Sebastian Inlet to Government Cut · 11 Inlets
Florida East Coast
Inlet Navigation Guide
A reference overview of 11 Atlantic inlets from Sebastian to Government Cut — depths, hazards, and navigation notes compiled from USACE, NOAA, and inlet district sources.
⚠ Safety Notice — Read Before Using This Guide
This is a general reference. It is not a navigational chart. Do not use it as one.
Inlet conditions change — sometimes daily. Depths shift after storms, heavy rain, and periods without maintenance dredging. A depth listed here may not reflect conditions at the time of your transit. Chart editions lag real-world conditions at every inlet on this list.
Jupiter Inlet and Hillsboro Inlet in particular should never be transited without current local knowledge. Jupiter's sandbar shifts continuously and NOAA's own chart warns against entry without advance verification. Hillsboro's current can reach 5–6 knots and has closed to less than 1 ft between dredge cycles. Many other inlets on this list have documented histories of grounding experienced mariners.
Before any inlet transit: consult the current NOAA chart for that inlet, review the applicable Notice to Mariners, check the managing authority's most recent depth reports, and seek current mariner reports from sources such as Waterway Guide or Active Captain. When in doubt, do not transit. There is no destination worth a grounding or a capsize.
Benjamin Hoadley and Barefoot Realty & Investments LLC assume no responsibility for the accuracy of any information presented here or for any outcome resulting from its use.
How to Read This Guide
Reliable
Federally maintained deep-draft channels with well-marked approaches. Still require standard navigation attention and VHF monitoring for commercial traffic.
Caution
Navigable with preparation but require active attention to tide, weather, and current conditions. Verify depths before every transit. Local knowledge strongly recommended.
Expert / Local Knowledge Required
Hazardous without current local knowledge. Depths shift, channels are poorly marked, or currents create dangerous bar conditions. Verify conditions from multiple current sources before approaching.
Expert / Local Knowledge Required
Do not attempt without current local knowledge
Stuart / Hobe Sound · Martin
St. Lucie Inlet
Controlling Depth (MLW)
10 ftTidal Range
1.2 ftUSCG Nearby
NoKnown Hazards
Authorized 10 ft — actual depth often 4–6 ft MLW between dredging
Crossroads Reach: highest shoaling rate on the entire ICW
Nearly half-mile wide mouth exposed to ocean swell — dangerous in onshore conditions
No fixed navigation aids in the outer bar area
Strong outflow from St. Lucie/ICW/Okeechobee combined discharge after rain
Navigation Notes
One of Florida's most shoal-prone inlets. The Crossroads Reach — where the ICW, Okeechobee Waterway, and inlet converge — has the highest shoaling rate on the Florida ICW. NOAA's chart explicitly warns against transit without advance local knowledge. Transit only at or near high water on a flooding tide. Check Martin County's navigation page (martin.fl.us) and current mariner reports before every departure.
Maintained by
USACE Jacksonville District — but frequent shoaling to 4–6 ft between dredge cycles
Anchorage Nearby
St. Lucie Inlet State Park on the south side: inside basin in 6–10 ft MLW.
Jupiter / Tequesta · Palm Beach / Martin
Jupiter Inlet
Controlling Depth (MLW)
8 ftChannel Width
100 ftTidal Range
2.5 ftUSCG Nearby
YesKnown Hazards
Continuously shifting sandbar — as shallow as 3.3 ft MLLW in active shoaling conditions
NOAA chart explicitly warns against transit without advance local knowledge
Strong tidal currents up to 4 knots through the jetties
Quartering seas during NE swell due to inlet orientation
Shoals shift rapidly and may not match current chart soundings
Navigation Notes
Jupiter Inlet is one of Florida's most hazardous small-craft inlets. The sandbar shifts continuously — the NOAA chart itself warns mariners not to attempt transit without current local knowledge. The navigable cut is typically 6–8 ft MLW after dredging but degrades quickly. Always check current reports from the Jupiter Inlet District (jupiterinletdistrict.org) and Waterway Guide navigation alerts before approaching. Transit at high water slack. The 1860 Jupiter Lighthouse is a reliable visual landmark for the approach.
Maintained by
Jupiter Inlet District (state special district)
Anchorage Nearby
Loxahatchee River anchorage immediately west in 8–12 ft MLW; also upstream near Burt Reynolds Park.
Ocean Ridge / Manalapan · Palm Beach
South Lake Worth Inlet (Boynton Inlet)
Controlling Depth (MLW)
6 ftChannel Width
130 ftTidal Range
2.7 ftUSCG Nearby
NoKnown Hazards
This inlet was never designed for vessel navigation
Bar shoals to less than 5 ft MLW — chronic issue
Fixed A1A bridge: only 18 ft vertical clearance immediately inside
Spring ebb creates breaking conditions across the bar
Close-quarters channel with no maneuvering room
Navigation Notes
South Lake Worth Inlet is one of Florida's smallest and most dangerous recreational passages — it was not designed for navigation, the 18-ft fixed bridge restricts vessels to under approximately 16 ft air draft, and ebb currents create breaking conditions across the bar. Approach only in calm seas (under 2 ft), near high water, on a flooding tide. Not recommended for vessels unfamiliar with this inlet. Local boat ramps and shallow-draft sportfishing craft are its primary users.
