Island Beach State Park is well known by New Jersey’s saltwater anglers for excellent surf fishing for striped bass and bluefish. Other species include summer founder and weakfish. Shaped by storm and tides, Island Beach State Park is a narrow barrier island stretching for 10 miles between the restless Atlantic Ocean and the historic Barnegat Bay. Island Beach is one of New Jersey’s last significant remnants of a barrier island ecosystem that once existed along much of the coast and is also one of the few remaining undeveloped barrier beaches on the north Atlantic coast. The largest of our island’s white sand beaches, it offers consistently good conditions for swimming, body-boarding, sunbathing, and strolling. Located adjacent to the lighthouse, there is ample parking, along with food vendors, picnic areas, restrooms and showers. Paddle through the sedges and see the largest osprey colony in New Jersey and many other species of birds. Join us as we do a seining and dig for clams.
Clamming and crabbing are permitted in some sections of the bays, please check with the Park Office for open areas. A short nature trail on Burton’s Island affords scenic views of the salt marshes and bay islands, where gulls and terns gather in their noisy summer nesting colonies. This charge is paid upon registration at the Campground Office. For more information regarding a Youth Group Pass, call 1-410-260-8186 or you can download an application on-line at http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/youthgroup.html . Check with the park office for details. Two premium Yurts, complete with efficiency kitchen, bath with shower and furnished living area, along with two Rent-A-Camp units are available during the summer season.
They serve the usual greasy fried foods, although I did see a tuna-fish sandwich on the menu (they can’t fry that can they?). A ten dollar bill ought to cover one person, unless you want something exotic like the fried shrimp basket. Some early season tactics will be to wade out onto the flats to the edge of a drop-off and fish clousers, jiggies, half/halfs, or deceivers on intermediate or slow sinking lines. Chartreuse, yellow, or olive over white are the most productive colors for these early season patterns. The Karankawas were a hunter-gatherer people, and depended heavily on shellfish and mussels for food. Encountered first by Spanish explorers, the Karankawas survived in the region until the 19th century.
Amenities include a fishing pier, nature center, and some of the state?s most desirable campsites and cabins. Don’t forget to visit the historic lighthouse dating from the 1870’s!! These shacks were built by sportsmen that paid $600 a year for the privilege to hunt and fish. As original leaseholders passed away, the buildings were systematically torn down. Huggins Island has a rich history, from Native American fishing and hunting grounds, to being home to a Confederate six-cannon battery in 1861-62. Its commanding view of Bogue Inlet and the town of Swansboro was an obvious strategic value.
Tags: Barnegat Bay, Barrier Beaches, Bay Islands, Beach State Park, Efficiency Kitchen, Fishing For Striped Bass, Fried Foods, Island Beach State Park, Island Ecosystem, Narrow Barrier Island, Noisy Summer, Picnic Areas, Salt Marshes, Saltwater Anglers, Sand Beaches, Sedges, Seining, Species Of Birds, Surf Fishing, Tuna Fish Sandwich, Weakfish
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