Boating, Fishing, and Travel Information for Chatham, MA

Chatham, about 11.5 miles southward of Nauset Beach Light, is on fairly high ground on the west side of Chatham Harbor. Two conspicuous standpipes with red and white tops are at 41°41’38″N., 69°58’30″W. Chatham Light (41°40’17″N., 69°57’01″W.), 80 feet above the water, is shown from a white conical tower on the west side of the harbor. Chatham Coast Guard Station is near Chatham Light.

Chatham Harbor can be entered east of Chatham Light. Shoals are constantly shifting in the entrance, and extreme caution is advised. Currents are extremely strong and dangerous; surf can build up quickly on the outer bar during an ebb tide. Ocean waves carry into the harbor and reportedly break as far north as Tern Island. Anchoring and even mooring in much of Chatham Harbor is not recommended. Mariners unfamiliar with the area are advised to stay east of Chatham Beach Lighted Whistle Buoy C (41°39’12″N., 69°55’30″W.).

Chatham Inlet Bar Guide Light (41°40’18″N., 69°57’00″W.), 62 feet above the water, is shown from a white skeleton tower near Chatham Light. A white (with orange border) and diamond-shaped dayboard worded ROUGH BAR is on the light. The light will be activated when the seas exceed 2 feet in height and are considered hazardous for small boats. Small-boat operators are cautioned, however, that if the light is not flashing it is no guarantee that sea conditions are favorable.

About 2.7 miles south of Chatham Light, at what used to be the end of Nauset Beach, is a large area of shoals that extends southwestward to Monomoy Island. There is no marked channel through the shoals. Small vessels with local knowledge use the area with a smooth sea; strangers should avoid the area. These shoals are dangerous in thick weather and vessels in the vicinity should stay in depths of 8 fathoms or more.

The passage inside the barrier beach from Chatham Light to the head of navigation in Orleans, on the west side of Meeting House Pond, is about 7.9 miles long and used by small-craft. The passage, marked by private, seasonal buoys, leads northerly from the break through Chatham Harbor, Pleasant Bay, The Narrows, Little Pleasant Bay and The River to Meeting House Pond. The channel requires local knowledge.

A boat basin is in Aunt Lydias Cove between Tern Island and Chatham; a fish pier is in the basin. The area is subject to frequent changes. Commercial fishing boats operate from the cove. The harbormaster can be contacted on VHF-FM channel 16.

Bassing Harbor, at the north end of Chatham Harbor, is the entrance to Ryder Cove and Crows Pond. A smallcraft facility is on the south side of Ryder Cove, about 0.5 mile inside the entrance. A town launching ramp is close westward of the facility. Private seasonal aids mark the channel from Chatham Harbor to the town ramp. A 5 mph speed limit is enforced in the cove. A forklift at the facility can haul out craft to 25 feet. Gasoline, water, ice, marine supplies, moorings and storage facilities are available; hull and engine repairs can be made. In 1981, a reported depth of 3 feet could be carried to the small-craft facility.

Nickersons Neck, on the north side of Crows Pond and the south side of Pleasant Bay, has a country club on the north side.

Round Cove, at the southwest end of Pleasant Bay, has a town wharf and launching ramp. A combination antenna and flagpole on the west bank of the cove is conspicuous.

The Narrows is a passage between Sipson Island and the mainland and connects Pleasant Bay with Little Pleasant Bay. The passage is marked by private seasonal buoys.

Little Pleasant Bay extends about 1.5 miles northward to Barley Neck. A launching ramp is on the west bank of the entrance to Paw Wah Pond on the south side of Namequoit Point.

Namequoit River leads westward from the head of Little Pleasant Bay to Areys Pond. In 1981, depths of 2 feet were reported in Namequoit River, and the channel into the pond had depths of 3 feet. A small-craft facility on the north side of the pond has a 50-foot marine railway, a 2-ton crane, moorings, water, marine supplies, a launching ramp and storage facilities; hull, rigging and sail repairs can be made.

