Cape Island Creek North Inlet

About

Introduction:

Cape May Harbor and Cape Island Creek are located at the southern end of New Jersey off the Atlantic Ocean and Delaware Bay about 40 miles south of Atlantic City and 30 miles across the water from Rehoboth Beach, DE. Its proximity to the Delaware Bay and Atlantic Ocean make the area a popular stop with cruising boaters waiting out weather, or just cruising in to explore.

Inside the harbor on Cape Island Creek are at least 10 marinas and marine facilities, and a good portion of them accept transient guests. Repairs and haul-outs are available here from some of the best-equipped yards on the East Coast. The creek has two entrances and exits. The north portion, discussed here, empties into Cape May Harbor at Devils Reach, while the southern portion empties into the Cape May Canal (see Cape Island Creek South Inlet in our New Jersey Inlet section).

Navigating the Water:

Use NOAA Chart 12316.

Also known as Cape Island Creek and Devils Reach, this area has the biggest concentration of marinas in Cape May Harbor. Accessing the marinas requires an approach from the north, unless are able to clear a four-foot fixed vertical clearance bridge between the two marina groups. If you can clear the bridge, you can enter from the south to reach this area as well.

From the middle portion of the harbor, first pick up flashing red “12,” and then set a course to the south to intercept green daybeacon “1,” red daybeacon ”2,” and another green daybeacon “1” (private aid) just north of the creek inlet. Inside this cove and to the east just outside the area are seven marine facilities, and the majority of them have both transient facilities and fuel. Repairs can be arranged at a few of the marinas, but the biggest yard is located just south of the large fleet of docked fishing boats.

Local Notices to Mariners:

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