The Beach at Island Beach State Park, NJ
Example of where you drive your beach buggy when surf fishing. It is recommended that you take some air out of your tires before driving on a beach such as this.
About Island Beach State Park
Island Beach State Park is a good example of where fishermen use beach buggies, (actually four-wheel-drive mobile-sport fishing vehicles), to surf fish for striped bass.
Island Beach State Park is situated on a narrow barrier island that stretches for 9.5 miles between the Atlantic Ocean and Barnegat Bay. It is one of the few undeveloped barrier beaches on the Atlantic Coast, and many striped bass are caught from the surf there. Bait and tackle shops, motels, and restaurants are conveniently located in the town of Seaside Park, which is located just north of the entrance to the park.
A paved road runs down the center of the island. There are 23 spots along the road where you can park and walk through the dunes to the beach. At 3 spots, there are buggy entrances to the beach. A permit must be purchased from the State of New Jersey to drive your buggy on the beach. Permits can be purchased at the gate house entrance. An annual permit costs $195. A three day pass can be purchased for $50.
Air Station for Re-inflating Tires
It is necessary to let air out of your tires to drive this beach without getting stuck in the sand. Take your tire air pressure down to 15 psi. There are two air stations along the road where air hoses are provided for you to re-inflate your tires on the way out.
The beach at the park is fairly steeply sloped. You don't normally have to cast very far to reach deep water, and the fish. When the tide is high fish anywhere. When the tide is lower, look for the cuts. I find fishing near the edges of the cuts often works well, as the stripers root for sand fleas where the moving water stirs up the sand. The cuts come and go with the storms.
IBSP North Jetty
The north jetty of Barnegat Inlet is located at the south end of the park. Lots of striped bass, and bluefish, are caught off of this jetty.
The land comprising Island Beach State Park was originally owned by millionaire Charles C. Phipps, an associate of Andrew Carnegie. Phips' planned to develop the land, and build an exclusive community of very expensive homes. His plans were interrupted by the 1929 stock market crash, and the depression. In 1953 the State of New Jersey acquired the land from the Phips family and turned it into a state park. Island Beach State Park was opened in 1959.
A few photos of Island State Beach Park are shown below.
View showing the dunes
Early Morning at IBSP
A busy day in the fall.
The Pocket by the North Jetty
Use the search box below, to locate bait & tackle shops, marinas, restaurants, and hotels in the area around Island Beach State Park.