NC Anchorages – AICW, Adams Creek to Beaufort and Morehead City (Statute Mile 185 to 207)
Please Note That Anchorages Below Are Listed in Rough Geographic Format, Moving North to South
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Cedar Creek Anchorage
Statute Mile: 188
Lat/Lon: near 34 55.990 North/076 38.861 WestLocation: off the eastern flank of the ICW, east of flashing daybeacon #9
Minimum Depth: 6 feet
Special Comment: note, there is a sunken sailboat with its mast exposed at the entrance to this anchorage, so proceed slowly to avoid this wreck. Entrance into this anchorage may or may not be impeded by the presence of crab pots and fish traps
Swing Room: sufficient room for vessels as large as 50 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: ExcellentRating:
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Comments from Cruisers (14)
- Reply to Ben
We anchored in this spot June 30th. Saw zero crab pots. I was looking hard, arrived at night, left in the morning, came in here at about 2 knots, and anchored our trawler with two other sailboats already anchored. It was clear. Apparently the crab pots are moved around a bit.
- Reply to Ron
mast is gone from wreck but pvc pipe and floats marking it are very visable. Plenty of room nice spot
Ron & Audrey
Lucky Girl
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Town Creek Outer Anchorage
Statute Mile: 201
Lat/Lon: near 34 43.564 North/076 40.002 West
Location: on the western waters of Town Creek, east of unlighted daybeacon #1
Minimum Depth: 7 1/2 feet
Special Comment: cruisers must negotiate the confusing Gallants Channel, or cruise through the restricted Grayden Paul Bridge to access this anchorage.
Swing Room: sufficient room for vessels as large as 45 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: Very good, except open to strong northwesterly windsRating:
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Town Creek Inner Anchorage
Statute Mile: 201
Lat/Lon: near 34 43.467 North/076 39.784 West
Location: on the rear portion of Town Creek, north of the charted south side shoal
Minimum Depth: 5 ½ foot depths
Special Comment: cruisers must negotiate the confusing Gallants Channel, or cruise through the restricted Grayden Paul Bridge to access this anchorage.
Swing Room: sufficient room for vessels as large as 40 feet; swing room restricted by resident vessels on permanent moorings
Foul Weather Shelter: ExcellentRating:
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Taylor Creek/Beaufort Waterfront Anchorage
Statute Mile: 201
Lat/Lon: near 34 42.955 North/076 40.014 West
Location: on the westerly waters of Taylor Creek, abeam of the Beaufort downtown waterfront
Minimum Depth: 7 feet
Swing Room: sufficient room for vessels as large as 48 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: GoodRating:
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Comments from Cruisers (7)
- Reply to Lew
We were there in May, 2010. Lots of moorings with little space to anchor. Lots of current. Lots of Fishing boats on the docks. Not suggested.
- Reply to Rick
This anchorage is filling with moorings which, as far as I can tell, are not legal but remain nonetheless. While there is good depth in the part of the cut east of G”7″, the narrower channel causes the current to run much faster than to the west of G”7″. It’s easy to find enough water for boats drawing 7-8′.
At the moment, there are two boats riding to Bahamian moorings, many boats riding on moorings, and the rest riding on one hook (our boat included), some with excessive amounts of scope out. The different swing circles makes finding suitable swing room a challenge (we saw one boat spend over an hour to find a usable spot and it took us three passes to get the hook set in the right place). A quick check shows very few boats are showing anchor lights or even a cockpit light as a low-level anchor light – not good news for an after sunset dinghy ride.
There is some fetch from the west and somewhat less from the east, and virtually nothing to the north or south. But there’s very little wind shelter from any direction save to the north, and that from the buildings and trees on shore. While Beaufort has much to commend it, Taylor Creek is probably best rated as “advanced skills or better needed”.
