The Great Egg Harbor River is located off Great Egg Harbor Bay west of Ocean City. Emptying out into Great Egg Harbor Bay north of the Tuckahoe River and south of Pactong Creek, the Great Egg Harbor River runs about 12 miles north-northwest to the town of Mays Landing.

Along the way are about six marinas with varying levels of service. Shady River Marina and Mays Landing Marina both accept transient guests. The Shady River Marina is located about half way up the river just across from the South River, while May’s Landing is located near the Great Egg Harbor River’s head in May’s Landing.

The image above is a view from the east looking west over the opening of the Great Egg Harbor River where it empties into Great Egg Harbor Bay near Patcong Creek

Use NOAA Chart 12316.

From Great Egg Harbor westbound, you must first navigate through two sets of bridges that cross the bay. The first is a set of fixed twin bridges with 50-foot vertical clearances. The second bridge is a bascule bridge with a closed vertical clearance of 14 feet.

Once you have cleared the bridges, set a course to the west to intercept flashing white “3” at the mouth of the Tuckahoe River. Farther on you will run across flashing red “4,” which marks the point in the upper right-hand portion of the image above, and then flashing green “5” (the last aid to navigation on the river northward).

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