Westport

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Welcome to Westport

THINGS TO SEE
PLACES TO EAT
PLACES TO STAY
WHERE TO DOCK

Osprey nests can be seen all along the Westport River. Photo Tom Richardson

WESTPORT HARBOR, AT THE CONFLUENCE OF THE EAST AND WEST BRANCHES OF THE WESTPORT RIVER, IS THE TYPE OF PORT THAT APPEALS TO CRUISERS, FISHERMEN, SMALL-BOATERS, AND PADDLERS ALIKE. THE HARBOR DOESN’T OFFER MUCH IN TERMS OF WATERFRONT-ACCESSIBLE SHOPS, ALTHOUGH IT DOES HAVE AN EXCELLENT WATERFRONT RESTAURANT—THE BACK EDDY—THAT ROCKS THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER AND SERVES IMAGINATIVE MEALS FEATURING LOCALLY SOURCED INGREDIENTS. NEXT TO THE RESTAURANT, IN THE SHADOW OF THE RT. 88 BASCULE BRIDGE, IS A BEAUTIFUL STATE LAUNCH RAMP WITH AMPLE PARKING AND DEEP-WATER ACCESS ON ALL TIDES, MAKING WESTPORT A POPULAR DESTINATION AMONG TRAILER-BOATERS.

A lovely catboat rests on her mooring on the Westport.

While officially located on Buzzards Bay, the Westport inlet faces open ocean to the south and, as such, can be a dangerous spot to navigate, especially when steep swells or strong southerly winds meet the swift outgoing tide flowing out of the rivers. Plenty of accidents have occurred at the mouth of the Westport, so plan your trips accordingly if you intend to venture past the inlet. If returning in the afternoon, remember the area’s notoriously summer southwesterlies, which can stack up steep seas at the inlet against an ebb tide.

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On most days, however, Westport serves as an excellent jumping-off spot for trips to Cuttyhunk and Martha’s Vineyard, as well as to Newport and other Narragansett Bay destinations. If the water’s calm, many small-boaters simply anchor out or beach their craft along Horseneck Point, which borders the east side of the inlet and marks the beginning of long, sandy Horseneck Beach.

The river offers good fishing for striped bass in the spring and early summer.

Fishermen love Westport for its close proximity to the striper-rich Elizabeth Islands, Sakonnet Point, Buzzards Bay, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nomans Island. There’s good fishing for scup, sea bass, tautog and fluke nearby, too. The river also puts anglers relatively close to the offshore grounds, home to tuna, white marlin, mahi, skipjack, sharks, and more.

Westport is home to several commercial fishing boats.

Of course, there’s plenty of action inside the river, especially in the spring and early summer, when trophy stripers invade the Westport to chase herring that have finished spawning upstream. Tautog and scup are also taken well inside the river, particularly in the early season, as evidenced by the seemingly perpetual line of anglers soaking baits from the Rte. 88 bridge.

An angler tries his luck from the Rte. 88 bridge spanning the lower river.

The East and West Branches of the Westport are a world unto themselves, ideal for kayaking, PWC, and skiff exploration. The West Branch extends roughly northwest from the inlet for three miles to Adamsville, while the East Branch winds due north for some eight miles before ending (or beginning, depending on how you look at it) at Osprey Surf & Sea Adventures sales and rental shop. Along the way, boaters are treated to vistas of densely wooded shores and sweeping marshlands broken by vineyards, farms, summer-cottage colonies, and the occasional mansion. Overall, the Westport River is decidedly bucolic.

The Westport’s east branch is decidedly bucolic.

Newcomers attempting to navigate the river in a power or sailing vessel should note that the river channel is narrow and winding—especially where it snakes between Big Pine and Great Island on the East Branch—and it’s easy to run aground unless you know where you are. Water depth in the narrow main channels of both branches is 6 to 12 feet.

A powerboat heads south along the Westport’s main channel.

A popular spot among kayakers is the Horseneck Beach State Reservation, an extensive saltmarsh system behind Horseneck Beach. The reservation’s marshes are forested with osprey nesting platforms, and kayaking affords an excellent opportunity to see these birds close up—just don’t get too close. Heron, egret, and other wading and shore birds also populate the marshes. Oyster-farming operations have also sprouted inside the river, where conditions are near perfect for raising the tasty bivalves.

Westport is serviced by two marinas—F.L. Tripp & Sons and Shamrock Marine—plus a couple of yacht clubs that sometimes offer transient space. Anchoring inside the river is not recommended due to the narrow channel and strong currents, but you may find a suitable spot up the East Branch just below Ship Rock, where sailing ships once tied up to await a favorable tide. Nowadays the rock serves as a popular spot for families to picnic and dive into the river, which often heats up to a toasty 80 degrees in mid-summer.