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Shackleford Banks Anchorage (off the AICW, near Beaufort Inlet)
Shackleford Banks Anchorage
Lat/Lon: 34 41.629 North/076 39.337 West
Location: east of the gap between Beaufort Inlet’s markers #19 and #17
Minimum Depth: 15 feet
Special Note: the main purpose of anchoring here is to facilitate dinghy exploration of adjacent Shackleford Banks. Overnight anchorage should not be attempted except during fair weather, with not even a hint of strong winds or thunderstorms in the forecast
Swing Room: sufficient room for most any size vessel
Foul Weather Shelter: Poor, fair weather and light air anchorage onlyRating:
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Shackleford Banks/Jetty Anchorage (off the AICW, east of Beaufort Inlet)
Shackleford Banks/Jetty Anchorage
Lat/Lon: 34 41.245 North/076 38.596 West
Location: east of the charted jetty and marker #2, north of Shackleford Banks
Minimum Depth: 8 feet
Special Note: you must pass hard by the northern side of marker #2 to reach this anchorage safely. The charted shoal north of #2 is now much closer to the marker than is depicted on chart 11545. Also, be sure NOT to attempt to pass south of #2
Swing Room: sufficient room for vessels as large as 48 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: Fair, wide open to northern, northeastern, northwestern and eastern windsRating:
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Cape Lookout Bight Anchorage (off the AICW, via Beaufort Inlet and the Atlantic Ocean)
Cape Lookout Bight Anchorage
Lat/Lon: 34 37.395 North/076 32.931 West
Location: lies east of Cape Lookout Bight’s marker #1
Minimum Depth: 15 to 30 feet
Special Note: Be sure to cruise to Cape Lookout Bight by way of Beaufort Inlet and the ocean. While it is possible to enter Cape Lookout Bight from the rear by way of Back Sound and Barden Inlet, this route is shallow and subject to continual change. Don’t even think about attempting this back door without very specific, up-to-date local knowledge
Swing Room: sufficient room for most any size vessel
Foul Weather Shelter: Good, but somewhat open to northern and northeastern windsRating:
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Comments from Cruisers (7)
- Reply to steven
Best place on earth
- Reply to Will
Labor Day Weekend August 30 – September 2nd 2014
Wow! Just Wow!This was our first time to Cape Lookout. This place is fantastic. The water is warm and clear enough to snorkel. About 7 -10 feet of visibility, The water has a green tint to it.
We anchored about 3/4 of the way into the bite. We were in 25 feet of water and just a short dinghy row from the beach.
When we first arrived I was concerned because there must have been close to 100 boats in there. However, we had no problem finding a place to drop the hook. The very next morning most of the boats were gone, By day 3 there were only a handful.
The sunsets and sunrises are super. The light house looks great. Although we didn’t make it up to the top. Good fishing, nice walks on the beach,
Anybody who is sailing the coast and doesn’t stop by here is missing out.Will & Sheila
s/v Sheila B - Reply to George
This is worth a special trip. Cruisers who by-pass this on their way south are missing one of the most beautiful places on the eastern seaboard. If you are headed to the Exumas, well here is a preview for you. Clean water, miles of undeveloped gorgeous beaches inside the Bight and outside on the ocean with world-class shells (it’s a National Seashore). Break out the dinghy and stay a few days! Only 12 NM from Morehead City. You are on open ocean, so mind the surf and current forecast for navigating the inlet and the trip over there. In good conditions you can cut straight to Masonboro Inlet 70NM from here and miss some of the less attractive parts of the ICW (in our opinion)
George and Ann aboard Hatteras 56MY
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NC Anchorages – AICW, Bogue Sound to Cape Fear River (Statute Mile 207 to 297)
Please Note That Anchorages Below Are Listed in Rough Geographic Format, Moving North to South
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Swansboro Anchorage
Statute Mile: 229
Lat/Lon: 34 41.115 North/077 07.201 West
Location: in the Swansboro channel between unlighted nun buoy #2 and the fixed, low level White Oak River bridge
Minimum Depth: 8-feet
Swing Room: sufficient room for vessels as large as 48 feet
Special Comment: This anchorage is swept by strong tidal currents. Be sure your hook is well set.
Foul Weather Shelter: Fair; wide open to southwesterly windsRating:
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Comments from Cruisers (2)
- Reply to Nicole
We anchored here last night and had a really hard time. We had dinner on a fellow cruisers boat and came back out to find our boat had dragged over 100 feet. We have a fishermen’s anchor that is rated for 60 foot boat (we have a 28 foot sailboat) and it was good and set when we left. When the current shifted the chain, the boat sailed around the anchor, fouled it and caused us to drift. (which has never happened to us before.) We grounded briefly which saved our boat from hitting any other boats but it was a tricky proposition to move the boat back to a good spot in that current, we set out a second anchor and spent most of the night checking it on the half hour to make sure we were staying in one spot. The current is swift and some of the holding ground is not great especially when the current switches, when we pulled up anchor today to go to Dudley’s Marina to sit out a blow(75 cents a foot by the way, worth it to not have to deal with an anchoring nightmare) our anchor had fouled again. Use heavy anchors if you are going to anchor here and try to be near your boat when the tide switches because it is a very challenging location.
