Which way out - LEI

[PAPete]

I've been heading out of LEI for a few years now, and it still seems to be an adventure for me...
With Beach Haven Inlet to the north and Little Egg Inlet to the south of the 'general inlet area'...as I understand it, anyway. Crappy pic attached.

I usually traverse the north side of the inlet...'Beach Haven Inlet'? and at times come across some skinny water. :eek:

I usually don't go the south side of the inlet area 'Little Egg Inlet', just because I really never have. I usually play it pretty safe and wait for someone that knows what they're doing before i go out, and just follow them. :wave:

What's the best way you've found to go out of the inlet?
Are the cans to the south side trustworthy?
I fished a bit in the rips in that area, and man....it's scary with that tide ripping in and out!!!! :nuts:

Any thoughts on the best way to traverse this area are greatly appreciated!!!!
I just want to get out for crying out loud!

Thanks!
Pete

[JoeyZac]

There's actually 3 ways out:

1. What we call the "North Cut". Go to the southern tip of LBI and make a left. Used to be the official "Beach Haven Inlet" (I believe), but the water is shallow. I've never had a problem getting in or out there, but at low tides I know I've "bumped" the bottom a couple of times.

2. The "Center Cut", or the "New" Little Egg Inlet. This is straight out the inlet, marked, deep water the whole way, and the way that most boats now use. Pretty bad sand bars on both sides (especially the north), but it is fine as long as you know what you're doing.

3. The old "Little Egg Inlet", off to the South. Lots of bars and low water. No longer marked with any buoys. Still doable, but there's no real reason to ever go that way (imo) unless you're sneaking your way down to Wreck Inlet.

[Sea Monkey]

I'd never try the old path (off to the south) any more. Last year I wandered out there a few times to see, but the skinny water and sand bars get really scary really fast. It's really bad there when the current is running hard. If you're headed south I'd use the center (marked) channel, then when you get out make your turn and head down.

I almost always run the north cut and although it gets shallow, I've never bumped. (Admittedly, I'm a fair weather guy so I've not tried it when it has been nasty in the inlet.)

[Captain Rich]

I came in via the north cut yesterday at low tide. The shallowest I saw was 5 feet.

[Mischief51]

Every time the coasties replace the buoys a whomper storm comes in and they break free or sink! The north cut is nice, or the middle...

[The Irish Jig]

I have never seen water less than 5-6' in the north cut. Dead low, I take the center cut if i'm in the big boat. The little boat it doesn't matter. If it's a blow out low tide, I use the center cut period.

[drewtym]

Just like Joey Zac said......North cut.. bout 100 yards off the point... JUST HUG THAT LINE!!!! Usually u cant get in any trouble.... 5-6 FEET! U might get a couple of rollers ther on the outgoing tide BUT...Just keep the nose down .......GO SLOW.....soon as u see 9FT. U can pick it up a bit!!! Good luck CAPT.. SEE you out ther soon.... YELLOWTALE:)

[RockBass]

If going south or straight out.. like everyone said.. take the new LEI.. and follow the buoys.. but they zig zag a bit so pay attention. It easy to get distracted and theres a not so nice big bar on the north side, especially at low tide. I must admit.. that north cut does get me nervous sometimes. Low tide you may see three feet at some spots maybe a little less.. but like Drew said.. one hundred yards off the point is the number.. once you get past the rollers you should be clear.. just hug the shore for a mile or so.. you cant just make a right turn immediately or you will hit bars again. I havent been out since the fall and the inlet changes alot over the winter so operate with caution. Have the coasties been out to fix the buoys yet for the season?

[RockBass]

And something else.. pay attention.. because when the fall bass run hits.. knowing those bars puts you on the fish! So i wouldnt hurt to look around some!

[Lucky John]

Don't even try and go to the old south cut...........unless you want to run aground. Two or three years ago there was some sand buildup on the northcut,but it seems to have returned to normal which is about 4-5 feet at dead low.

[captadamnj]

The "north cut" presently has buoys in it, presumably washed out of the bay from ice. The green one is #115 and there is a red one to it's south east which I didn't get a number on. The current spot of #115 is actually in right about the middle of a run out for the north cut.

[Fish The Drop Off]

The "north cut" presently has buoys in it, presumably washed out of the bay from ice. The green one is #115 and there is a red one to it's south east which I didn't get a number on. The current spot of #115 is actually in right about the middle of a run out for the north cut.

Thanks for the info. I guess the boat is back in Great Bay today. :thumbsup:

[PAPete]

thanks for all the info guys, i'm going to stick to the north cut, which i'm used to...i already have tracks on my gps for there...i'll learn my way out around the 'new' LEI, and won't touch the south end toward wreck inlet...

hopefully this will be a skeg saver!!!

thanks for all the input.
Pete

[JoeyZac]

thanks for all the info guys, i'm going to stick to the north cut, which i'm used to...i already have tracks on my gps for there...i'll learn my way out around the 'new' LEI, and won't touch the south end toward wreck inlet...

hopefully this will be a skeg saver!!!

thanks for all the input.
Pete

Good move. North cut is the way to go (imo) for the LE reef and anytthing to the north. The center cut is the way to go for anything from the WR2 buoy and south.

If you get a chance, you do want to learn/mark both, as there are times when the marked channel has some pretty big rollers in it and the north cut isn't that bad, and vice versa.

[Nobass]

Usually in the spring Capt. Greg from Tuckerton Sea-Tow posts #s for a safe route through the north side of the inlet in the Tuckerton Beacon.