1st time in barnegat bay/tices shoal

[pog mo thon]

Hello,

I am thinking on going to tices shoal this upcoming weekend from the metedeconk river.

it will be a first for me in this region- Any help and tips will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Kelskat]

Follow the markers south, you will be fine. When you pass red marker 40 by cedar creek start heading towards Tices which will be about your 10 o clock port side. You will see the group of boats along the back of Island Beach. You can sneak in close if you want, but there's plenty of room to anchor outside of the crowd.

 

[pog mo thon]

Thank you!!

Do you know how crowded the waterfront restaurant are in toms river or forked river? should I pack lunch instead?

 

[rondds]

Pretty crowded at dock-n-dines on nice days. You'd hate to ride all the way up a river and find no vacancies. Your call as to whether it's worth the "risk." But hey, it's a boat-ride!

Your info says you're from the Hudson River, but you're leaving from the Metedeconk. I don't know how much experience you have navigating Barnegat Bay but you have to anticipate the next marker very carefully b/c the route is filled with zigs and zags. It is very easy to look past a marker that's way off to the east and head right to the following one...and run right across a shoal. If you GPS has the "purple line" (ICW) be sure to keep a close eye on it's twisted path.

 

[rcknecht]

It would be much quicker to get there if you went through the Barnegat Inlet... The Medeteconk inlet requires you to go through a very narrow opening in a train bridge, the PP canal, and under 4 bridges. If you go through the Barnegat inlet, closely follow the markers, then at the last marker on the western side of the bay you head north for about 1 to 2 miles then cut right toward the barrier island... Across from Tices Shoal is the Forked River. There are two nice restaurant on the right Captains Inn and Latitudes. If you want you can stay the night at either place for very little money...


http://captainsinnnj.com/

 

[Vince_nj1]

The water directly North and South of Tices is very shallow. I was following a 40 Formula this past weekend and watched him and 2 other boats run aground just North of Tices. I looked down and saw my depth go from 4ft to 2.6 ft on plane. (pucker factor) I was able to quickly change course and avoided his fate. You need to stay off shore about a mile or more before heading directly into the center. Don't just assume the boat in front of you knows what they are doing. (like I did) If you try to come in diagonally you may run aground. When you get there you can anchor is fairly shallow water. My son is standing in this picture: There is a walkway over to the Ocean that a lot of people take advantage of. However someone drowned last year on the Ocean and now there is a $3.00 charge to get on the beach to pay for a life guard. So if you are thinking of taking the walk, be sure to bring money. And I would also suggest that you bring food. It is going to be difficult to find a dock and dine on weekend this time of year. Another tip, my generator shut off 1/2 way through the day. The culprit was sea grass clogging the sea strainer. Easy fix, but be aware that there can be a lot of sea grass in the area which could clog any of your sea strainers.

tanding i

 

[rondds]

Rod, he's coming from Brick (Metedeconk River) and heading down the bay (he's already south of the canal). Are you thinking of the Manasquan River? He's already south of the canal.

 

[pog mo thon]

Rod, he's coming from Brick (Metedeconk River) and heading down the bay (he's already south of the canal). Are you thinking of the Manasquan River? He's already south of the canal.

Sorry I didn't get the chance to change my info, I am at Cassidy marina on the metedeconk now.
I will follow the magenta line on the charts and I will be real careful to stay in the channel.
it looks like it will be high tide around noon on Saturday. I will most likely anchor pretty far out at tices and try my new dinghy.

I just don't know which channel to take at the mouth of the river around herring island. Should I cut south or around bay head yacht club?

 

[rondds]

Cut south thru what we call the "dog leg" (I think it's actually called Gunner's Ditch) around Herring Island. It's well marked. This is a no-wake zone and I'd strongly advise that you stay at idle speed until you get past the Mantoloking Bridge. The water gets very shallow just after you emerge from the dog-leg. Everyone's going to blow by you on their way to the bridge, which is stupid b/c you have another no-wake prior to and for a mile or so beyond the bridge anyway - just let them go. And watch your depth sounder...you'll see what I mean.

I'm at Green Cove Marina, further up the river towards Rt 70. Been here since summer 2004. Welcome to the brown brackish waters of the Metedeconk!

 

[pog mo thon]

Cut south thru what we call the "dog leg" (I think it's actually called Gunner's Ditch) around Herring Island. It's well marked. This is a no-wake zone and I'd strongly advise that you stay at idle speed until you get past the Mantoloking Bridge. The water gets very shallow just after you emerge from the dog-leg. Everyone's going to blow by you on their way to the bridge, which is stupid b/c you have another no-wake prior to and for a mile or so beyond the bridge anyway - just let them go. And watch your depth sounder...you'll see what I mean.

I'm at Green Cove Marina, further up the river towards Rt 70. Been here since summer 2004. Welcome to the brown brackish waters of the Metedeconk!

Thank you everyone for all your help!!
I can't say it made me more confident but I guess I'll have to see it for myself.
Rondds, green cove marina was my 1st choice when I moved. Looks like a lot of fun and a lot of cruisers there.

