---

One of the few silver linings of Hurricane Sandy is the breach opened on Fire Island in the midst of the Otis Pike Wilderness Area. The breach is an opportunity to allow nature to take it's course and flush out the Great South Bay on Long Island's South Shore. All the empirical evidence shows the new inlet is not affecting the tidal range in the bay. Unfortunately some misinformed politicians and bureaucrats are blaming the inlet for recent high tides instead of the normal astronomical high spring tides coupled with the recent nor'easter on the east coast.

I can tell you from personal observation the bay is cleaner, clearer, and the birds are working bait fish nearby the inlet on a regular basis. If you boat in this area, now's the time to contact your senator, congressman, etc and tell them to leave the inlet alone. Here is a link to a petition on CHANGE.ORG where you can add your name to the list and read more about the issue: http://www.change.org/petitions/do-no...-old-inlet

I urge you all to read it and if inclined join the petition.

---

Thanks to all of you who have taken the time to read up on this issue and sign the petition!

---

I'm thinking it will have a positive impact on Moriches Bay as well, less Great South Bay water will exit via Moriches Inlet.

---

One can only hope..and that it stays open when we need it the most in the summer.

---

misinformed politicians and bureaucrats....that's redundant!

---

Signed!

---

Has anyone heard of any effects of winter storm Juno on the Old Inlet? Hopefully it didn't close it up!

---

I don't know if you have been down there lately, but is's going to take more than a winter storm to close it up. The real problem comes fron south wind during the summer that could shoal up the ocean side. last report was the inlet was 18' deep at the deepest part.

---

God bless Mother Nature

---

That's awesome. I haven't seen the breach since Sandy. I wonder if it's navigable, I'll have to check it out on the next calm day.

Thanks guys.

---

Hey all, for the latest on the breach including aerial photos from December, go to Bellport.com, head to the "Seen and Heard" section and scroll down for Charlie Flagg's updated report on the breach. bellport.com

---

Great article, thanks for sharing. Does Bellport provide updates regularly on the breach? If so, I'll save it to my Favs.

Thanks again.

---

The bass and bluefish fishing this past fall between Old Inlet and Smith's Point was spectacular. Schools of bunker set up for about 4 weeks, and one of the best spots by far was Old Inlet. While at high tide it is navigable, the bay side depths are still sketchy.