Barnegat Light Jetty

The south jetty of Barnegat Inlet runs out from the northern tip of Long Beach Island inside Barnegat Lighthouse State Park, in the shadow of "Old Barney." Barnegat Inlet is one of the two main natural openings between Barnegat Bay and the ocean, and the tide rips through it at more than 2 knots on both the flood and the ebb, sweeping bait past the rocks. It's also unusually accessible: a 1,033-foot concrete walkway with handrails runs along the top of it.

When to fish

• Spring and fall: striped bass and bluefish, and Barnegat Inlet is one of New Jersey's traditional striper spots.
• September and October: false albacore and bonito hold just outside the inlet on the outgoing tide.
• Through the season: the park lists weakfish, fluke, tautog, winter flounder and black sea bass among the inlet's catches, along with stripers and blues.

Where to fish

• The south jetty walkway: rock structure and fast water along its length; the walkway makes it far safer than a bare jetty.
• The bulkhead along the picnic area: fishes the inside of the inlet for stripers, blues, weakfish, fluke, tautog, winter flounder and sea bass.

How to fish it

At first light, throw poppers or soft plastics along the rocks for stripers; in the deeper channel, bounce paddletail shads on a jighead near the bottom. For albies and bonito, cast small, thin metal lures and retrieve them fast.

Getting there

Barnegat Lighthouse State Park is at 208 Broadway in Barnegat Light. There's no entrance fee, and the gate is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The walkway and picnic area are accessible to people with disabilities. Anglers 16 and older must register with New Jersey's free Saltwater Recreational Registry.