Fire Island Inlet

About

Introduction:

The Fire Island Inlet is located off Great South Bay about 15 miles east of Jones Beach Inlet and 30 miles southeast of Moriches Bay Inlet on New York’s Long Island. Constantly shifting and moving, the channel here should not be attempted without advance local knowledge from one of the state park marinas just inside the inlet.

Just inside the inlet near the Robert Moses Bridge are two state marinas, and the one past the bridge on the north side of the inlet accepts transients. Repair facilities and more extensive marinas can be found to the north across Great South Bay in the town of Bay Shore.

Navigating the Water:

Use NOAA Chart 12352.

Although conditions remain unstable at Fire Island Inlet, it does have an abundance of buoys that are frequently changed to reflect current channel conditions (the reason none of them are charted is because of their frequent location changes).

From the Atlantic Ocean, first pick up red and white Morse (A) buoy “FI” about one mile south of the inlet entrance. From here, you will need to find the assortment of buoys that are frequently moved to reflect the current location of the deepest channel, but generally, the deeper part of the inlet is on the north side, curving to the east as you move in.

Once you have cleared the inlet entrance, quick flashing red buoy “10” starts the permanent channel north of Demopcrat Point. About a mile in from quick flashing red buoy “10” just off red nun “16” to the south is a state-run boat basin that has temporary slips available. Farther in past the Robert Moses Bridge (fixed vertical clearance 48 feet) on the north shore is another state park marina, but this one will accommodate transient guests.

Local Notices to Mariners:

Local Notices to Mariners are available online from the U.S. Coast Guard.