An arm, known as The River, extends northward from the entrance to Namequoit River for about 1 mile to Meeting House Pond. Private seasonal buoys partially mark the channel from The River to the pond. A town landing and launching ramp are on the north side of the channel leading to the pond. A small-craft facility is on the north side of the pond. In 1981, depths of 4 feet were reported in the channel to the pond. A hydraulic trailer at the facility can handle craft to 50 feet. Berths and moorings in depths of 6 to 10 feet, gasoline, water, ice, a launching ramp and storage facilities are available; hull and engine repairs can be made. A town ramp is on the east side of the pond southeastward of the small-craft facility.

Monomoy Shoals consist of numerous detached shoals extending about 5.5 miles in an easterly direction and 9.5 miles in a southeasterly direction from Monomoy Point, the northeast entrance point of Nantucket Sound. Narrow sloughs separate the many parts of the shoals. It should be remembered that the shoals are shifting in character and are subject to change in location and depth.

A dangerous wreck, reported covered 15 feet, is off Monomoy Island in about 41°35’07″N., 69°57’41″W. Mariners are advised to exercise extreme caution while navigating in the area.

Bearse Shoal and Pollock Rip, extending about 5 miles eastward of Monomoy Point, are a series of sand shoals and ridges with little water over them in places. Pollock Rip Channel is between the shoals.

Broken Part of Pollock Rip, covered 10 to 18 feet, is eastward of Pollock Rip.

Stone Horse Shoal, Little Round Shoal and Great Round Shoal are portions of a continuous series of sand shoals and ridges covered 4 to 18 feet. These shoals are directly eastward of the entrance to Nantucket Sound and between the two main channels. Southward and eastward of these shoals are numerous shoal spots, including Orion Shoal, covered 16 to 19 feet.

Handkerchief Shoal, extending for 5 miles southwestward from Monomoy Point, is covered 2 to 18 feet. A spot that uncovers 2 feet is about 2.7 miles southwest of the point. On the northwest side the water shoals gradually and soundings will indicate an approach to danger, but on the southeast side the shoal rises abruptly from the deeper water. Handkerchief Shoal is uneven and shifting in character. Vessels should not attempt to pass northward of the buoys marking the southern end and southeast side of the shoal.

Pollock Rip Channel and Butler Hole form the most direct channel leading from points northward of Cape Cod to Nantucket Sound. The channel leads between Bearse Shoal and Pollock Rip, thence eastward of Handkerchief Shoal. Since large-vessel traffic may be encountered in this channel, fishing vessels and small craft should avoid the area during thick or foggy weather. The channel is well marked by navigational aids. Mariners should consult the chart and seek local knowledge before entering Pollock Rip Channel and Butler Hole because numerous shoals exist in this channel. Caution is advised when transiting the area.

Submerged piling, the remains of the former Monomoy Point Light structure, may exist about 0.3 mile southward of Monomoy Point. An abandoned lighthouse about 1.2 miles northward of the point is prominent.

Monomoy Island, a National Wildlife Refuge on the northeastern side of Nantucket Sound, is a low, narrow spit covered with sand dunes. Vessels sometimes anchor off the east shore of the island in depths of 4 to 6 fathoms to await a favorable current for entering the sound. Off Monomoy Point, the south end of the island, shoals make off up to 5 miles eastward.

Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge, a Marine Protected Area (MPA), extends 1 mile offshore from Monomoy and Morris Islands.

Tidal currents average about 2 knots at strength in the channel 0.2 mile west of Monomoy Point. The flood current sets 170°, and the ebb 346°.

The large bight formed by Monomoy Island and the north shore of Nantucket Sound, eastward of Point Gammon, has extensive shoals scattered throughout and bordering the shores. Not all of the shoals are marked by buoys.

Chatham Roads, at the northeast end of Nantucket Sound, is between the extensive shoals that extend northwestward from the northern end of Monomoy Island and the shoals extending 1.6 miles from the shore of Cape Cod at Harwich Port. The Roads is the approach to Stage Harbor and the prominent summer resort of Chatham on the hilly ground at the northeast shore of Nantucket Sound.

