East Coast Inlets

[stapletonma]

I'm new to the salt-water fishing, especially off/nearshore. I want to take my boat out to do some trolling or possibly hit one of the ARs. My question is in regards to moving out through the inlets. I know that some are better dredged than others, but what about the breakers? Is there a preferred time (as far as tide goes) to manuever out through the breakers and is there a particular way to get through them that is best?

Any other information that may be useful is appreciated as well.

 

[JimW]

I can't help you with your question, but I would like to welcome you to our TBON.
Welcome aboard and good fishing!

Jim

 

[Old Barney]

First...Welcome aboard! Second...I'm only familiar with New Jersey's inlets so I can't be of much help. There are however, many members from your area who will read your post and be able to give you some solid advice. In my experience, the people on this site are very friendly and helpful.


Good luck-John

 

[glehav]

stapletonma follow some one out if you can if not see if you can get a navactional. map of the inlet are maybe stop and ask anyother boater thats in the inlet . if you have a gps plotter it will show the the way to.

 

[boostjunkie1]

I can tell you that Beaufort Inlet is easy as pie to go out of. Just remember that when going out the marker buoys will be green on right and red on left. Of course the opposite while coming in. Once you get out of the inlet you are pretty much set. AR315 is hot right now with Spanish and Blues. Oregon Inlet is dangerouse at the right times. Rudees Inlet in VA is also easy and safe. Remember that you do not have to go full bore out of these inlets to keep from running aground. If you have any questions feel free to PM me. I will help you out as much as possible. Look at Google Earth and learn the lay of the land compared to which way the wind will have to blow to calm the sea and also make it bigger. This will depend on where you are going out of of course. Good Luck and always be safe while running the big motor. Wear the L.J. and follow the other boats out and plot you way with the GPS. This will give you piece of mind while coming back in that you have already run this course and you know it is safe. Makw a mental note of the depth so that you are aware of High and Low Tide fluctuations. JB

 

[stapletonma]

Thanks for the info

Well I went out the Bogue inlet Friday afternoon. It was pretty easy to get out. Unfortunately I went out before I got a chance to read this post, but oddly enough I did most of the things that you mentioned. Watching other boats helped. I took a GPS which was a real comfort, especially when coming back in. I also looked at Google Earth quite a bit. This was one of the reasons I made the post. It looked worse than it really was. Of course those images could be as old as 2 years though.

Any specific advice for offshore boating with a 191 F/S? Also, what do you mean by which way the wind will have to blow to calm the sea and make it bigger?

BTW, I thank all of you very much for the posts. The information helps a great deal.

 

[Lucky]

When are inlets roughest...

You ask a tough question because it is nearly impossible to generalize about inlets. They are each their own animal and behave differently every day. A small inlet with a large body of water behind it will have fast moving currents. While a wide and deep inlet with a smaller body of water inland will be gentle in most cases.

In general, when the tide is running fastest (that is approximately 1/2 way between low and high or high and low) you will be more likely to encounter unusual seas. An outgoing tide with current flowing into oncoming surf will be the most dangerous, as it tends to build the steepest wave fronts. Also pay attention to wind and waves coming in from open water. They go in cycles, even on rough days.

I'm sure you've heard about the "seventh wave"... supposedly every 7th wave is larger than the rest. While I don't count waves, it is true that wave height varies with series of large ones often followed by several more moderate waves. Look at boats that are well ahead of you and see what they are encountering as they exit the inlet... if it looks like the seas are too much for you on that day, then don't chance it. If other boats are handling it well, then take your time, keep your bow up (by keeping speed down and trim up) and ride through the waves until you are safely out into the ocean rollers. Then you can pick up more speed and trim the bow down to suit your comfort.

When returning, be mindful of your speed... too slow and a wave from behind can swamp you (bad) or lift your transom and spin you sideways (in the rare case resulting in a capsize). Very experienced captains often ride the back of a wave and use the throttle to ensure the next wave behind doesn't catch the boat but not so much speed as to drive over the crest of the wave in front. This approach can be safe and comfortable in all sorts of seas.

Good luck. Be safe. Tight lines.

 

[glehav]

stapletonma a wind blowing againest incomeing waves will make it lay down. wind blowing in the same direction as a incomeing wave will make them larger.in my case in the gulf of mexico you all ways want winds comeing out of the northeast a wind blowing againest the waves for com seas. any kind of wind comeing out of the south will make the seas rougher. as far as your case goes winds blowing out of the east is bad west is good.this to might help allways ride in to a wave at a 45 degree angle if you can. dont ever ride stright in to a wave if you can help it the ride will be a lot nicer

 

[OC Tim]

I run out of the Ocean City MD inlet. It is narrow and has alot of water flow out of the bay with an ebbing tide. depending on wave height swell interval it can get pretty nasty. I try and time running the inlet on an incomming tide when possible because with the outgoing tide the wave height can double and has alot shorter interval. Just take your time and practice running it so you feel comfortable as conditions change. When you are comming in and find yourself surfing down a wave face and the boat starts to heel add some throttle to regain control. This is the hardest thing I had to learn and won't come into play unless wave height is alot bigger than when you went out. All aboard where life jackets when running the inlet I have seen to many strange things happen. Practice running in and out is the best advice I can give you. It will give you confidence then it won't be a big deal.

 

[BarryB]

All Great Info

Hi Staple,

Everyone gave great information, so I will not repeat it.

You may want to look on the internet for U.S. Power Squadron. They are a national organization devoted to safe boating. They offer classes on Seamanship, navigation, small boating handling, etc. The Power Squadron has local chapters with members that are ready to help.

The web site is: United States Power Squadrons® [Boating Education: Public Classes + Member Courses = Safe Boating]

Good luck.

 

[Jim Jenkins]

Wind direction and the direction the inlet opens toward along with tide make inlet running no big deal or very hairy. Oregon Inlet faces NE and on a stiff NE wind, she will live up to her billing as one of the worst on the East Coast. Hatteras Inlet faces SW. Not so bad on a NE wind but the prevailing SW summer wind blowing 20+ can make this inlet bad as well.

My personal favorite is Barden Inlet which is protected by the Lookout Bight and short of a very stiff West or SW wind is a piece of cake. If it is really blowing hard SW, I do not want to go out side into Onslow Bay anyway.

The channel from Harker's Island area down past the light house is worthy of another thread and discussion. Haven't bumped the bottom in two years now but may touch on the next trip....

 

[Bart]

Masonboro, Beaufort and Little River, and Charleson Harbor are all very easy in the conditions that you would want to venture out in a 19'. Oregon Inlet is notoriously brutal on outgoing tides. Bogue inlet is scary because its dredging and marking are very inconsistent.

Following other boats out, using common sense, and paying attention to your "spidey senses" are keys to safety. Pay attention to weather and forecasts, even when not boating. If you're offshore, and the wind picks up, head in "Now" rather than waiting for it to get bad offshore. Been out 30 miles in my 21', and came in the minute the wind picked up, and still came through the inlet with 6 - 8' chop (scary).

Choose calm days. In NC, when we are right under a "bermuda high", you get alot of calm (enough) days. Pay attention to land... when wind comes from the North, stay sheltered (e.g. Onslow Bay). Stay inside Capes. Never go alone.

As for returning, I agree that riding the back of a wave in, is by far the most comfortable and least scary.

Bart