Mullica River Inlet

About

Introduction:

The Mullica River is a large winding piece of water that breaks off the northwestern side of Great Bay about six miles west of Little Egg Inlet and 20 miles southwest of Barnegat Inlet. The Mullica River is strictly for shoal-draft exploration by boats that draw less than 4.5 to 5 feet. Great Bay is the main limiting factor, as it has six- to seven-foot depths along most of its length.

Once inside the Mullica River, it runs navigable up to Collins Point, where depths drop off quickly and the bottom changes to sunken tree stumps and snags. Just beyond Moss Point is the Chestnut Neck Boatyard, which accepts transient guests. There are no further marinas behind this point.

The image above is a view from the east looking west over the Mullica River where it empties into Great Bay west of Little Egg Inlet. Basses Bay (shoal; 2-foot depths) can be see working off to the right (north), while the Mullica River winds off to the west back into the distance.

Navigating the Water:

Use NOAA Chart 12316.

The New Jersey Intracoastal Waterway (NJICW) crosses Great Bay near the Little Egg Inlet near Mile Marker 55 (mileages on the NJICW run from north to south, from Manasquan to Cape May). Before this point, you will pick up and exit the channel to the west into Great Bay at quick flashing green “139.”

From quick flashing green “139,” set an approximate course of 344 degrees magnetic for about 3.1 miles to arrive in the area near flashing white “1” (Oysterbed Point) at the mouth of the Mullica River. From here, as you work your way upstream, you will find a flashing light at just about every corner; the river is deep in wide up to Collins Point. If you do decide to explore up the river that far, there is a 30-foot fixed vertical clearance bridge just downstream from Collins Point.

Local Notices to Mariners:

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