Manasquan or Barnegat Inlet

[Capt Ron B]

I need to get my 26 Regulator from Brick down to Great Bay Marina in Little Egg...It is presently at a marina on the Metedconk River right at Rt 70 in Brick...I am not familar with this area at all. Am I better off heading north and going through the Point Pleasant Canal and out the Manasquan Inlet or heading south via Barnegat Bay and out the Barnegat Inlet?

Thanks

[Hotrod]

ICW.. all the way

[IrishAyes]

If you can pick a good weather day go out the Manasquan and run the ocean down. Even by the little jug to the north you will probably still be traveling the same distance as the ICW is a winding road to take. 

If you elect to do the ICW...don't stray far out of the channel. At spots you will be aground only yards out of the channel. As you said, you are not familiar with the area. If you have a chartplotter you should have minimal trouble. Also keep in mind that all buoys are not on station now. Some are pulled for the winter because of icing and some that stayed in were dragged off station because of icing.

Do you have someone who can go with you that is familiar with the area? That would be the ideal way to go. 

Good luck in your move and have a great season. 

[Hotrod]

Yea.  I guess if you have a nice weather window.. I would also just take the ocean run out of Manasquan

[Capt Ron B]

Thanks guys,

When I looked at the charts it just seemed like it was a long ride north to just head south again. But I do remember the ICW did seem to wind around a lot. Just got to find that weather window this time of year.

All my fishing buddies are Little Egg or Cape May guys...

[Hotrod]

The ICW in barnegat is pretty wide open all the way to the Causeway Bridge.  NO  no-wakes that I can remember.  Then from the bridge you head over to the Island side and have some no wake area's  but not for long.  Then your full throttle right into Little egg Inlet and the coast guard station.

[Stray Cat]

Pick the right day and stay inside and head out of BI. Its not bad running down to BI just stay on the west side of the bay and follow the channel. Pick up the oyster creek channel I think its #40 or #42 and head out to BI. When going out of BI head east a little before turning south (the south side of BI  shoals up a little and can throw some breakers at times) You can get in Little Egg Inlet on the north side, its not marked but there is enough water, if not your going to have to be offshore a little and catch the entrance buoy from the south side. You have water all along the sod banks near Rutgers building swing a right before the fish factory and follow the day markers in. Just take it slow and be careful in there until you know the waters.

[Hotrod]

Capt. Ron.  You know LE inlet right?  If not.. I would stick to the ICW.  Only God knows where the deep water moved to over the winter...

[Tacklebox Joe]

good info stray cat. You MUST follow the channel or you will hit ground. Yep, I personally know this one.  But when my boat was at mantoloking  i  went thru the point canal and out via manasquan about 90% of the time.

[Capt Ron B]

Once I get to LEI I am good to go..that is my home port and I know my way around well...I am wondering if the channel markers will be in place in the bay yet?

[Hotrod]

Yea  then in that case I'd say Barnegat to LEI 

[Capt. Mike]

Still early for the markers. Do you have Seatow?

[Capt Ron B]

Still early for the markers. Do you have Seatow?

Yes, I have tow insurance, but I sure hope I don't have to use it for a soft grounding..

When do they normally have the bay channel makers in up in that area?

[Capt. Mike]

The reason I ask if you have seatow is, if you call them in advance or hail them on the radio they can safely direct you in. They will give you way pionts to line up with. Seatow has the best up to date local knowledge. They usually go in around 1 st week in June for private aids and the buoys start going in late April to middle May. They are in no rush down here. What plotter do you have?

[Capt Ron B]

Capt Mike,

I don''t have SeaTow, I have TowBoatUS...

My chartplotter is NorthStar 6000i

[Capt. Mike]

That is a great unit! I was asking though incase you had a Raymarine I could give you a copy of my track lines in that area. They are pretty reliable for that area. How ever  I now that coming through the inlet following the center cut of deeper water on the plotter seems to be the ticket for the past 2 seasons.

[Capt Ron B]

I appreciate everyones help...Now I just need to coordinate my drive to Brick on a nice day and then a trip back up to pick up my car. The weather never seems to cooperate.   

I am also going to get some pricing to have it hauled down.  Anyone recommend a good hauling company in the Brick on south area?

[[FISHHOOK]]

Hey Ron, give Ship Bottom Boat Towing a call, there pretty reasonable.

http://shipbottomboattow.com

[Capt Ron B]

Hey Ron, give Ship Bottom Boat Towing a call, there pretty reasonable.

http://shipbottomboattow.com

I will give them a call...thanks

[IrishAyes]

Capt Ron, if you need someone to jump on the boat with you to give you a hand I can probably help you with that. Would just need a day or two notice, especially if it's on a weekday. Maybe meet you where the boat will be going and get a ride from there to where you boat is now. That person can then drive the car back to your marina for your ride back home.