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Mile Hammock Bay Anchorage
Statute Mile: 244.5
Lat/Lon: near 34 33.058 North/077 19.510 West
Location: entrance channel lies north of the gap between the ICW’s flashing daybeacon #66 and unlighted daybeacon #67
Minimum Depth: 8-feet
Special Comment:These waters are under the control of the US Marines. Anchorage may not permitted during certain exercises
Swing Room: sufficient for vessels as large as 50 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: GoodRating:
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Comments from Cruisers (15)
- Reply to Gregory
Stayed here in January 2013, as well as May of 2013.
Quiet anchorage in January, pretty noisy in May. Helicopter flights – landings and takeoffs – included passing directly overhead at less than 500 ft, continued until 10:30 pm this May! My wife did not have to remind me to turn on the anchor light that evening.
I also found the area of poor holding this May. We slowly dragged as we set the anchor. Pulled it up, and on the second try, setting it more slowly, finally got it to grab. Interesting after maybe 100+ nights on the hook along the ICW, this is the only spot we didn’t grab the bottom first try. We may have powered down on it faster than the bottom could handle. Maybe the trick here is to back down a bit slower than normally.
- Reply to Ben
Anchored in Mile Hammock Bay on 19-Jul-2010. Wanted to make an early start and pulled anchor in a SE wind, blowing us NW and aground. We were NW of the last marker in. Got to do the Onslow County Dance on the floor of Mile Hammock Bay, pushing and cajoling our trawler in waist-deep-water, in the right direction until climbing back aboard, starting engine, and moving off. Marines took there hovercraft out the night before, so we were entertained by that and some V-22 Ospreys doing maneuvers before anchoring. Floor of MHB, dark mud, shells, pretty hard. Still cleaning the mud from my tennis shoes.
- Reply to Dick
When we got to Mile Hammock Bay, there were already 5 boats anchored. We found a spot just inside the basin entrance and dropped the hook. Later four more boats joined the anchorage making a total of ten boats (make that eleven counting the permanent resident). Considering the high wind situation (20 and gusting) we all needed maximum swing room. The wind stayed strong until sometime after 0130. Despite other’s remarks on holding, our Rocna held firm with only 5:1 all chain scope.
- Reply to Larry
Spent a very calm night here on 21 Feb 2010. We were the only boat in the anchorage as would be expected this time of the year. Leaving the next morning we found two dredges at the New River Inlet. We did bump going past them but after calling the lead dredge, we found the right path and never saw less than 10 feet.
- Reply to Capt
There is one spot where getting an anchor to set can be more difficult. Directly in front and close to the large ramp can sometimes be a difficult spot, at least with CQR. Have had similar problem there twice now, and since it was sparsely populated, spent a couple of hours playing with scope, backing down/not back down, etc before giving up and moving further to the east(?) and edge of the charted white area resulted in good holding. One of only 2 spots that Kittiwake has had trouble more than once. While anchored the marines did some underwater navigation, and it was enjoyable to watch – Kittiwake was an obstacle. Remember, it’s the marine corps water (just like the bridge), and they’re usually nice enough to let us use it.
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Topsail Channel/Island Anchorage
Statute Mile: 265
Lat/Lon: near 34 23.505 North/077 36.094 West
Location: northwest of the charted marsh island lying southwest of the Topsail Channel’s unlighted daybeacon #14
Minimum Depth: 7-feet, but entrance channel is unmarked
Special Comment:Use of a GPS chartplotter is highly recommended to facilitate safe entry into this anchorage
Swing Room: sufficient room for vessels as large as 38 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: fair, open to southwestern and northeastern windsRating:
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Comments from Cruisers (1)
- Reply to David
Just off the ICW with an easy entrance and exit. We found 10 foot of water at one hour before high tide. As you enter stay pretty close to the markers until you get up to the docks, at that point favor the dock side. We anchored just south of the charted shoal between the marker and the line of crab pots to the west. There is some high speed traffic past this point, but that stops when the sun goes down. You can hear the ocean surf. 4 bars on Verizon Air Card. If you are northbound, this is a good place to stay and than catch the Surf City Bridge opening, 3 miles north, the next morning.
