Barnegat Light Reef — the public ‘wreck’ off Barnegat, NJ
Searches for ‘Barnegat Light wreck’ usually mean Barnegat Light Reef, a public NJDEP artificial reef about 3 nautical miles off Barnegat. Official corners, the 2023 TIBOR tug, and other named drops are on state PDFs — not a secret GPS.
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.
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What the state published
- Official name
- Barnegat Light Reef Site (NJDEP also says “Barnegat Reef” on some 2021 deployment notes)
- Distance offshore
- 3.1 nm off Barnegat on reeflocs.pdf; 3.0 nm on the August 2021 map
- Reef area
- 1.1 square miles (August 2021 map)
- Depth range
- 46–58 ft on the August 2021 map (40–50 ft and 50–60 ft bands)
- NE corner (DGPS)
- 39°45.870′ N, 74°01.100′ W — NJ DEP reeflocs.pdf
- NW corner (DGPS)
- 39°45.870′ N, 74°01.950′ W — NJ DEP reeflocs.pdf
- SE corner (DGPS)
- 39°44.620′ N, 74°01.100′ W — NJ DEP reeflocs.pdf
- SW corner (DGPS)
- 39°44.620′ N, 74°01.950′ W — NJ DEP reeflocs.pdf
- TIBOR tug (2023)
- 45-ft tug built in 1957 as a coastal tug around New York Harbor; deployed June 29, 2023 at 39°45.792′ N, 74°01.191′ W
When people in Ocean County say they are running “the Barnegat Light wreck,” they are usually talking about Barnegat Light Reef — a public NJDEP Fish & Wildlife artificial reef, not a private number on a napkin.
Cast Cruise will not invent a second wreck, a third “spot,” or a GPS that is not on a state PDF.
The public box
NJ’s DGPS sheet titles it “BARNEGAT LIGHT REEF SITE — 3.1 Nautical Miles off Barnegat NJ.” The August 2021 map says 3.0 nm, 1.1 square miles, and 46–58 ft, and is marked not for navigational purposes.
Corners from reeflocs.pdf (degrees and decimal minutes):
| Corner | Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|---|
| NE | 39°45.870′ N | 74°01.100′ W |
| NW | 39°45.870′ N | 74°01.950′ W |
| SE | 39°44.620′ N | 74°01.100′ W |
| SW | 39°44.620′ N | 74°01.950′ W |
Treat that table as a copy of the state sheet, then open the PDF yourself. Do not treat this article as a chart.
Named drops you can actually cite
From NJDEP’s Artificial Reef Program page and the 2021 monuments release — not from a forum:
- June 29, 2023 — 45-foot tug TIBOR, built 1957, former New York Harbor coastal tug. Sponsored by the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association and The Sport Fishing Fund. 39°45.792′ N, 74°01.191′ W.
- August 24, 2022 — 17 reef balls, Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association. 39°44.700′ N, 74°01.500′ W.
- May 21, 2021 — about 400 gravestones and mixed concrete rubble, ~60 tons, donated by Schick Monuments and South Jersey Monuments. DEP listed 39°45.32′ N, 74°01.60′ W (written as 39* 45.32 x 074* 01.60 on the news page). Some DEP text calls this drop “Barnegat Reef”; the monuments page says Barnegat Light Reef.
The 2021 map legend also shows concrete, military vehicles, reef balls, ships, steel, and tires going back to 1993 tire units. We are not pasting the entire ID table.
Inlet vs reef
Barnegat Inlet is how a lot of small boats leave the bay. It is not this reef, and it is not something we will sketch from memory. Shoals move. Use a current NOAA chart and USCG notices. If you do not have a working VHF and a plotter you trust, this is the wrong day to learn the inlet.
Rules
New Jersey has no saltwater fishing license. Register free with NJSRRP if you are 16+. 2026 keep-windows: NJ saltwater seasons 2026. Full digest: 2026 Marine Digest.
Habitat language from DEP for these reefs includes black sea bass, tautog, and lobster. That is not a promise you will catch them on this drop.
Next: Axel Carlson Reef to the north, and NJ saltwater rules.
Sources checked
Electronics and comms, not $10 staples
9-inch sonar/plotter for marking structure
Lowrance Elite FS 9
$1,099 on Lowrance for SKU 000-15692-001; Amazon 9-inch listing $1,079 when checked
Handheld VHF backup
Standard Horizon HX890
$269.99 when checked on Amazon for the navy listing
Fixed-mount VHF with GPS/DSC
Icom IC-M330G
$228.12 when checked on Amazon for the black GPS model