Maintained by
Palm Beach County (non-federal; never designed for navigation)
Anchorage Nearby
Limited anchorage in Lake Worth Lagoon immediately west; congested.
Boca Raton · Palm Beach
Boca Raton Inlet
Controlling Depth (MLW)
8 ftTidal Range
2.7 ftUSCG Nearby
NoKnown Hazards
Outer bar shoals to under 3 ft MLW between dredge cycles
Sharp 90-degree northerly turn immediately inside the inlet — dangerous in surge/swell
Fixed bridge: 23 ft vertical clearance inside the turn
Tidal currents up to 7 knots through the narrow channel
Breaking confused seas at the mouth in onshore winds or ebb
Navigation Notes
Boca Raton Inlet demands extreme caution: the outer bar can shoal to under 3 ft MLW between the city's dredging cycles, and the sharp 90-degree turn inside the jetties — combined with a 23-ft fixed bridge and currents up to 7 knots — makes this one of southeast Florida's most technically demanding recreational inlets. Check the City of Boca Raton dredging records (myboca.us) and Waterway Guide navigation alerts before every transit. Approach in calm seas only (under 2 ft) near high-water slack on a flooding current.
Maintained by
City of Boca Raton (non-federal, dredged periodically)
Anchorage Nearby
Anchorage in Lake Boca Raton (inside the inlet) in 8–10 ft MLW — accessible only to vessels able to clear the 23-ft bridge and negotiate the 90° turn.
Caution
Prepare and verify conditions before transiting
Sebastian / Melbourne Beach · Indian River / Brevard
Sebastian Inlet
Controlling Depth (MLW)
9 ftChannel Width
150 ftTidal Range
2.6 ftUSCG Nearby
NoKnown Hazards
Shifting shoals on both sides of the entrance
Strong tidal currents, especially on ebb
Steep breaking seas on the bar in onshore wind/swell
Channel alignment changes after storms — charts may lag current conditions
Navigation Notes
Designed channel depth 9 ft MLW; some areas dredged to 12 ft. Managed by the Sebastian Inlet Tax District — federal NOAA chart editions may lag actual conditions. Always download the district's current bathymetric chart at sitd.us before entry. Approach from due east on centerline. Best transited near high water on a flooding tide.
Maintained by
Sebastian Inlet Tax District (not USACE)
Anchorage Nearby
Protected anchorage in the Indian River Lagoon just west of the inlet in 5–8 ft MLW.
Hillsboro Beach / Pompano Beach · Broward
Hillsboro Inlet
Controlling Depth (MLW)
7 ftTidal Range
2.8 ftUSCG Nearby
NoKnown Hazards
Channel closed to approximately 1 ft MLW in 1990 — history of severe shoaling without maintenance
Flood tidal current past the bridge: 5–6 knots
Jetties are partially awash at low tide
Narrow channel with limited maneuvering room
Private aids to navigation only — not a federal channel
Navigation Notes
Hillsboro Inlet is home to one of Florida's most powerful lighthouses and is the primary outlet for Pompano Beach-area boaters. Recent dredging has restored depth to approximately 7 ft MLW, but controlling depth deteriorates rapidly between cycles — the 1990 closure to 1 ft is a cautionary precedent. The flood current past the bridge reaches 5–6 knots; opposing-current entry in a slow vessel is hazardous. Local knowledge is essential here. Verify current conditions via Waterway Guide and mariner reports before transiting.
Maintained by
Privately maintained (non-federal)
Anchorage Nearby
Limited anchorage in the Intracoastal south of the inlet bridge.
North Miami Beach / Bal Harbour · Miami-Dade
Bakers Haulover Inlet
Controlling Depth (MLW)
10 ftChannel Width
400 ftTidal Range
2.4 ftUSCG Nearby
NoKnown Hazards
Ebb current 4–6 knots — entire northern Biscayne Bay drains through this single cut
Breaking seas on ebb against easterly swell have swamped vessels
Fixed bridge: 32 ft vertical clearance
Sandbar due west of the inlet — inbound vessels must turn south, not west, after the bridge
Navigation Notes
The 4–6 knot ebb current makes Bakers Haulover one of South Florida's most dangerous inlets for the uninitiated. Inbound from the Atlantic: do NOT steer dead west after the bridge — the ICW is ahead but so is the Haulover Sandbar. Turn south immediately after the bridge to follow the marked ICW channel. Transit on a flooding tide. Depths hold at approximately 10–12 ft MLW in the main cut.