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Topsail Channel Anchorage
Statute Mile: 265
Lat/Lon: near 34 23.297 North/077 36.296 West
Location: anchorage lies south, southwest of the correctly charted shoal, south of the small, marsh island, west of marker #13
Minimum Depth: 6 to 9 feet
Swing Room: sufficient room for vessels as large as 48 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: fair, but wide open to southern and southwestern windsRating:
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Banks Channel Northside Anchorage
Statute Mile: 280
Lat/Lon: near 34 12.425 North/077 47.958 West
Location: on the mid-line of the Banks Channel, north-northeast of this cut’s intersection with the Motts Channel, and south-southwest of the 8-foot fixed bridge
Minimum Depth: 6-feet
Special Note: Motts Channel, which many vessels use for access to the Banks Channel anchorage from the AICW, is subject to shoaling. Periodic dredging usually keeps this problem in check, but between dredging projects, depths can become quite suspect on Motts Channel. For best depths, favor Motts Channel’s southern (green side) flank as you enter from the AICW.
Swing Room: sufficient room for vessels as large as 50 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: Good, but open to strong southwesterly winds
Dinghy Dock Access: Public dinghy dockage available at Wynn Plaza, flanking Banks Channel’s eastern shores, just south of the 8-foot fixed bridge.South Beach Grill located just across street from dinghy dock, and within one to two blocks, you will find the King Neptune Restaurant, Vitos Pizza, Baja Mexican Grill, a coffee shop and Roberts Grocery and MarketRating:
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Comments from Cruisers (8)
- Reply to Ted
I was amazed at the amount of speedboats running thru the ancnorage on plane. A constant parade on a Sunday afternoon. Many seemed to enjoy the sport of sloloming between anchored boats on half plane putting out big wakes. Then to my total amazement, a marine sheriff boat came thru, on half plane, and did nothing about hi speed boats running thru here!
They really dont seem to care about basic safety and courtesy in Wrightsvill beach. The cop must have neen on his way to patrol the bathrooms. - Reply to Rick
We are currently lying in this anchorage and agree it’s not sheltered from southwesterly winds and only marginally better for northeasterly winds. The channel in easy to follow >if< you allow for the shoal NE of the R”14″. Holding seems to be good. Wakes can be an issue, particularly with small boat traffic running along the SE shore. The “not Rum Runner” location is the Blockade Runner hotel.
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Banks Channel Southside Anchorage
Statute Mile: 280
Lat/Lon: near 34 12.167 North/077 48.213 West
Location: south of the Banks Channel’s flashing daybeacon #15
Minimum Depth: 6-feet
Special Note: Motts Channel, which many vessels use for access to the Banks Channel anchorage from the AICW, is subject to shoaling. Periodic dredging usually keeps this problem in check, but between dredging projects, depths can become quite suspect on Motts Channel
Swing Room: sufficient room for vessels as large as 50 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: Fair, wide open to southwesterly windsRating:
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Carolina Beach Mooring Field
Statute Mile: 295
Lat/Lon: near 34 02.793 North/077 53.347 West
Location: east-southeast of the Carolina Beach channel’s unlighted daybeacon #4 daybeacon #5
Special Note: a mooring field opened at this location in February, 2012, displacing the anchorage
Minimum Depth: 7-feet
Swing Room: sufficient room for vessels as large as 42 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: ExcellentRating:
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Comments from Cruisers (18)
- Reply to Paula
We stayed here a year ago, and I was not looking forward to a second visit. We were only spending one night and after an 8 1/2 hour day I didn’t feel much like launching the dinghy from the second deck in the wind just to go pay our mooring fee. I was very happy to read that they now send a boat out each evening to collect fees. And great news – a second dinghy dock on the beach side with access to the beach is supposed to open in about two weeks!
- Reply to Billy
Raft off’s not allowed at Carolina Beach mooring as of 5-18-2013 even if all pays the $20. While there two local boats one hooked to ball other rafted off hooked to ball for less than an hour and were charged $20 each one was no more than 50 yards from his marina also the tender told me that the $20 is per calendar day if you are there on 18th is $20 still there on 19th another $20 not for a 24 hour time period as I left to help my friend get his boat back to marina and received a call stating that I would be sent a bill from Carolina Beach for $20 when told I was not staying that is when he told be it was not a 24 hour period. Just FYI for anyone else stopping by Carolina Beach mooing. Did enjoy my stay there as it was my first over nite trip and raft off with newly purchased sailboat.
