Spermaceti Cove

[Richmrf]

It’s been a while since I have seen any mention of spermaceti cove. I would like to take the wife somewhere that we can beach and enjoy the day. In the past I saw a lot of talk about being very careful pulling into the cove. Can anyone elaborate? I’m not sure if I still need to watch for hazards or how to approach. Do people still go there?
I know where it is. I’m just not sure how safe it is to pull in. I can enter drawing just a foot of water.
Is their any other areas around that are like Spermaceti Cove around sandy hook, Navasink, or Shrewsbury rivers? Any place people beach their boats and gather for a day on the beach?

[Gerry Zagorski]

The deep water from the Chanel to the cove are clearly marked on GPS maps.

[Capt. Debbie]

Spermacetti cove is usually sailboat duffers. You mean skull island that is in the river east of the 7-9 cans with the power boats beached?


It’s been a while since I have seen any mention of spermaceti cove. I would like to take the wife somewhere that we can beach and enjoy the day. In the past I saw a lot of talk about being very careful pulling into the cove. Can anyone elaborate? I’m not sure if I still need to watch for hazards or how to approach. Do people still go there?
I know where it is. I’m just not sure how safe it is to pull in. I can enter drawing just a foot of water.
Is their any other areas around that are like Spermaceti Cove around sandy hook, Navasink, or Shrewsbury rivers? Any place people beach their boats and gather for a day on the beach?

[Capt. Debbie]

Air Force cove in the SInk. But not much beach there.

Spermacetti cove is usually sailboat duffers. You mean skull island that is in the river east of the 7-9 cans with the power boats beached?

[Duffman]

Skeleton Hill is still a gathering spot. Changed dramatically after Sandy. If you only draft 1 ft then you’ll def have no issue getting in.

Like Gerry posted, plenty of deeper water coming in. From what every chart shows tho that deeper cut is def more East than it shows.

Once you get in, there is a submerged rock wall. Marked crudely with some floats and sticks by regulars. Be real careful cuz it’s impossible to see. Ask me how I know....or call and ask Atlantic Propeller and give them my name:D

[mstolte617]

I was actually there yesterday. Last was there in 2018, and the Cove/Beach that appears as the tide ebbs isn't the same as it was 2 years ago. There used to be a beach, and then a nice drop off, where its at least 10 feet deep. That hole really isnt there anymore. It was high tide when i went in, and went much deeper then i have in the past, just to have a beach to go to. Left about 10 hours later. Nice place to spend the day if you want to just hang, but the charts don't really reflect what the cove actually is now.

[beachwhistle]

I was there Sunday as well. Got to close to the point going around a tuber and bumped something going in :eek: even though depth finder read 4 ft. under the boat. Depth reading was around 2 ft. or less going out.
Nice place to stop though my daughters enjoyed swimming in the 78 deg. water.

[Capt. Debbie]

Had to get a guy out of there with the tow boat. Much of the remembered contour is gone. The charts are semi worthless back there.

And there is a large barely submerged obstruction on the southward facing island tip. Someone said they marked with sticks of floats.

The drop off facing east was great. Stuff the bow in the sand facing west and the transom had 10 feet of water under it.

I was actually there yesterday. Last was there in 2018, and the Cove/Beach that appears as the tide ebbs isn't the same as it was 2 years ago. There used to be a beach, and then a nice drop off, where its at least 10 feet deep. That hole really isnt there anymore. It was high tide when i went in, and went much deeper then i have in the past, just to have a beach to go to. Left about 10 hours later. Nice place to spend the day if you want to just hang, but the charts don't really reflect what the cove actually is now.

[mstolte617]

Capt Frank - Was it recent you were there ? i went close to high tide, and there wasnt much of that 10 foot deep hole that used to always be there.

[Capt. Debbie]

In there in 2019. My tow boat got stuck on a rock like shelf. I needed to be pulled off and the other boat got stuck by the "marked" rock shoal facing southward.

It was unchanged for decades.



Capt Frank - Was it recent you were there ? i went close to high tide, and there wasnt much of that 10 foot deep hole that used to always be there.

[mstolte617]

Has anyone been out to the cove this year ? Just checking to see what kind of shoaling has happened in the past year. Looking to make a trip this weekend or next.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Nothing much has changed there.... If you've never been, don't attempt without a chart plotter and try and avoid 3 or 4 hours on either side of low tide.

If you go inside the sand bar, stay fairly tight to the beach, the water is actually deepest there and you'll avoid some old pilings that are inside the bar.

[mstolte617]

Thanks Gerry. I have been there a handful of times. However, last year when i went, the shoaling was noticeably different then from years past. Much more low water areas then what the chart says and what I was used to.

[mstolte617]

Anyone go yet in 2022 ? I feel like each year the shoals change significantly. Almost leaving us nothing to beach to.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Skeleton+Hill+Island/@40.4193505,-73.9933253,298m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x89c239bcd494d4f7:0xd002e 011023a5253!8m2!3d40.4226085!4d-73.9948606

google maps shows a very visible image of the rock wall and not much beach/island to be had

[Duffman]

Have not been to Skeleton Hill as of yet this season but have been to a new spot north of there we began to use last year.

Its changed dramatically during the winter. Shoals moved considerably so I’m just guessing the areas to the south have as well.

[mstolte617]

is it a "spot burn" if its not a fishing spot? Where is the spot north? Is the shore accessible via boat ?