Stage Harbor Light (41°39’30″N., 69°59’04″W.), 28 feet above the water, is shown from a modular tower on the northeast side of Chatham Roads on the north side of the entrance to Stage Harbor.

Among the conspicuous landmarks approaching Chatham Roads and Stage Harbor are the domes of the National Weather Service’s installation on the eastern side of Morris Island, a radio tower at South Chatham, church spires, Chatham Light and Stage Harbor Light.

A dredged channel, marked by lighted and unlighted buoys, leads from Chatham Roads into Stage Harbor. The entrance is in an area of shifting sandbars and is subject to shoaling. A narrow, natural channel continues northerly from Stage Harbor through Mitchell River to Mill Pond; the channel is marked by private buoys. A highway bridge crossing Mitchell River between Stage Harbor and Mill Pond has a bascule span with a horizontal clearance of 25 feet and a vertical clearance of 6 feet.

Anchorages:

Good anchorage for vessels up to 18-foot draft can be had in Chatham Roads in depths of 21 to 30 feet, good holding ground. This anchorage is insecure for small craft in heavy southwesterly gales. Small craft can find a wellsheltered anchorage in Stage Harbor.

Routes:

Vessels approaching Chatham Roads from the southward should pass westward of Handkerchief Shoal and the extensive shoals westward of Monomoy Island. Approaching from the westward, pass either side of Bishop and Clerks and thence southward of the seasonal lighted whistle buoy off Kill Pond Bar, a shoal covered 4 to 11 feet off the northwest entrance to Chatham Roads. When off the entrance to Chatham Roads, steer 063° with Stage Harbor and Chatham Lights in range. This course will lead about 500 yards southeastward of Chatham Roads Bell Buoy 3 and north of the buoy marking Common Flat, the shoal on the eastern side of the roads, to the Stage Harbor approach buoy about 0.8 mile westsouthwestward of Stage Harbor Light. An anchorage may be had northward of the approach buoy in depths of about 28 feet. Boats continuing to Stage Harbor will pick up the channel entrance buoys about 800 yards southwestward of Stage Harbor Light. The channel is well marked.

A 5 mph speed limit is enforced in the harbor.

The harbor is closed by ice for short periods each winter. Local fishermen will act as pilots for craft desiring one.

The commercial fish piers in Stage Harbor are on The Neck at the head of the dredged channel opposite Stage Island and on the west bank of Oyster Pond River just above the first bend about 0.7 mile above the entrance to the river.

There are a marina and boatyard on the north side of Stage Harbor adjacent to the fish piers and a marina on Mitchell River just west of the bridge. The marine railway at the boatyard can haul out craft up to 50 feet for hull and engine repairs or dry open or covered storage. Storage is also available at the bridge. Gasoline, diesel fuel, water, ice, marine supplies and moorings are available at Stage Harbor and at the bridge. The marina at the bridge has a 10-ton lift; berthage in 6 feet of water, gasoline, diesel fuel, water, ice, storage facilities, some marine supplies and a launching ramp are also available. A launching ramp is on Sears Point.

Oyster Pond River extends from Stage Harbor for about 0.7 mile in a northwesterly direction, thence for 0.8 mile in a northeasterly direction into Oyster Pond.

Private seasonal aids mark the channel at the bend in the river. Shoaling to 2 feet was reported at the bend in 1981. On the west bank at the bend there are a town wharf, a launching ramp and a fish wharf. At 0.3 mile and 0.5 mile above the bend on the west bank are two boatyards and marinas. The largest marine railway at the yards can haul out craft up to 44 feet for hull and engine repairs or dry open or covered storage. Gasoline, diesel fuel, water, ice, marine supplies, launching ramps, berthage and moorings are available.

Mill Creek, 1.6 miles northwestward of Stage Harbor Light, is used only at high water by small local craft. The entrance between the jetties was reported to have 1½ feet in 1964. The tall radio tower of Chatham Radio Station WCC is prominent about 0.4 mile west of the jetties. Cockle Cove has been entered by small boats through one of the breakthroughs in the sandbar.