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3,230-acre Little Egg Inlet fishing map with NOAA BlueTopo survey contours (49.14% measured, 99.75% assessed), source-traceable coastal structure, regional fish-survey occurrence, sourced forage timing and verified public access. The water tops out around 55 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. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
The outline encloses 3,229 acres, worked by 9.6 miles of shoreline. Its 1.2 shoreline index means few bank features; the contours below do the pattern work. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 76% of this chart. The basin spans about 3.7 mi end to end and 2.1 mi across at its widest. Great Bay sits 5 mi northwest — the closest neighbouring chart.
In spring, striped bass run shallow here, mostly 5 to 20 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 17 to 55 ft before dropping to 20 to 50 ft for winter. Summer striped bass concentrate at NOAA BlueTopo measured inlet-channel depth, a prime-rated channel edge around 44 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a topwater walker at low light or a paddletail on a light jig most summer days.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (10 ft) | 3-6 inch paddletail, Suspending minnow plug |
| Summer | 17 to 55 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA BlueTopo measured inlet-channel depth (44 ft) | Topwater walker at low light, Paddletail on a light jig |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (10 ft) | Pencil popper, Baitfish swimbait |
| Winter | 20 to 50 ft | midday | NOAA BlueTopo measured inlet-channel depth (44 ft) | Slow paddletail, Bucktail near bottom |
Come spring, look for bluefish tight to the bank in 3 to 20 ft. They move out to 5 to 30 ft in summer and finish the year down in 15 to 40 ft. If you only fish one area, make it NOAA BlueTopo measured channel shoulder: a gravel shoal around 29 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A popper (early/late) or a metal jigs in the rips is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (12 ft) | Metal (Hopkins/Kastmaster), Pencil popper |
| Summer | 5 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA BlueTopo measured channel shoulder (29 ft) | Popper (early/late), Metal jigs in the rips |
| Fall | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & midday | NOAA BlueTopo measured channel shoulder (29 ft) | Pencil popper, Big metal |
| Winter | 15 to 40 ft | midday | open water | Metal jig worked slow (southern waters) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: summer flounder (fluke) in 5 to 25 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 8 to 35 ft before dropping to 17 to 55 ft for winter. The spot to know is NOAA BlueTopo measured inlet-channel depth, a channel edge in about 44 ft of water that rates prime for summer flounder (fluke) in fall. Plan around midday and early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a bucktail (1-3 oz by drift speed) or a gulp grub on jighead gets it done.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Surveyed channel edge (12 ft) | Bucktail + Gulp swimming mullet, Hi-lo rig + squid strip |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Surveyed channel edge (26 ft) | Bucktail (1-3 oz by drift speed), Gulp grub on jighead |
| Fall | 12 to 45 ft | midday | NOAA BlueTopo measured inlet-channel depth (44 ft) | Heavier bucktail on the lumps, Big Gulp 6" grub |
| Winter | 17 to 55 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 60 ft | midday | NOAA BlueTopo measured inlet-channel depth (44 ft) | Slow bottom rig + strip |
In spring, black sea bass run shallow here, mostly 10 to 40 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 14 to 55 ft before dropping to 17 to 55 ft for winter. Spring black sea bass concentrate at Dangerous NOAA charted wreck, a prime-rated wreck around 15 ft. Fish it in midday and early morning and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a bucktail + grub or a diamond jig + squid teaser most summer days.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | midday & dawn | Dangerous NOAA charted wreck (15 ft) | Hi-lo rig + squid, 1-2 oz bucktail + Gulp |
| Summer | 14 to 55 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 60 ft | midday & dawn | Dangerous NOAA charted wreck (15 ft) | Bucktail + grub, Diamond jig + squid teaser |
| Fall | 14 to 55 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 80 ft | midday | Dangerous NOAA charted wreck (15 ft) | 3-4 oz vertical jig (deep), Double-teaser rig |
| Winter | 17 to 55 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 100 ft | midday | Dangerous NOAA charted wreck (15 ft) | Heavy hi-lo rig on deep wrecks |
Early season tautog (blackfish) use the shallows, holding in 5 to 25 ft. Expect a summer slide to 10 to 35 ft, then a winter hold in 17 to 55 ft. Put Dangerous NOAA charted wreck first on the milk run — a wreck near 15 ft that grades prime for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Tie on a 1/2-1 oz tog jig + crab and you're in the game.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Dangerous NOAA charted wreck (15 ft) | Tog jig + green crab half, Bare jig + clam (early) |
| Summer | 10 to 35 ft | dawn | Dangerous NOAA charted wreck (15 ft) | 1/2-1 oz tog jig + crab |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | midday | Dangerous NOAA charted wreck (15 ft) | Tog jig + whole green crab, Old-school rig + double crab (deep) |
| Winter | 17 to 55 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 70 ft | midday | Dangerous NOAA charted wreck (15 ft) | Heavy jig + crab on deep structure |
Spring puts scup (porgy) in skinny water — 5 to 25 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 6 to 35 ft; cold water stacks them in 12 to 50 ft. Dangerous NOAA charted wreck is the standout, a wreck at roughly 15 ft, rated prime for spring scup (porgy). Plan around midday and early morning in the warm months. A hi-lo porgy rig or a micro metal jig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dawn | Dangerous NOAA charted wreck (15 ft) | Small hi-lo rig, Micro jig tipped with bait |
| Summer | 6 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Dangerous NOAA charted wreck (15 ft) | Hi-lo porgy rig, Micro metal jig |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | midday | Dangerous NOAA charted wreck (15 ft) | Compact vertical jig, Hi-lo rig |
| Winter | 12 to 50 ft | midday | NOAA BlueTopo measured inlet-channel depth (44 ft) | Small slow vertical jig |
Little Egg Inlet also holds winter flounder (8 to 30 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
The chart marks 15 structure features on Little Egg Inlet; the deepest is NOAA BlueTopo measured channel break at about 48 ft.
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 Little Egg Inlet specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official New Jersey fishing regulations →
Little Egg Inlet is about 55 ft (17 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), scup (porgy), winter flounder on Little Egg Inlet. The list combines the water's survey records with habitat-filtered species from broader official evidence; those additions are plausible occurrences, not exact-water abundance or guaranteed catches.
Dangerous NOAA charted wreck is the top-rated area: a wreck in about 15 ft of water that rates prime for tautog (blackfish) in spring. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.
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 Little Egg 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 Bay 5 mi · Little Egg Harbor 7 mi · Pohatcong Lake 9 mi · Mill Pond 11 mi · Lake Absegami 12 mi · Bargaintown Pond 17 mi · Great Egg Harbor Inlet 18 mi · Barnegat Bay 22 mi · Hammonton Lake 28 mi · Big Pine Lake 38 mi · Lake Pemberton 38 mi · Hereford Inlet 41 mi
See how Little Egg 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. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: NOAA BlueTopo (NAVD88; 49% measured, 51% 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.