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FAQ About SST Data
Who uses Sea Surface Temperature data?
Sea Surface Temperature (SST) data is used by professional fishermen and recreational anglers all over the world.
SST is mostly used by people fishing in open waters, several kilometres from the shore. It is most useful for those fishing for pelagic fish species (those that live in the water column rather than resting on the bottom).
Where does the data come from?
Sea Surface Temperature Maps accessed through this site are produced by Earthinsite.com Pty Ltd from processed data supplied by the Western Australian Department of Land Information, Satellite Remote Sensing Services. The raw data is received at stations in Perth and Melbourne from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) sensors on-board US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and NASA's Earth Observing System satellites Terra and Aqua which together provide global coverage several times per day. The processed data is used to produce the enhanced colour image showing current sea surface temperatures for the entire Australian Coastline.
How can it tell me where fish are going to be?
It can't. What it can tell you is where ocean currents are meeting at the surface.
The key to getting the most out of SST observations is realising that the water temperatures are less important than changes in water temperature. The ocean is three-dimensional, and that the correlation of surface temperature (where the sun and wind play a big effect) with deep water temperature (governed by deep ocean currents) is indirect, at best.
Changes in water temperature, therefore, are a very good indicator of water activity, i.e., currents, upwellings, etc. Moving water carries nutrients, which fosters plankton growth, which brings the baitfish, which brings other larger fish. These movements can be seen either by the temperature break, which is sharply defined boundary between regions of two different water temperatures or lots of small scale temperature variability in a region.
How do I locate the area I want to fish?
When you log in to the SST Mapper, you first select the region you are in from the map of Australia, and then you will be presented with thumbnail images of the data sets available.
When you select the data set you want to view, you will be taken to the SST Mapper. From here you can zoom in by dragging your mouse over the map to select the area you want to fish, and clicking the zoom button.
How do I find the co-ordinates of the temperature change points?
Once you have selected the area you want to fish, you can move your curser over the screen to view the co-ordinates and the surface temperature of any point on the map.
You can download or print this map, or you can simply note down the coordinates of the most likely areas to start your fishing.
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