- Reply to Richard
We used the Carolina mooring field on 16/17 Nov 12 and found it very easy to use and well worth the $20/night. The moorings have short pendants with a float and loop at the end. Pass a line through the loop to moor up. Randy, the guy who collects the money, is a former live-aboard and generally helpful guy.
Access to the area is slightly complicated. Follow the ICW to G 161 and turn into the Carolina Beach basin channel’s R 2. Do /not/ try to round off the corner. A boat with 5.5′ draft hit and bumped when taking this shortcut.
- Reply to One
Great news . Looking foward to stop for a few cold ones.
Carolina beach good work.
Ed & Joyce
- Reply to John
Those of us who prefer to anchor, and I have done so many times successfully in Carolina Beach, think the “slap in the face” is what we are getting! I know and trust my anchoring gear, and I go where I can use it. I didn’t spend thousands of dollars on it just to carry it around with me. Hopefully, sufficient room for anchoring will be retained.
- Reply to Dave
Today, 11/07/2011, survey boat was observed laying marker bouys for the future Carolina Beach mooring field. The bouys are south of the island just past daymark 5. There is still room for a few boats to anchor south of the island and room for a few on the north side of the island.
- Reply to Jim
I anchored in this location in Oct 2001, with a Catalina 400. Plenty of room.
- Reply to Ashley
This is good anchorage in but not in heavy weather. My boat and one other were anchored here in a heavy NE gail, winds 35 kts and greater. Both of us dragged and tried reanchoring several times. We both finally had to go to a marina. The marina at marker “4” was kind enough to let us both tie up at his fuel dock for 2 days. All of the bridges going north were closed due the high winds and there was no traffic anyway. The locals told me afterwards that the bottom there is not good holding in heavy weather. Ashley and Carol, S/V Blind Date
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NC Anchorages – Upper Cape Fear River (off the AICW, north of Snows Cut)
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Please Note That Anchorages Below Are Listed in Rough Geographic Format, Moving South to North from Snows Cut to Wilmington
Southern Brunswick River Anchorage (9.3 Nautical Miles off the AICW, on Cape Fear River)
Southern Brunswick River Anchorage
Lat/Lon: 34 11.410 North/077 58.261 West
Location: Brunswick River intersects the Cape Fear River along this latter stream’s western banks, north of Cape Fear River marker #59
Minimum Depth: 17 feet
Special Note: DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ANCHOR NEAR THE SOUTHERN MOUTH OF BRUNSWICK RIVER – CABLE AREA!!! – also, use of a GPS chartplotter is recommended for safe entry and exit from this anchorage
Swing Room: sufficient room for most any size pleasure vessel
Foul Weather Shelter: Good, but open to northern windsRating:
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Southern Brunswick River Upstream Anchorage (11 Nautical Miles off the AICW, on Cape Fear River)
Southern Brunswick River Upstream Anchorage
Lat/Lon: 34 13.118 North/077 58.644 West
Location: anchorage lies on the centerline of southern Brunswick River, south of the charted, but unnamed “5 FT 1975” creek which makes into the river’s eastern banks; Brunswick River intersects the Cape Fear River along this latter stream’s western banks, north of Cape Fear River marker #59
Minimum Depth: 13 feet
Special Note: DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ANCHOR NEAR THE SOUTHERN MOUTH OF BRUNSWICK RIVER – CABLE AREA!!! – also, use of a GPS chartplotter is recommended for safe entry and exit from this anchorage
Swing Room: sufficient room for most any size pleasure vessel
Foul Weather Shelter: Mostly good, but wide open to southern windsRating:
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Northern Brunswick River Anchorage (15.8 Nautical Miles off the AICW, on Cape Fear River)
Northern Brunswick River Anchorage
Lat/Lon: 34 15.224 North/077 59.187 West
Location: south of the railway bridge at the charted position of “Navassa”
Minimum Depth: 8 to 12 feet
Swing Room: sufficient room for vessels as large as 36 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: Good, only unusually strong southwestern winds might be a problemRating:
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