Its natural protection makes it a popular hurricane hole for locals. So we'll try to build a major resource center about Long Island Sound and turn the eye back toward the water. If you're up for a two-mile ride, you can dinghy to the municipal dock at the Mystic drawbridge. Both the Coast Guard station and the historic Eaton's Neck Lighthouse remain active. Call ahead or contact either on VHF 68. I guess the OP never heard of that one. The biggest draw for me is the local rum, which I make a point to buy a bottle each trip. Accessible only by boat, Shell Key is a wildlife preserve. Bridgeport, New London, and Norfolk . Great Gun Beach, Fire Island Great Gun Beach, located just west of Moriches Inlet on the north side of Fire Island, is a popular local destination. "Next, it's nice to be near a beach where the kids can get out and play. Four nm up is the beautiful fresh-water Hamburgs Cove, and three more miles up is Gillette Castle. Little Harbour on Jost Van Dyke is our private getaway spot. I found anchoring more possible then charts and guides suggested. Dutch harbor west passage.RI. Bridgeport is getting better, with the baseball stadium and new marina planned, and it will become a better destination in time. For any boater interested in Long Island maritime history, Cold Spring Harbor is the place to be. Five miles up the river is Essex, with a fine downtown and the great Griswold restraint. Boating season for many starts with the Jones Beach Air Show, which was held this year on May 27 and May 28. Go to Gillette castle. Rafting-up also saves fuel over cruising. I loved that:). "If you're the captain," explains Ken Legge, 51, a sales manager from Lake Grove with a Grady-White 330, "it's all about everyone else." The memorial honors the 200+ residents who were forced from their homes during World War II after the Empire of Japan bombed Pearl Harbor in 1941. The surrounding area is largely a bird sanctuary and private property, so be sure to heed the signs if you explore in your dinghy. PORT JEFFERSON: Is next stop east with pretty good space to anchor on the east side and a lot of moorings filling the west side. This Town of Brookhaven beach is open to non-residents to drop anchor or find a spot in the first-come, first-served marina. The BVI is one of my dream destinations and, in my opinion, has some of the safest and calmest anchorage spots a sailor can find. Often crowded with day trippers, not many overnighters. All mariners should use up-to-date information from the U.S. Coast Guard and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and check local regulations on anchoring and shore access. This long harbor is near the community of Winslow on Bainbridge Island. I am glad you like the article and hope to see you soon on my website:). White Bay also seems like a really cool place to drop anchor. Thumbs for getting up to these points. "It's big fun," says Mohr, 43. But with a cruising guide for the area or AC and the proper charts it's not rocket science. Similar to Blakely Harbor, Eagle Harbor has an industrial history. It's a shame that the post was ruined by bobhorn, it could have been usefull to someone else down the road. Best left to the motorboats that crowd in, but it is fun for kids to climb and play on the cliffs. The Connecticut side has many great harbors. From Norwalk, the first harbor is beautiful Southport (6nm away). Here is a sampling of anchorages, many of which qualify as gunkholes. I have been in the Bahamas last year and it was absolutely fantastic. We dont necessarily come here for the solitude, but thats fine. Walk through the guided path to learn about the families who were forced from their homes and taken to internment camps. Stonington is also lovely, and Dodsons boatyard is as nice as they come. This article is for informational purposes only and should not be used for navigation. Long Island Sound. Also, bring along extra clothes; someone always gets a chill when the wind picks up.". Merrick. The town of Old Lyme has two transient moorings in the anchorage north of Calves Island (two-night maximum). The Regina Sugar Barge sunk due to a vicious storm in 1940. Yo-Zuri Bull Pop Surface Popper on clearance at Charkbait - $9.99. Near Essex, there is a short-term spot east of Nott Island (shoaling has been reported so watch your depths). Are any other homeless people doing this with boats? On the east side entrance to the bay is Culloden Point, where the H.M.S. I created this blog because of my love for seafood and my desire to share that love with others. One of the best sources of "local knowledge", in my opinion, is Active Captain. And yes, all these anchorages are awesome to drop anchor and enjoy your stay:). There are many designated anchorages marked on the charts where you can comfortably park your boat for the night - and others, unmarked, that are fair game as well - with a bit of local knowledge. They are accessible; lying within an easy cruise or sail for 80% of BC boaters. Some of the most popular spots are Jones Beach, Robert Moses State Park, and the Great South Bay. 1. Osyter Bay Harbor. After Guilford, there is Westbrook and Duck Island Roads, which has a breakwater with 6-9 foot depths to anchor behind. And be sure to check with local marinas or dockage facilities before visiting to find out about space availability and size accommodations, as well as docking fees. The ebb and flow of the tides help to keep the water clean and provide a steady supply of food for clams. Super picturesque and about 1/2 way in between HI and HighBourne. It is currently filled with moorings, so you should contact the harbormaster (860-434-0028) for your best options. Moving to the east on the Long Island side is Port Jefferson (18nm away). Cinch it again once a total of 2/3 the rode length has been played out. (You can read more about where we anchored in Liberty Bay during a gale.). Sand City Just south of Eatons Neck is an area designated as West Beach, though locals refer to it as Sand City. We have yet to check out all the anchorages near Seattle, but plan to visit the following