Mobile Bay is the southern terminus for the Tenessee Tombigbee Wateray, which leads north to the Teneseee River and eventually into the Mississippi toward Chicago and the Great Lakes. It is also home to many excellent yachting areas on the east and west side of the bay.

The Dog River is located off Mobile Bay just south from the city of Mobile, and right across Mobile Bay from the town of Fairhope. The Dog River area has an excellent collection of marinas for boats that can clear four- to six-foot depths and get under a 73-foot fixed vertical clearance bridge.

Fly Creek Inlet is located on the east side of Mobile Bay almost directly across the water from the Dog River, which is about 10 miles to the northwest. The city of Mobile is 13 miles to the north-northwest. Depths on the approach to the creek are between six and eight feet, and dockside depths at the local marinas are from four to six feet.

Inside the creek is Fly Creek Marina, which has transient slips available for visiting guests, shore power, ice, marine supplies, restrooms/showers and a grocery and other provisioning opportunities available within walking distance. There is unfortunately no fuel available here.

Eastern Shore Marine is located on the premises with a 35-ton lift and associated repair services. The town of Fairhope is located just to the south and has a variety of other shoreside services as well.

The approach to the Dog River area starts at green daybeacon “1” and red beacon “2,” which are located just off the Mobile Ship Channel near waypoint 30 32.771N 88 01.604W. As you enter from green daybeacon “1” and red beacon “2,” keep in ind a project depth for the approach channel and gauge your vessel’s draft accordingly.

From green daybeacon “1” and red beacon “2,” set a course of about 307 degrees magnetic for a distance of about two miles (minding all the intermediate aids to navigation) until you reach flashing red “6” where you will make a turn to the west toward flashing red “8.” Nest in line are green daybeacon “9,” red daybeacon “10,” flashing green “11,” and red daybeacon “12” where you sill turn slightly to the southwest toward green daybeacon “15” and red daybeacon “16.” Lastly are flashing green “17” and red daybeacon “18,” before you set up to cross under the 73-foot fixed vertical clearance bridge.

See our “Local Notices to Mariners” blog for updates on the latest conditions and advisories for this area.

City of Mobile

Mobile Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau

Mobile Bay Calendar of Events

Mobile Regional Airport

Tenn-Tom Waterway