Atlantic City Reef — public NJ reef off Atlantic City
Atlantic City Reef is a public NJDEP site. reeflocs.pdf says 12.2 nm off Atlantic City; the August 2021 map says 8.5 nm, 5.1 sq mi, and 51–95 ft. Use the file you downloaded today.
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.
Affiliate disclosure: Cast & Cruise is reader-supported. We may earn a commission on purchases made through our links, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend gear we would buy ourselves.
What the state published
- Official name
- Atlantic City Reef Site
- Distance offshore
- 12.2 nm off Atlantic City on reeflocs.pdf; 8.5 nm on the August 2021 map
- Reef area
- 5.1 square miles (August 2021 map)
- Depth range
- 51–95 ft (August 2021 map); legend bands 50–100 ft
- NE corner (DGPS)
- 39°16.900′ N, 74°15.280′ W — reeflocs.pdf
- NW corner (DGPS)
- 39°16.220′ N, 74°16.180′ W — reeflocs.pdf
- SE corner (DGPS)
- 39°13.930′ N, 74°11.800′ W — reeflocs.pdf
- SW corner (DGPS)
- 39°13.300′ N, 74°12.700′ W — reeflocs.pdf
Atlantic City Reef is the large public ocean box off the city — a state reef, not a whispered wreck. NJDEP Fish & Wildlife publishes the corners, a three-map PDF, and the deployment table.
Official box
reeflocs.pdf: 12.2 nm off Atlantic City NJ. August 2021 map: 8.5 nm, 5.1 sq mi, 51–95 ft, not for navigational purposes. That distance gap is not a tenth of a mile. Trust the file you downloaded today. Legend: concrete, military vehicles, reef balls, ships, steel cable, subway cars, tires.
| Corner | Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|---|
| NE | 39°16.900′ N | 74°15.280′ W |
| NW | 39°16.220′ N | 74°16.180′ W |
| SE | 39°13.930′ N | 74°11.800′ W |
| SW | 39°13.300′ N | 74°12.700′ W |
Named ships (sample)
The state table is long — tankers, clam dredges, Redbird subway cars, AT&T cable, later stainless cars. Named vessels we can cite without dumping the rest:
- 165-foot freighter Pauline Marie, March 29, 1985 — 39°13.760′ N, 74°12.180′ W
- 265-foot tanker Morania Abaco, November 18, 1985 — 39°14.130′ N, 74°12.150′ W
- 247-foot tanker Francis S. Bushey, April 13, 1986 — 39°14.200′ N, 74°12.150′ W
- 128-foot lightship Boston, January 28, 1994 — 39°15.440′ N, 74°14.000′ W
- 205-foot freighter Blue Crown, June 10, 1994 — 39°14.140′ N, 74°12.360′ W
- 90-foot tug Tobacco Pointe (Richard Reina Reef), June 16, 2016 — 39°14.040′ N, 74°12.570′ W
We are not copying the subway-car or cable rows. Open the Atlantic City Reef PDF for a specific ID.
Seasons
Statewide 2026 windows: NJ saltwater seasons 2026. Registry: NJ saltwater fishing rules.
Closer inshore of this box: Great Egg Reef. North toward LBI: Little Egg Reef, Garden State South.
Sources checked
Electronics and comms, not $10 staples
9-inch sonar/plotter for a larger box
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
Handheld backup
Standard Horizon HX890
$269.99 when checked on Amazon for the navy listing