Maintained by
Miami-Dade County Parks (non-federal)
Anchorage Nearby
Bakers Haulover Basin west of the ICW; Haulover Sandbar popular daytime anchor spot.
Reliable — Federal Deep-Draft Channels
Well-maintained, well-marked approaches
Fort Pierce · St. Lucie
Fort Pierce Inlet
Controlling Depth (MLW)
30 ftChannel Width
400 ftTidal Range
2.9 ftUSCG Nearby
YesKnown Hazards
Strong ebb currents through the jetty entrance
Confused seas at bar during opposing wind/current
Shoaling in inner channels between dredging cycles
Navigation Notes
Federal channel: 30 ft × 400 ft — one of the most reliable inlets on the Treasure Coast. USCG Station Fort Pierce is located directly on the north jetty. Ebb currents reach 3–4 knots during spring tides. The inner connecting channels to the ICW shoal between dredging cycles — verify against current NOAA charts.
Maintained by
USACE Jacksonville District (federal project)
Anchorage Nearby
Wide Indian River Lagoon anchorage just inside; Taylor Creek basin north of the inlet.
Riviera Beach / Palm Beach · Palm Beach
Lake Worth Inlet (Palm Beach Inlet)
Controlling Depth (MLW)
35 ftChannel Width
400 ftTidal Range
2.7 ftUSCG Nearby
YesKnown Hazards
High commercial vessel traffic — cruise ships and tankers share the channel
Tidal currents 2–3 knots through jetties
Navigation channel passes close to Peanut Island spoil area
Navigation Notes
Federal deep-draft channel: 35 ft × 400 ft. Monitor VHF 14 (Port of Palm Beach working channel) and VHF 16 — large cruise ships and tankers transit with no room to maneuver. Stay to the right, transit expeditiously. Peanut Island anchorage (6–10 ft MLW) on the north side is an excellent staging point; access via the dredged channel between the island and the north jetty.
Maintained by
USACE Jacksonville District; Port of Palm Beach
Anchorage Nearby
Peanut Island — Palm Beach County park with designated anchorage in 6–10 ft MLW.
Fort Lauderdale / Hollywood · Broward
Port Everglades
Controlling Depth (MLW)
50 ftChannel Width
500 ftTidal Range
2.7 ftUSCG Nearby
YesKnown Hazards
Extremely high commercial vessel traffic — cruise ships, supertankers, container vessels
Active dredging operations during PENIP expansion project
Large vessel wake in the entrance channel
Navigation Notes
Federal deep-draft channel being deepened to 50 ft (Port Everglades Navigation Improvements Project). USCG Station Fort Lauderdale is located immediately inside the inlet. Monitor VHF 14 (Port Everglades working channel). Commercial traffic has absolute right of way — stay hard to starboard and transit expeditiously without loitering.
Maintained by
USACE Jacksonville District; Broward County Port Everglades
Miami Beach / Miami · Miami-Dade
Government Cut
Controlling Depth (MLW)
50 ftChannel Width
400 ftTidal Range
1.9 ftUSCG Nearby
YesKnown Hazards
Heaviest maritime traffic volume in Florida — cruise ships and cargo vessels transit at all hours
Fisher Island car ferry crosses the turning basin
Large vessel wakes in the narrow cut
Navigation Notes
Government Cut is a man-made channel deepened to 50 ft by USACE, serving PortMiami — one of the world's busiest cruise ports. USCG ISC Miami Beach is located directly on the inlet. Monitor PortMiami's VHF working channel. Stay hard to starboard and transit quickly. The 1.9-ft tidal range makes currents more predictable than at most Florida inlets — vessel traffic is the dominant hazard.
Maintained by
USACE Jacksonville District; PortMiami
Waterfront Property Search
Inlet access is a first-order
consideration in every purchase.
Which inlet your property channels to — and whether your vessel can transit it — is not a detail. It is the central question. Benjamin evaluates this on every waterfront showing.
This guide is provided for general reference and informational purposes only. It is not a navigational chart, not a substitute for NOAA Charts, and not a substitute for local knowledge. Inlet depths, channel positions, and hazard conditions change frequently — sometimes daily after storms or heavy rainfall. Information is compiled from USACE, NOAA, Sebastian Inlet Tax District, Jupiter Inlet District, Martin County, and City of Boca Raton records and is believed accurate as of the date of compilation, but conditions change and no warranty of accuracy is made. Mariners must consult current official charts, Notices to Mariners, and local mariner reports before every inlet transit. Benjamin Hoadley and Barefoot Realty & Investments LLC assume no responsibility for the accuracy of any navigation information presented here or for any outcome resulting from its use. Barefoot Realty & Investments LLC · FL BK3222885 · Equal Housing Opportunity.