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FL Inlet Caution: Fort Pierce Inlet
- Date Reported: Jun 2, 2022
- Reporter: Jani Parker
- Source: Waterway Guide Staff
- Description:
Overview: Many cruisers make Fort Pierce Inlet their exit or entry point for an outside run. It's a 65-nm north run to Cape Canaveral Inlet and 45-nm south run to Lake Worth Inlet. The proximity of the Gulf Stream to this safe, deep inlet makes it an attractive area for deep-sea fishing. Fort Pierce is also a popular Inlet when making landfall returning from West End Point on Grand Bahama Island. (The Gulf Stream gives a boost to cruisers heading north.) The inlet is wide and deep with two stone jetties, an inner channel (30-foot MLW depths) and a turning basin (28-foot MLW depths). The 22-mile long Hutchinson Island lies to the south and 28-mile long Orchid Island (also known as North Hutchinson Island) lies to the north.
Approach: Fort Pierce Inlet Lighted Buoy "2" is located at N 27° 28.653'/W 080° 15.411' (1.5 nm seaward of the channel).
Navigation: Above waypoint takes you 1.5 nm from the channel in deep water. Smaller craft can approach in over 20 feet MLW to green buoy "5" and red buoy "6" at N 27° 28.160'/W 80° 16.900', which is just 0.2 nm from the jetties. The channel is marked with ranges and buoys (both lighted and unlighted). Tidal currents in the inlet are strong averaging 3 to 4 knots.
Webcam: For live view of the inlet visit Fort Pierce Inlet Cam.
Cautions & Hazards: It is best to pass through with the tide or at slack tide as standing waves are possible. An area of shallow shoals along the north jetty near flashing red buoy "8" are a popular weekend hangout for local boaters and fishermen. Be aware of traffic in this area. Where the inlet channel crosses the ICW down to the Peter B. Cobb Memorial (SR A1A) Bridge (Mile 965.8), strong crosscurrents exist with a set to the south on the flood and to the north on the ebb. Currents are strongest through the narrow neck of the channel inside the barrier islands near flashing green buoy "9." In strong east winds swells can create rough conditions inside the jetties (especially on ebb tides).
ICW Connection: Connects directly to the ICW at Mile 965.
- Lat / Lon: N 27° 28.306' / W 080° 17.442'
3 Boater Comments
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Comment by: Addison, av Threepenny Opera , on Feb 27, 2023
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 42'
Draft: 5.0'entering with an outflowing current and an easterly wind was interesting! We were slowed to about 2 knots and riding over Square waves that produced +30 degrees of heading change. It was a wild ride until well inside the breakwaters.
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Comment by: Leslie Owen on Apr 10, 2021
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 34'
Draft: 5.0'Don’t enter this inlet during an ebb tide and a Florida weekend.
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Comment by: Fred Knapp on Jun 16, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 38'
Draft: 4.0'What is the best time to come in?
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