Getting There
Charts: NOAA 13229, 13218

When approaching Westport from the south and west, head first for the RW “WH” Mo bell, then turn northwest to R N “6”, leaving Two-Mile Rock to the west. Note the shallow sandbar just east of R N “6”. Head north to R N “8” then turn due west toward R N “10”. Note that currents can be swift and boat traffic heavy near the inlet.

Approaching from the north and east is a bit trickier, given the number of rocks and ledges in this part of Buzzards Bay. Unless familiar with the waters, it’s best to stay east of G C “1”, which marks Wildcat Ledge. From there turn northwest and head for the RW “WH” Mo bell, then proceed to R N “6”, leaving Two-Mile Rock to the west. Note the shallow sandbar just east of R N “6”. Head north to R N “8” then turn due west toward R N “10”.

Once inside the river and past The Knubble, pay close attention to the markers, especially as you skirt the shallow sand flat just north of the inlet. Tip: Do not be tempted to follow any small skiffs you might see cutting through the shortcut east of the sandbar.

After rounding the sandbar, the channel north into the West Branch begins at G C “23”. If you continue east into the main harbor, you’ll see FL Tripp Boatyard to starboard, along with the Back Eddy restaurant. On the opposite shore is the Lee’s Wharf commercial pier, reserved for commercial boats. However, it’s sometimes possible to pull up and buy fresh lobster from one of the local lobstermen in the afternoon.

If venturing upriver along the East Branch, pay attention to your depthsounder and chart plotter and follow the buoys closely. Just east of the state launch ramp you’ll need to pass below the Rte. 88 bascule bridge, which has a vertical clearance of 21′. Beware of Fishing Rock as you approach the bridge from the west.

Dockage, Moorings & Service

FL Tripp & Sons (508-636-4058): Full-service marina and boatyard, offering transient slips and moorings, repair, water, electric, pumpout and a ships store. Gas and diesel available.
The Back Eddy (508-636-6500): Home to the popular restaurant of the same name, The Back Eddy sometimes has transient slips available on the harbor.
Pump-Out Service: The Westport Harbormaster provides a free pump-out service and can be contacted on VHF channel 9. The pump-out operates on demand from May 1 through October. F.L. Tripp Boatyard also maintains a free shoreside pump-out at their fuel dock.

Anchorages

Due to the shallow water, busy channels and swift and changing currents, anchoring inside the Westport River is not recommended. However, you may be able to find a spot to drop the hook between Ship Rock and Wood Point, in the East Branch just north of the Rte. 88 bridge.

Launch Ramps

A large, well-maintained state ramp can be found just off the rotary after crossing the Rte. 88 bridge that spans the Westport’s lower East Branch. This ramp offers courtesy floats and lots of parking, including a nearby auxiliary lot. It gets very busy in summer, however, so bring your patience. Also, be aware that the stiff current can make launching and loading tricky. Lastly, watch out for the set of rocks just west of the ramp. The rocks are marked by buoys, but many boaters still manage to hit them. There is a $5 fee to launch.
A second ramp is upriver on the East Branch, off Hixbridge Rd., just east of the Hixbridge Bridge, but a town sticker is required to park here.
You’ll find a crude ramp at the base of Gooseberry Neck, just east of Horseneck Beach. This ramp is very shallow and surrounded by rocks, but is a good put-in spot for kayakers, PWCs, skiffs and other small craft. Parking is very limited.

Harbormaster

VHF 9 & 16
(508) 636-1105
Westport Harbormaster Website

Boat & Kayak Rental

Osprey Surf & Sea Adventures (508) 636-0300: Sales and rentals of kayaks, equipment, and standup paddleboards at the head of the East Branch. Also offers lessons and guided tours.

Provisions

Lee’s Market (508) 636-3348: Excellent grocery store on Main Rd., north of the harbor, but you’ll need a car or taxi to get there.

Where to Eat

Back Eddy (508 ) 636-6500: Excellent bar and restaurant on Westport Harbor. Specializes in creative seafood dishes with an emphasis on local fish, shellfish and produce. Dock ‘n dine if space is available.
Bayside Restaurant (508) 636-5882: On Horseneck Rd., near Horseneck Beach. Not within walking distance of the harbor, but a great place to grab a bite before or after getting off the beach or water.

Where to Stay

Paquachuck Inn (508) 636-4398: Historic inn overlooking Westport Harbor. Has a private dock for guests.
Boaters can also camp along the beach at Horseneck Beach State Reservation , which offers parking for RV’s and boat trailers. Many campers trailer their boats to Westport and launch at the convenient state ramp at the base of the Rte. 88 bridge.

Things to See & Do

Annual Westport River Run is a fun kayak, canoe and standup paddleboard “fun race” held on the river each June. Contact the Westport Watershed Alliance for more details.
Westport Vineyards Winery (800) 993-9695: Located about a mile from the Hixbridge Bridge and within walking distance of the Hixbridge Rd. ramp on the East Branch of the river. Offers winery tours and wine tastings, plus sales.

Fishing Information

Click here for more Fishing Information!

General Information

Westport River Watershed Alliance