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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Comments from Cruisers (3)
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)
PLEASE CAREFULLY READ OUR DISCLAIMER!
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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NC Anchorages – AICW, Southport to Calabash (Statute Mile 309 to 343)
Please Note That Anchorages Below Are Listed in Rough Geographic Format, Moving North to South
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Dutchman Creek Anchorage
Statute Mile: 310
Lat/Lon: near 33 55.223 North/078 02.661 West
Location: Dutchman Creek guards the Waterway’s northern shore just west of unlighted daybeacon #5
Minimum Depth: 6-feet, but entrance poses some navigational challenges
Special Note: Favor the easterly shoreline as you enter this stream. As the stream begins its charted turn to the northwest, immediately cruise back to the mid-width and anchor. Farther upstream, the bottom shelves upto 4-foot levels.
Swing Room: sufficient room for vessels as large as 36 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: Very goodRating:
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Calabash Creek Anchorage
Statute Mile: 342
Lat/Lon: near 33 52.353 North/078 34.176 West
Location: off the eastern shores of Calabash Creek between Calabash Creek’s unlighted daybeacons #2 and #3
Minimum Depth: 4 feet
Special Comment: the southern entrance into Calabash Creek is shoaling, and this problem will probably worsen at time goes forward
Swing Room: sufficient room for vessels as large as 40 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: ExcellentRating:
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Comments from Cruisers (3)
- Reply to Barry
21 April 2015, attempted to anchor in the creek but saw that the anchorage had shoaled badly. Rather than anchor within the channel, we went back to Coquina Yacht Club marina for a fantastic rate of a dollar a foot plus three bucks for power with BoatUS. Third night is free. Very nice marina people…have scratched the Calabash creek anchorage off the list of possibilities. Too bad, considering we anchored there a little over two years ago and had fine depths and a very pleasant night…
- Reply to Capt.
We attempted this anchorage on 10/6/2012 and found the entrance shallow at mid-tide and with one vessel in the anchorage, did not feel comfortable with minimal swing room for our 44′ sailboat and 5′ draft. The water here shallows up quickly.
- Reply to Pete
Nice spot and not difficult to enter at mid-tide. However, you will have charter tour and fishing boats going by you in the early AM and late afternoon. The current and not the wind (unless strong) determines which way you face.
Pete & Mary Ann
s/v MicMac
10/22/09
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disclaimer
Please note that channel conditions, depths, references to navigational aids and almost all on-the-water navigational and anchorage data is subject to change at any time. While we have been careful and attempted to verify all anchorage information, on-the-water conditions may be QUITE different by the time of your arrival. Failure to follow current on-the-water reality, even when it differs from the data contained in this anchorage directory, can result in expensive and dangerous accidents. There are potential hazards in any cruising situation, for which captains, navigators and crew are solely responsible.
Neither I, nor any member of the Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net make any guarantee as to the accuracy or reliability of the information contained within this Anchorage Directory, and will not accept any liability for injuries or damages caused to the reader by following this data!’
A word about anchorage Lat/Lon co-ordinates given in the Anchorage Directory:
We have included APPROXIMATE latitude and longitude positions of the recommended anchorages within this Anchorage Directory. All of these lat/lon positions are presented strictly for informational purposes; they must NOT be used as GPS or Loran way points!
There are several reasons why. Loran C and GPS readings give mariners a straight-line distance or bearing to the intended way-point destination. Straight-line tracks do NOT take into account such vagaries as shoals you will need to avoid, peninsulas you will be unable to cross, or islands that just seem to get in the way.
Please also note that anchorage Lat/Lon positions are given to help generally locate an overnight anchorage. With few exceptions, mariners need not drop the hook at the exact location given. Within most creeks, bays, and other sheltered bodies of water appropriate for anchorage, there will likely be many places where you can rest comfortably and safely for the evening, swinging tranquilly on the hook.
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