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340-acre Hereford Inlet fishing map with NOAA BlueTopo survey contours (82.86% measured, 98.82% assessed), source-traceable coastal structure, regional fish-survey occurrence, sourced forage timing and verified public access. The water tops out around 50 ft. The depth chart is built from real agency bathymetry referenced to NAVD88; directly measured coverage remains distinguished from source interpolation. The channels, holes and drop-offs come from the source data, not a distance-from-shore model. The season-by-season read for each species follows, from the map's own numbers.
Traced from the shoreline, Hereford Inlet runs 340 acres with 4.4 miles of edge. The shoreline is moderately structured (index 1.7) — enough points and pockets to pattern. About 83% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. Tip to tip the water measures near 1.3 mi with a 0.8-mi widest point. For a second option, Great Egg Harbor Inlet lies 24 mi northeast.
Come spring, look for striped bass tight to the bank in 5 to 20 ft. They move out to 15 to 50 ft in summer and finish the year down in 20 to 50 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Surveyed channel edge: a drop-off around 31 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A flutter spoon (deep) or an umbrella rig (trolled) is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (11 ft) | Bucktail jig + trailer, Walking topwater (dawn) |
| Summer | 15 to 50 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (31 ft) | Flutter spoon (deep), Umbrella rig (trolled) |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (11 ft) | Topwater walker, Jerkbait |
| Winter | 20 to 50 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (31 ft) | Alabama rig (slow), Flutter spoon |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: bluefish in 3 to 20 ft. As the season builds they drop to 5 to 30 ft, wintering in 15 to 40 ft. Top water on the chart: NOAA charted groin, a jetty / riprap in the 25 ft range, prime in summer. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a popper (early/late) or a metal jigs in the rips gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow feeding flat (15 ft) | Metal (Hopkins/Kastmaster), Pencil popper |
| Summer | 5 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA charted groin (25 ft) | Popper (early/late), Metal jigs in the rips |
| Fall | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & midday | Shallow feeding flat (15 ft) | Pencil popper, Big metal |
| Winter | 15 to 40 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (31 ft) | Metal jig worked slow (southern waters) |
Come spring, look for summer flounder (fluke) tight to the bank in 5 to 25 ft. Expect a summer slide to 8 to 35 ft, then a winter hold in 15 to 50 ft. Start at Surveyed channel edge. It's a drop-off holding about 11 ft of water and rates prime come summer. Prime time lands in midday and early morning. A bucktail (1-3 oz by drift speed) or a gulp grub on jighead is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Surveyed channel edge (11 ft) | Bucktail + Gulp swimming mullet, Hi-lo rig + squid strip |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Surveyed channel edge (11 ft) | Bucktail (1-3 oz by drift speed), Gulp grub on jighead |
| Fall | 12 to 45 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (31 ft) | Heavier bucktail on the lumps, Big Gulp 6" grub |
| Winter | 15 to 50 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (31 ft) | Slow bottom rig + strip |
Come spring, look for black sea bass tight to the bank in 10 to 40 ft. They move out to 13 to 50 ft in summer and finish the year down in 15 to 50 ft. If you only fish one area, make it NOAA charted groin: a jetty / riprap around 33 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is midday and early morning. A bucktail + grub or a diamond jig + squid teaser is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | midday & dawn | NOAA charted groin (33 ft) | Hi-lo rig + squid, 1-2 oz bucktail + Gulp |
| Summer | 13 to 50 ft | midday & dawn | NOAA charted groin (33 ft) | Bucktail + grub, Diamond jig + squid teaser |
| Fall | 13 to 50 ft | midday | NOAA charted groin (33 ft) | 3-4 oz vertical jig (deep), Double-teaser rig |
| Winter | 15 to 50 ft | midday | NOAA charted groin (33 ft) | Heavy hi-lo rig on deep wrecks |
In spring, tautog (blackfish) run shallow here, mostly 5 to 25 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 10 to 35 ft before dropping to 15 to 50 ft for winter. Spring tautog (blackfish) concentrate at NOAA charted groin, a prime-rated jetty / riprap around 25 ft. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a 1/2-1 oz tog jig + crab most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | NOAA charted groin (25 ft) | Tog jig + green crab half, Bare jig + clam (early) |
| Summer | 10 to 35 ft | dawn | NOAA charted groin (33 ft) | 1/2-1 oz tog jig + crab |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | midday | NOAA charted groin (33 ft) | Tog jig + whole green crab, Old-school rig + double crab (deep) |
| Winter | 15 to 50 ft | midday | NOAA charted groin (33 ft) | Heavy jig + crab on deep structure |
7 pieces of structure are mapped here — NOAA charted groin, around 33 ft, is the deepest of them.
Access data: New Jersey DEP Fish & Wildlife — Saltwater Fishing Access Sites. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for New Jersey waters are set by the New Jersey Fish & Wildlife (marine) — and special regulations can apply to Hereford Inlet specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official New Jersey fishing regulations →
Hereford Inlet is about 50 ft (15 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart is built from real agency bathymetry referenced to NAVD88; directly measured coverage remains distinguished from source interpolation. The contours reflect measured and quality-assessed source depths.
Anglers target striped bass, bluefish, summer flounder (fluke), black sea bass, tautog (blackfish) on Hereford Inlet.
Surveyed channel edge is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 11 ft of water that rates prime for summer flounder (fluke) in summer. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
For striped bass, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Hereford Inlet is regulated by the New Jersey Fish & Wildlife (marine). Check the official New Jersey regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Great Egg Harbor Inlet 24 mi · Bargaintown Pond 26 mi · Shaws Mill Pond 28 mi · Red Mill Pond 29 mi, DE · Waples Pond 31 mi, DE · Wagamons Pond 33 mi, DE · Indian River Bay 34 mi, DE · Silver Lake (Milford) 36 mi, DE · Little River 36 mi, DE · Haven Lake 36 mi, DE · Griffith Lake 37 mi, DE · Mill Pond 38 mi
See how Hereford Inlet stacks up: best striped bass lakes in New Jersey · best summer flounder (fluke) lakes in New Jersey · best bluefish lakes in New Jersey · best black sea bass lakes in New Jersey
Browse all New Jersey fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: NOAA BlueTopo (NAVD88; 83% measured, 16% source-interpolated). How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.