Delaware Bay Reef — public NJ estuarine reef, not ocean
Delaware Bay Reef is a public NJDEP site in the bay, not the ocean. The August 2021 map lists 5.3 nm, 1.1 sq mi, and 19–35 ft, with one named 2018 dredge-rock drop. 2026 fluke here is 3 at 17 in.
By Sebastian · Published September 14, 2026
Public-source briefing only. We have not surveyed this water. DEP reef maps are marked not for navigational purposes. Confirm corners, depths, and deployments on the current NJ Fish & Wildlife reef PDFs and a live NOAA chart before you leave the dock.
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What the state published
- Official name
- Delaware Bay Reef
- Water body
- Delaware Bay (estuarine / bay, not Atlantic ocean)
- Distance
- 5.3 nm on the August 2021 map (from the map block; not the ocean reeflocs sheet)
- Reef area
- 1.1 square miles (August 2021 map)
- Depth range
- 19–35 ft (August 2021 map)
- 2018 dredge rock
- Great Lakes Dredging and Dock Co., January 2, 2018 — 39°02.856′ N, 75°04.051′ W (Delaware Bay Reef PDF)
- 2026 fluke (Delaware Bay)
- 3 fish at 17 in, May 4–September 25 — vs 3 at 18 in most marine/ocean waters (/nj-waters/nj-saltwater-seasons-2026)
Delaware Bay Reef is a bay site. It is not Cape May Reef, not Wildwood Reef, and not a substitute ocean number. The August 2021 PDF is two pages: a shallow box and a one-row table.
Official box
August 2021 map: 5.3 nm, 1.1 sq mi, 19–35 ft, not for navigational purposes. Depth bands: 10–20, 20–30, 30–40 ft. Legend on the map: dredge rock. Axis ticks run about 39°03′–39°02.5′ N and 75°05′–75°03.5′ W.
reeflocs.pdf is the ocean DGPS sheet (Sandy Hook through Cape May). It does not list Delaware Bay Reef. We are not filling that gap from memory. An older 2018 NJ commercial-regs appendix printed a 6.6 nm from Cape May Canal corner set that does not match this map’s 5.3 nm line — trust the PDF you download today.
Named drop (the whole 2021 table)
The August 2021 deployment table has one ID. We are not inventing extra wrecks to pad a list.
- Rock — dredge rock, Great Lakes Dredging and Dock Co., January 2, 2018 — 39°02.856′ N, 75°04.051′ W
Seasons — bay fluke is not ocean fluke
Statewide 2026 tautog / sea bass windows still apply. Summer flounder does not: NJ saltwater seasons 2026 copies Attention Anglers 2026 as 3 at 17 in in Delaware Bay, May 4–September 25, versus 3 at 18 in in most marine / ocean waters (and 2 at 16 in at Island Beach State Park).
Ocean Cape May County: Cape May Reef, Wildwood Reef.
Sources checked
Electronics and comms, not $10 staples
Chart + sonar in 19–35 ft
Garmin ECHOMAP UHD2 73sv
$999.99 when checked on Amazon for the GT54 transducer bundle
Fixed-mount VHF with GPS/DSC
Icom IC-M330G
$228.12 when checked on Amazon for the black GPS model
Backup if VHF is noisy in the bay
Garmin inReach Mini 2
$349.99 on Garmin when checked; Amazon listing for the Mini 2 also live