Wildwood Reef — public NJ reef 4.5 nm off Wildwood
Wildwood Reef is a public NJDEP site 4.5 nm off Wildwood. The August 2021 map lists 3.2 sq mi and 42–63 ft. reeflocs.pdf’s unlabeled 38°57′ block is this site, not Cape May.
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
- Wildwood Reef Site
- Distance offshore
- 4.5 nm off Wildwood (reeflocs.pdf and August 2021 map)
- Reef area
- 3.2 square miles (August 2021 map)
- Depth range
- 42–63 ft (August 2021 map)
- NE corner (DGPS)
- 38°57.850′ N, 74°39.700′ W — reeflocs.pdf block immediately under the Wildwood heading
- NW corner (DGPS)
- 38°58.800′ N, 74°40.900′ W — reeflocs.pdf
- SE corner (DGPS)
- 38°56.580′ N, 74°41.400′ W — reeflocs.pdf
- SW corner (DGPS)
- 38°57.550′ N, 74°42.600′ W — reeflocs.pdf
- Lisa Kim (2016)
- 115-foot clam boat, November 2, 2016 — 38°57.900′ N, 74°40.910′ W (Wildwood Reef PDF)
Wildwood Reef is the public ocean box off Five Mile Beach. Wildwood boats do not need a whispered GPS for the site. They need the current PDF.
Official box
4.5 nm off Wildwood NJ. August 2021 map: 3.2 sq mi, 42–63 ft, not for navigational purposes. Legend bands: 30–40 through 60–70 ft. A 2009 DEP rock-cell sheet still printed 2.1 sq mi and 40–63 ft — if those disagree with the file you download today, the current PDF wins.
reeflocs.pdf is two-column. The Wildwood heading sits in the right column; the 38°57′ corner table that OCR often detaches from that heading is this site. Cape May starts farther south.
| Corner | Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|---|
| NE | 38°57.850′ N | 74°39.700′ W |
| NW | 38°58.800′ N | 74°40.900′ W |
| SE | 38°56.580′ N | 74°41.400′ W |
| SW | 38°57.550′ N | 74°42.600′ W |
Named ships (sample)
- 80-foot deck barge DePalma (Michael DePalma Reef I), February 27, 1996 — 38°56.970′ N, 74°41.340′ W
- 85-foot commercial Ray Vandegrift (formerly Lady Dee), March 26, 2004 — 38°57.410′ N, 74°41.500′ W
- 40-foot deck barge Fallen Friends, August 23, 2004 — 38°57.710′ N, 74°40.990′ W
- 71-foot commercial The BassBarn — Maelstrom, April 6, 2005 — 38°57.410′ N, 74°41.350′ W
- 132-foot tanker barge Pair of Kings, August 10, 2005 — 38°58.030′ N, 74°41.070′ W
- 115-foot clam boat Lisa Kim, November 2, 2016 — 38°57.900′ N, 74°40.910′ W
Seasons
Same statewide 2026 tautog / sea bass / fluke windows as every other ocean reef: NJ saltwater seasons 2026. Delaware Bay’s 17-inch fluke rule is a different water body.
South: Cape May Reef. Bay, not ocean: Delaware Bay Reef.
Sources checked
Electronics and comms, not $10 staples
Chart + sonar
Garmin ECHOMAP UHD2 73sv
$999.99 when checked on Amazon for the GT54 transducer bundle
Fixed-mount VHF with GPS/DSC
Icom IC-M330G
$228.12 when checked on Amazon for the black GPS model
Backup 4.5 nm off the beach
Garmin inReach Mini 2
$349.99 on Garmin when checked; Amazon listing for the Mini 2 also live