 

[rondds]

Pog, don't sweat it. My first trip past the Mantoloking Bridge in my life was in 2004. I didn't have a GPS - just a paper chart (imagine that) that I kept turning "Course Up." Made it all the way to Beach Haven unscathed. You'll be fine!

Green Cove is a fun place.

 

[fc3]

Cassidy's is not bad, but as you've probably learned, it's rock and roll all day long. Is Huey still running the place? I remember when it was his mom & dad's. Very nice people. I had my previous boat there for year, but moved when I bought Just Ducky. We're across and up river at Wehrlen Brothers, which is nice but still gets a nice breeze coming up the river.

While heading to Tices, most of the way stay more on the west side of the bay as you head south towards the Route 37 bridge, that's the tall one. The east side is shallow, but as long as you stay to the western half, it's okay. You have to do a little zig-zag after going under the 37 bridge, but after that, again stay a bit towards the west. Once you get close to Tices, the easiest way is to run close to the inlet for Forked River, then head straight for the shoals. The water is generally pretty deep.

As Vince said, don't try to cut the corner. Take an extra 5 minutes and square the turn. Your props will appreciate it.

 

[pog mo thon]

Cassidy's is not bad, but as you've probably learned, it's rock and roll all day long. Is Huey still running the place? I remember when it was his mom & dad's. Very nice people. I had my previous boat there for year, but moved when I bought Just Ducky. We're across and up river at Wehrlen Brothers, which is nice but still gets a nice breeze coming up the river.

While heading to Tices, most of the way stay more on the west side of the bay as you head south towards the Route 37 bridge, that's the tall one. The east side is shallow, but as long as you stay to the western half, it's okay. You have to do a little zig-zag after going under the 37 bridge, but after that, again stay a bit towards the west. Once you get close to Tices, the easiest way is to run close to the inlet for Forked River, then head straight for the shoals. The water is generally pretty deep.

As Vince said, don't try to cut the corner. Take an extra 5 minutes and square the turn. Your props will appreciate it.

Thank you fc3, really useful information.

 

[TommyB80]

Water's Edge is a great spot in Bayville to stop for lunch, but get there early so you can tie up to a buoy closer to the Bay. The restaurant gets crowded and some idiots anchor inside the buoys and hit your boat. They have a tender that comes out and gets you (for a small fee I believe). Food is good and there is live music sometimes. The Cove is nice but I think it may be too shallow for you. Water's Edge is opposite Seaside Heights on the bay.

Be careful over by Tices and stay in the channel as best you can. As stated, it can get shallow real quick and you can have a problem. Have fun, it's really a great place!

 

[pog mo thon]

Water's Edge is a great spot in Bayville to stop for lunch, but get there early so you can tie up to a buoy closer to the Bay. The restaurant gets crowded and some idiots anchor inside the buoys and hit your boat. They have a tender that comes out and gets you (for a small fee I believe). Food is good and there is live music sometimes. The Cove is nice but I think it may be too shallow for you. Water's Edge is opposite Seaside Heights on the bay.

Be careful over by Tices and stay in the channel as best you can. As stated, it can get shallow real quick and you can have a problem. Have fun, it's really a great place!

Thank you Tommy,

I didn't know about this place. It looks like they have a large dock and slips.

 

[fc3]

Thank you Tommy,

I didn't know about this place. It looks like they have a large dock and slips.

I've been to the Water's Edge only a couple times after Jenkinsons took it over. It's not what it was, but we're fussy foodies. Some still like it, but we found it disappointing.

Docking there was okay when the wind and bay wasn't churning. Otherwise, even if you're highly skilled, it can be harrowing.

 

[Kelskat]

I would not recommend docking at Waters Edge, use the mooring balls. 90% of the time the water is rocking there and I've seen some decent boats get banged up. It's choppy from the traffic in the channel, and fughettaboutit if it's a S SW wind. Pack a lunch and enjoy Tices, it's a lot of fun and just beautiful behind island beach state park.

 

[pog mo thon]

I've been to the Water's Edge only a couple times after Jenkinsons took it over. It's not what it was, but we're fussy foodies. Some still like it, but we found it disappointing.

Docking there was okay when the wind and bay wasn't churning. Otherwise, even if you're highly skilled, it can be harrowing.

Thank you FC3,

I will probaly pack lunch like Kelskat suggested.

The kids and myself will most likely sleep over at the marina the weekend after, I guess will see how rocky it gets...
People at Cassidy couldn't be any nicer!

 

[fc3]

Nights aren't bad. Afternoons, because of the traffic going past on the river, can be pretty wild.

Have fun! If you want to come visit, we're across the river on C dock.

 

[rcknecht]

Water's Edge is a great spot in Bayville to stop for lunch, but get there early so you can tie up to a buoy closer to the Bay. The restaurant gets crowded and some idiots anchor inside the buoys and hit your boat. They have a tender that comes out and gets you (for a small fee I believe). Food is good and there is live music sometimes. The Cove is nice but I think it may be too shallow for you. Water's Edge is opposite Seaside Heights on the bay.

Be careful over by Tices and stay in the channel as best you can. As stated, it can get shallow real quick and you can have a problem. Have fun, it's really a great place!

The cove is not too shallow, I was there last Sunday... It was a hoot... Redneck bar on the water in NJ....