. The small rocky islands accessible via a short walk from shore are also popular.
Know where you can legally fish on Melville Bay
See public and private land boundaries along the water, turn on private parcels with owner details to know where permission is required, and find land-trust parcels that offer permitted fishing access.
Northern Territory licenses and regulations
Northern Territory Boating Regulations
Official NT recreational boating safety guide. Boats need no registration and operators need no licence, but must follow the Marine Act 1981 and Marine (General) Regulations 2013, including minimum safety-equipment requirements.
Northern Territory Fishing License
The Northern Territory does not require a recreational fishing licence - fishing is licence-free, and no recreational boat licence is needed either. This official NT Fisheries page confirms no licence is required and outlines the rules that still apply.
Northern Territory Fishing Regulations
Official NT page setting recreational possession limits, including a general personal possession limit, separate limits for exempt species, and per-vessel limits. See the page for current numbers.
Northern Territory Stream Access Laws
NT has no single generic stream-access statute; the major access consideration is that much of the NT's intertidal waters overlie Aboriginal land. Permission is required to enter intertidal waters over Aboriginal land, and recreational fishers must register (via the Northern Land Council) to access some waters.
Take Melville Bay with you
The onWater Fish app keeps this water's access points, species and conditions in your pocket, with the tools you use once you're there.
Use the map without signal
Download the map around Melville Bay to use it offline when coverage drops.
Log your catches here
Keep a private fishing journal for Melville Bay to find where and when fish are biting for you.
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Tides, wind & water conditions (10 day forecast)
On open water, wind and tide matter as much as the weather. See the best times to fish Melville Bay and check the marine forecast before you launch.
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