Island Beach State Park

Island Beach State Park is 10 miles of largely undeveloped barrier island between Seaside Park and Barnegat Inlet, one of the few natural barrier beaches left on the north Atlantic coast. It's one of New Jersey's best-known surfcasting beaches. Fishing access is open 24 hours a day, a permit lets 4x4s drive the fishing beaches, and the bay side offers sod banks and the Sedge Islands.

When to fish

• April to June: black drum have been showing in the surf in recent springs, with fish of 30 to 75 pounds caught right in the wash.
• Also in the surf: fluke and weakfish, and kingfish turn up in fall surf tournaments.
• September and October: false albacore and bonito around the Barnegat Inlet end, bluefish in big numbers, and a mixed bag that can include weakfish, pompano, triggerfish and Spanish mackerel.
• October to December: the fall striper run. The first push usually arrives in October, the main body of migrating bass after Halloween, and November is the best month for surf stripers in New Jersey.
• In season: tautog along the north jetty of Barnegat Inlet at the park's southern tip.

Where to fish

• The ocean beach: anywhere outside the guarded swimming areas. Look for soft structure such as cuts, sloughs, holes and sandbars; drum and stripers feed in the holes and on both sides of the bars.
• The north jetty of Barnegat Inlet: tautog on the rocks, and albies and bonito off the inlet mouth on the outgoing tide.
• The Fisherman's Walkway (parking area 7): a boardwalk that reaches both the ocean and the bay.
• The bay side: back cuts near the sod banks behind Seaside Park and Island Beach hold drum in spring. Kayaks and canoes launch at Areas 15 and 21.

How to fish it

For black drum, fish big baits of fresh clam on the bottom around the holes and bars, and time landing a big fish with the waves. For albies and bonito, cast small, thin metal lures and rip them back fast. Stripers and bluefish take the usual surf plugs, metals and bait.

Getting there

The park is at 2401 Central Avenue in Seaside Park, and an entrance fee applies year-round. Driving onto the fishing beaches requires a Mobile Sport Fishing Vehicle permit, available as annual, weekday or 3-day permits in limited numbers; no vehicles are allowed north of the Gilikins entrance. The park has accessible beach ramps and surf wheelchairs funded by the state's annual Governor's Surf Fishing Tournament. Anglers 16 and older must register with New Jersey's free Saltwater Recreational Registry.