Boating, Fishing, and Travel Information for Jonesport, ME

A dredged channel, east of Jonesport, leads from Moosabec Reach, between a breakwater on the east and shore on the west, inside Sawyer Cove to an anchorage basin with an 8-foot south anchorage and a 6-foot north anchorage. In 2007, the controlling depths were 6.8 feet in the entrance channel, 6.7 feet in the south anchorage, and 5.1 feet in the north anchorage.

Jonesport Coast Guard Station is on the north side of Moosabec Reach, just westward of the bridge. The wharf at the station has a depth of 14 feet alongside. Gasoline and diesel fuel are available at two lobster piers. The pier just east of the bridge has a reported depth of 8 feet alongside its float landing; depths of 3 feet were reported alongside the float landing of the pier on the west side of Sawyer Cove. A boatyard in a cove about 0.7 mile eastward of the bridge builds boats up to 45 feet in length and can haul out on skids boats up to 40 feet in length for hull or engine repairs. Groceries and marine supplies are available in town. A town launching ramp, pier, and float are on the west side of Sawyer Cove; depths of 4½ feet are reported alongside.
Jonesport is a customs port of entry.

Beals is a village on the northern end of Beals Island, which is on the south side of Moosabec Reach opposite Jonesport. The main wharf at the northeastern extremity of the island, close eastward of the bridge, has 2 feet alongside. Diesel fuel, gasoline, provisions, and limited marine supplies are available at the wharf.

Moosabec Reach is the narrow passage west of Chandler Bay leading between the mainland on the north and the group of islands on the south from Chandler Bay to Tibbett Narrows. The passage is an important thorofare and is much used in the daytime by vessels drawing up to 10 feet; a draft of 21 feet can be taken through at high water. Mark Island, 123 feet high and heavily wooded, is the prominent guide to the eastern entrance, and Nash Island Light to the western approach. Kelley Point is the northeastern entrance point on the mainland, 1.2 miles west of Mark Island.

The channel in Moosabec Reach is well marked. With local knowledge, a depth of about 11 feet can be carried. Vessels can readily follow the channel in daytime with the aid of the chart in clear weather, but strangers should not attempt passage at night. Emms Rock Light 9 (44°31’44″N., 67°33’57″W.), 28 feet above the water, is shown from a gray skeleton tower with a square green daymark on the south side of the channel. The light is on the north end of the stone breakwater extending southeastward to Nova Rocks, about 0.25 mile south of Kelley Point. The breakwater uncovers about 3 feet. A daybeacon is on Gilchrist Rock, 0.5 mile west of Mark Island; and another daybeacon is on Snows Rock, about 0.5 mile southwest of Kelley Point.

A fixed highway bridge with clearance of 39 feet crosses Moosabec Reach from Jonesport to Beals, about 2 miles west of Kelley Point. Lights in the center of the span and on each side of the fender piling mark the navigation channel through the bridge.

The tidal currents have considerable velocity in the dredged channel, particularly at the light on the stone jetty. The current floods to the eastward and ebbs to the westward. Back eddies form with the beginning of the tidal flow on each side of the bridge.