The crucial marine corridor linking Passage Canal and Port Wells to the wider Prince William Sound, known for intense seasonal winds, rich salmon migrations, and strategic navigation decisions.
Wells Passage is a pivotal marine corridor in the western Prince William Sound. Serving as the primary gateway for vessels departing Whittier towards the open waters of the central Sound or crossing north into Port Wells, this passage requires careful watchkeeping and strategic weather planning.
Navigation & Safety
Katabatic Winds & Sea State: The passage acts as a massive funnel for winds coming down from the glacial valleys. Southerly winds meeting an ebb tide out of Port Wells create steep, hazardous chop. Mariners should monitor the Passage Canal (PTWA2) and Mid-Sound (46060) buoys closely.
Granite Point Shoals: Watch your coordinates closely when passing Granite Point on the north shore. Shoals extend outward from the point and can create breaking waves during heavy seas.
Commercial Gillnet Maze: During active ADF&G salmon openings, Wells Passage is packed with drift-gillnetters. Nets extend up to 900 feet from vessels and can float just below the surface, creating a literal maze for transiting boats.
Bordering Anchorages & Coves
While Wells Passage proper is an active navigation channel, it provides immediate access to premier shelter areas:
Surprise Cove: Located just north on Esther Island, offering excellent protection.
Ziegler Cove: A popular, highly protected anchorage on the west shore of Port Wells.
Cochrane Bay / Blackstone Bay: Accessible immediately south and southwest of the passage entrance.
Key Region Highlights
Naked Island Transit Route
Culross Passage Entrance
Granite Point Shoals
Katabatic Wind Funnel
💨 Weather Telemetry & Multi-Model Forecast
Cross-referenced predictions & active sensor readings
Status: Active Live Query
Cache State: Dynamic / Live Sync
*Values are compiled via API matching and NOAA local models. Predicted wind speed values represent sustained wind estimates in knots. Dynamic variance reflects divergence from global GFS baseline forecasts.
This region transits the Coghill / Eshamy District Boundary. During active commercial drift-gillnetting and purse-seine openings, hundreds of commercial fishing vessels deploy nets stretching 900 to 1,500 feet across the channel.
District Coverage: Coghill / Eshamy District Boundary
Standard Summer Openings: Active salmon drift-gillnetting corridor. Openings subject to ADF&G announcements
Navigation Directives inside Net Mazes:
Reduce Speed: Keep vessel at slow transit speeds to avoid drifting gillnets which float just below the surface.
Never Cross Seine Halves: Do not pass between a seining vessel and its active seine skiff. The net block is absolute.
Active Radio Watch: Keep VHF radio tuned to Channel 16 and Channel 10 (standard local commercial coordination).
Identify Net Markers: Look for orange or red poly-balls marking the tail-ends of drift nets. Pass at least 150 feet clear of buoy markers.
Search public Prince William Sound community pages, groups, and fishing logs for active catch reports, target locations, or transit obstacles (shrimping, salmon, halibut).
Quick Scans:
🔒 Search Integrity: Scanning triggers custom search indexing on public Facebook groups and pages for PWS, opening results in a separate browser window. All search logs remain local.
Anchorages in Wells Passage
No dedicated anchorages compiled for this region yet. Check back soon!