Navigation Help--NJ
 

Hereford Inlet, Wildwood New Jersey

How do you enter this unmarked inlet (maptech)?? Do I need to check the tide charts? I'll be coming from the North to pick up a passenger in Wildwood and then heading to Cape May, I'd rather not go to the Cape may inlet and back-track.
Advice, suggestions, pics of the inlet etc......

Thanks

Re: Navigation Help--NJ
 

No channel markers,no channel . Can you say Mud.

Re: Navigation Help--NJ
 

Check the charts from Atlantic City south bound on the inside ICW. Be careful down there alot of shoaling. I would not try an unmarked inlet.

Re: Navigation Help--NJ
 

I went against my better judgement. I was in a rush. Never again. Last year someone from this board asked advice on Wildwood and a local insisted you could get through with no problem :rolleyes: , ya right. This is why you cant listen to people that dont run the Ocean and negotiate different inlets on a regular basis.
Coming in I idled in with the drive up and just let the tide bring me in. I got lucky. I new it was bad when all I saw were the Jet skis and other boats turning around (coming from the inside.)

Leaving Wilwood in the evening is where I ran into problems.
I'll post a few pics......

Re: Navigation Help--NJ
 

That inlet will have markers if it is passable. Due to shoaling they may close the inlet from time to time. You can call the Coast Guard in wildwood to find out if it is passable

Re: Navigation Help--NJ
 

It's possible because I did it on the way in (lucky) but it was impossible last night on the way home. No markers.

Re: Navigation Help--NJ
 

Casino , sorry to hear about that. Come up here next weekend , big party @ racoon island inside sandy hook sat the 19th. :evilb:

Re: Navigation Help--NJ
 

Boats went out as far as the rocks..........

(By the way Ocean was flat yesterday.)

Re: Navigation Help--NJ
 

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Re: Navigation Help--NJ
 

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Re: Navigation Help--NJ
 

Casino you are crazy goin in there. :eek: I would have parked offshore and made them swim out. :drink:

Re: Navigation Help--NJ
 

I think that Inlet was open and marked back in the mid-late 90's. My sister lived in North Wildwood for a few years and when I went to visit her there were chartered fishing boats going out that inlet. They had to enter/exit from the south side.

I guess with all the shoaling they decided to close the inlet?

Re: Navigation Help--NJ
 

Next time..for sure. But coming home was wild. I had my boat parked at some food establishment on the water (not mentioning names) and ended up meeting some blonde that was dying for a ride. A complete stranger willing to go on my boat from Wildwood to Ocean City. Ah what the hell you only live once. :D I figured if I got stuck at least I'd be entertained. :evilb:

Couldnt get out of the Inlet in the evening wasted lots of time. Took the ICW North and went out the next inlet. Running the outside the rest of the way. Ocean was like glass.

Re: Navigation Help--NJ
 

I've jet-ski'ed that inlet many times,, dont think I would risk taking my 288 out of it.. it can be as low as a foot or two with shifting sand-bars scattered throughout. glad you made it through o.k...

Re: Navigation Help--NJ
 

You are right regarding entering and exiting from the south side, I used to exit and enter that inlet on the south side in an 18' Donzi, but that was many, many years ago, at medium or high tide it was not such a problem exiting, but coming in from the Ocean was always tough to see to see the breakers. (I was living in Stone Harbor, so it was the most convenient inlet).

If you are unconfortable, and you will be at low tide, just go to Cape May or to Sea Isle/Avalon inlets both are marked and easy to navigate. But as others have said, at dead low tide stay in the markers on the ICW, or you will be churning mud.

Re: Navigation Help--NJ
 

Nice to hear your voice and glad you got in safely CR :cool:

Do it again this Friday, maybe???? :drink: :evilb: :D