Eastern Bay

Eastern Bay extends northeastward from Chesapeake Bay, connecting the Miles River, the Wye River, Prospect Bay and Kent Island Narrows. The Bay is generally deep in the center and spacious, except for shoals extending from its prominent points, all of which are clearly marked and charted.

Navigation: At the mouth to Eastern Bay, note that the bar extending southeasterly from Kent Point is enlarging. Flashing green bell buoy “1” serves to mark the southern extent of this shoal area, while Bloody Point Bar Light (54 feet high, flashing white every six seconds) stands off to the west. Do not cut the corner between Bloody Point Bar Light and flashing green bell buoy “1” before going up Eastern Bay. This hard-bottomed shoal (2- to 4-foot depths) is drifting farther into Eastern Bay each year, and even if you avoid grounding, there’s much more wave action near the shallows than in the deeper water of the marked channel. Just west of Bloody Point Bar Light is an area known as “The Hole,” where the deepest point (164-foot depths) in the Chesapeake Bay is located. To the north, off Eastern Bay, are Cox Creek, Crab Alley Bay and Prospect Bay, all offering anchorage possibilities according to your boat’s draft and the crew’s inclination to explore. Crab Alley Bay also offers a number of small marinas and boatyards. Most of these are actually on Little Creek, east of Johnson Island at the entrance to Crab Alley Creek.

Anchorage: Outside of its peaceful tributaries, Eastern Bay is large, often long on wind (a blessing or a curse, depending on its force and your point of view) and short on anchorages. In winds from the west through northeast, the half-moon-shaped cove southwest of Long Point at the entrance to Eastern Bay (northeast of the aforementioned Kent Point) provides emergency shelter. When a northerly kicks up the Chesapeake Bay into a fuss, this spot fills quickly, especially on weekends. Keep an eye on the depth sounder, and follow the unmarked, deep water that runs north from red nun “2.” Drop the hook near the shore in 6- to 8-foot depths with good holding in a mud bottom, and be wary of any wind shift to the south, which will make the spot untenable. Tilghman Creek (on the opposite side of Rich Neck from the town of Claiborne, and around Tilghman Point) is sheltered from all directions, although houses and docks surround the coves, and the entrance is shoaling in spots to depths of about 6 feet. The wharf at the end is a public dock used by workboats. Shipping Creek, north of Romancoke, has pleasant anchorage areas but requires some care at the minimally marked entrance. Little Creek (off of Crab Alley Bay) is too small and shallow to make a good anchorage for cruisers, but Crab Alley Creek farther east has good depths and pretty surroundings. Kirwan Creek, on the south end of Kent Narrows, behind Hog Island, is well-protected and provides a serene marsh setting for an overnight stay, especially in the fall when migrating waterfowl arrive. One caveat prevails: Early morning crabbers may wake you from your bunk here.

By Sarah Spuhler

It’s Friday night. And you’re looking for a way to wind down after the hell of a week you just had. You need a cold one. An icy pint is swiftly placed in front of you as you ease yourself down on an inviting bar stool in a dimly lit room. With your first sip you take in the pleasant sound of the blues that begins to fill your ears. And in a moment’s time you soon forget the week’s tension that has already smoothly drifted away.

You might think to yourself – places like this don’t exist outside of the city.

But you’re wrong. And you wouldn’t have to look any further than North East, MD. There you will find this atmospheric New Orleans-style blues bar, the Pickled Herring Pub.

Opened in July 2008 with its most recent expansion in April 2009, and its official Grand Opening celebration June 13, the Pickled Herring Pub is the newest hot-spot to hit the upper Bay area.

“This place revolves around the music,” says owner Lance Rowe. Live music is offered every night by bands from New York to D.C.; the variety and range of players will keep you coming back for more – you never know who might show up. And if you haven’t lost yourself and your worries in the music – then the ever-growing dance floor is also an invitation to escape reality for a bit.

Offering a full bar, six brews on tap and a heavy appetizer menu, including their renowned rockfish bites, the Pickled Herring is a great match-up of good food, great music and lively libations.