Holgate (Long Beach Island)

Holgate is the undeveloped southern tip of Long Beach Island, protected as the Holgate Unit of Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. It's undeveloped, protected beach, and because it's closed in spring and summer for nesting birds, the fishing season here runs from fall through winter.

When to fish

• September 1 through March 31: the refuge beach is open to fishing (dates may change as posted).
• October and November: the fall striper run in the surf, with November the peak month on New Jersey beaches.
• Spring: the refuge beach is closed, but black drum move into the surf and back bays along Long Beach Island around the full and new moons, and Holgate is one of the known drum spots.

Where to fish

• The ocean beach: read the holes and sandbars. Drum and stripers feed in the holes and on both sides of the bars.
• The back bay behind Holgate (by boat): sod-bank ledges dropping from about 12 feet to over 30 hold stripers and tautog.

How to fish it

For black drum, fish fresh clam on the bottom around the holes. Boaters behind Holgate have drawn stripers along the ledges with a clam chum slick.

Getting there

Holgate is at the south end of Long Beach Island, past Beach Haven. Driving on the beach requires a beach buggy permit from Long Beach Township, and the refuge beach closes April 1 through August 31 for nesting birds. Anglers 16 and older must register with New Jersey's free Saltwater Recreational Registry.