Garden State North Reef — public NJ reef 6.5 nm off Harvey Cedars
Garden State North is a public NJDEP reef 6.5 nautical miles off Harvey Cedars. The August 2021 map lists 1.5 sq mi and 65–83 ft, including the 247-foot tanker A.H. Dumont and 2023 scalloper F/V STORM.
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
- Garden State North Reef Site
- Distance offshore
- 6.5 nm off Harvey Cedars (reeflocs.pdf and August 2021 map)
- Reef area
- 1.5 square miles (August 2021 map)
- Depth range
- 65–83 ft (August 2021 map)
- NE corner (DGPS)
- 39°38.050′ N, 74°00.700′ W — reeflocs.pdf
- NW corner (DGPS)
- 39°37.980′ N, 74°02.200′ W — reeflocs.pdf
- SE corner (DGPS)
- 39°37.050′ N, 74°01.000′ W — reeflocs.pdf
- SW corner (DGPS)
- 39°37.000′ N, 74°02.500′ W — reeflocs.pdf
- F/V STORM (2023)
- 90-foot ex-scallop steel boat, August 11, 2023 — 39°37.249′ N, 74°01.178′ W (NJDEP program page)
Garden State North is the public Long Beach Island ocean reef. Harvey Cedars boats do not need a whispered GPS for the site. They need the current PDF.
Official box
6.5 nm off Harvey Cedars NJ. August 2021 map: 1.5 sq mi, 65–83 ft, not for navigational purposes. Legend: concrete, dredge rock, military vehicles, reef balls, ships, subway cars, tires.
| Corner | Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|---|
| NE | 39°38.050′ N | 74°00.700′ W |
| NW | 39°37.980′ N | 74°02.200′ W |
| SE | 39°37.050′ N | 74°01.000′ W |
| SW | 39°37.000′ N | 74°02.500′ W |
Named ships (sample)
- 247-foot tanker A.H. Dumont, June 10, 1986
- 166-foot Panamanian freighter Fatuk, October 27, 1988
- 135-foot tanker Mary C, October 30, 1990
- NYC Transit Redbird subway cars, September 3, 2003
- 170-foot Navy tanker Helis, May 17, 2005
- 90-foot ex-scallop F/V STORM, August 11, 2023 — 39°37.249′ N, 74°01.178′ W on the NJDEP program page (Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association and The Sport Fishing Fund)
Seasons
Same statewide 2026 tautog / sea bass / fluke windows as every other ocean reef: NJ saltwater seasons 2026.
North: Barnegat Light Reef. South of LBI: Garden State South, Little Egg Reef.
Sources checked
Electronics and comms, not $10 staples
9-inch sonar/plotter
Lowrance Elite FS 9
$1,099 on Lowrance for SKU 000-15692-001; Amazon 9-inch listing $1,079 when checked
Fixed-mount VHF with GPS/DSC
Icom IC-M330G
$228.12 when checked on Amazon for the black GPS model
Backup 6.5 nm off the beach
Garmin inReach Mini 2
$349.99 on Garmin when checked; Amazon listing for the Mini 2 also live