this winter and spring: Let us know about your favorite nearby anchorages! best places to anchor in long island sound. It takes us about a half-day to sail or motor to Poulsbo from our slip at the Elliott Bay Marina. There is a designated anchoring area as well as an area for water skiing and tubing. There are rock pinnacles and reefs to hit along the Inside Passage, and if the collision is at cruising speed you may say goodbye to your boat. Youll read about the many who lost the farms and businesses they had before the war, and how children were removed from school and missed graduations and ball games. Thank you for comment and wish you sail in the BVI soon! In summer, they are replaced by another type of water-lover boaters. I wish you a wonderful trip! Its short enough to do without too much planning and long enough to feel like you are getting away from the city. Perhaps just as close as Port Blakely to Elliott Bay is Eagle Harbor. Clamming is a great way to enjoy the outdoors and harvest your own seafood. Its about an hour away from the Elliot Bay, relatively roomy and well-protected from southerly or northerly winds. Kings County has an area of about 71 square miles; Queens County about 109 square miles; Nassau County about 291 square miles; and Suffolk County about 934 square miles. There is good holding ground in the mud between the islands. The water is typically clean and there is a good supply of clams. Peaceful, dark, lonely (until the captain of the freighter coming up on your stern hails you on the VHF out of the fog and respectfully asks you to alter course). Forbes Bay offers anchoring stern-to on the northeastern shore and offers decent protection from the north and the south. This bay is smaller than Shinnecock Bay but it still has a good number of clams. Another great spot is Gardiners Bay. We are avid kayakers and enjoyed paddling near the beach during low tide to look for crabs, starfish and other critters. Similar to Blakely Harbor, Eagle Harbor has an industrial history. In terms of setting up, the biggest boat should anchor first before additional vessels tie up along either side. "Some people like to fish, swim or hit the beach, others prefer relaxing with wine, cheese and crackers. Watch for the bar north of the entrance. Blue crabs are typically caught by baiting them with chicken wings in the form of inexpensive boxes or pyramids. Next is Bridgeport (12 nm away). Follow the creek to a fish ladder and beaver pond. There is good holding ground in both but more depth in the southern basin. The bay is large and there are many areas to choose from. These waters offer excellent early season opportunities for striped bass as the fish migrate out of the Hudson and East rivers and into the Sound. This the best place to land, but note the private property sign on the rock outcrop. Thimble Islands, Branford, CT "I love the Thimble Islands, especially Outer Island, in Branford, CT. The island has many inlets and bays that are perfect for clamming. There are many places on Long Island where you can go clamming or crabbing. /* CB Vertical 2 */ Thanks alot for the article and I will definitely be visiting these places soon when I have enough money! When daylight is ideal, crabbing is good from the shore or by wading north of the main parking lot and east of the Smiths Point Bridge. It varies from region to region, but most counties allow the harvest of a bushel or two per day. We usually spend at least one day snorkeling and haunt the Soggy Dollar Bar most nights to listen to the local bands and sample their drink specialties. 535. Reel like hell as you return the rod to the 12:00 and get the slack out of the line. Does anyone have first hand experience anchoring at the Thimble Islands? Let's find a way to use it well and enjoy every minute. You cannot go ashore as the land is now a bird sanctuary. When there is a high tide, clams are submerged in water, and when there is a low tide, they are uncovered on the flats. Past the Thimbles is Guilford, which is one of the prettiest town greens in Connecticut, a short 10 minute walk from the harbor. To find the best spot for clamming or crabbing, it is best to ask around or do some research beforehand. Short Beach is located just between Jones Inlet and Bascule Bridge on Sloop Channel. Generally speaking the days are warm and the nights aren't too cold for camping and there are . In other cases, clams are transferred from an area with poor water quality to a more favorable location. My father called it Conscience Bay, and we probably anchored there 1,000 times (or so it seems) in my youth. Louie's has been around for years and should be your go-to when looking for great seafood. You can make any outing as exciting or laid-back as you choose.". It would be hard to choose between all these, but I think my favorite would be the White Bay, it looks so peaceful and calm. Clams burrow their way down the mud and sand to protect themselves from being eaten. "Rafting-up is like having a picnic on the water," says Chris Mohr, a landscaping business owner from Southold who runs his 28-foot Grady-White center console out of Port of Egypt Marina. After the New Haven breakwater (not as good a stop as Bridgeport, but ok), comes my favorite spot on the Sound, the Thimble Islands (30 nm away). Legge, who loves to tie up with other boaters in Coecles Harbor on the east side of Shelter Island, points out that common sense is the general rule. It's a way to gather in a beautiful place and experience all the magic that is Long Island's maritime playground. Another great spot to do crew transfers. Not that kicking back has to be the end-all. Just above the beach starts a lovely, short but steep, half-mile hiking trail up the hillside. It is marked with a buoy about 150 feet out into the water. From experience we let you know what will be right for you from marinas to the mooring field. During the late summer and early fall we spotted tons of harbor seals cruising the bay and lounging on the breakwater near one of the towns marinas. 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