New Jersey fishing any beaches open yet?

[baitstealer]

hope it's not too soon to ask dark please delete if not okay

[DarkSkies]

Baitstealer....thanks for your initiative. :HappyWave:

Tackle shops need the business.....
And area businesses, once they are open, need to get the revenue stream going again.

If this does not happen, some tackle shops and businesses may not make it to next year.....

I fished a devastated area a while ago, and felt bad about it...
Have since come to realize that there is nothing to feel bad about, going fishing.....

Some of us need to be out there.....fishing for us, is as important, as the air we breathe......
No need to feel guilty about that......and the tackle shops really need customers as they begin to make their way back to normalcy.

[DarkSkies]

How do you fit 5,000 fishermen in a 10 lb bag? :huh:




You don't....using that analogy to get folks to think about the implications of the closed areas now.
If you want to be very specific about certain towns and beaches, I would encourage our members here to use PMs instead.

I think I can safely say that as I type this, South of Sea Bright is safe to fish, and fishable, for a few miles.
However, there are at least 40 miles of our NJ coastline closed.

It becomes problematic near the inlets, as many residential areas near them have restricted access.

Much of Ocean County has restricted access and national Guard checkpoints.
(Island Beach and Sandy Hook as well) and may not open for a very long time.






Brigantine Island has good access, and points South to Cape May seem to be relatively better for access than the Northern areas.

[DarkSkies]

Feel free to add any areas here, or any updates as they develop.

Just remember that a lot of folks that regularly fished the closed areas are looking to fish right now....and the more generous you are with specific info at this time, the more you may find yourselves crowded out of a spot where you may be catching fish......

Again, the tackle shops do need your business, and if we aren't willing to let the Walmarts, BassPro, and Cabelas of the world take over we must try our best to support our local tackle shop......:thumbsup:

I would encourage those who haven't been out yet, to drive down to their local shop, if it's open, and buy something just for the hell of it. They really do need your business. All of them.












**The added bonus is if fish are being caught in that area, they will tell you exactly where and how....there is no reason for them to BS you....they need your business and know that honesty goes a long way towards you coming back........Thanks.

[hookset]

Still some curfews

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 13, 2012
Monmouth County Sheriff's Office
Contact: Cynthia Scott PIO, 732-577-6613

Curfew remain in eight coastal towns
Communities restricted during designated hours

FREEHOLD, NJ - The curfew in eight of Monmouth County’s coastal communities remain in effect as follows:

Belmar - 6 a.m. - 6 p.m. curfew for all of Ocean Avenue.
Highlands - 6 p.m. - 6 a.m. curfew
Keansburg - 6 p.m. - 6 a.m. curfew
Little Silver - from 7 p.m. - 6 a.m. curfew for the flood zone area of town
Manasquan - 7 p.m. - 7 a.m. curfew EAST of Route 71
Monmouth Beach - 6 p.m. - 6 a.m. curfew in effect until Nov. 14
Sea Bright - 6 p.m. - 6 a.m. curfew in effect until Nov. 14
Union Beach - 6 p.m. - 6 a.m. curfew

[cowherder]

I read that they opened LBI beaches for fishing. Don't know if its true or not.

[bababooey]

Yes it is.

Fishermen’s Headquarters said the bridge is open, and fishing is possible in the northern end of the island. The LBI Surf Fishing Classic has been suspended due to Sandy. The parking lot at the inlet is closed, but there’s access to the jetty and shoreline. Stripers to 20 pounds and blues to 14 pounds have been caught – primarily on bunker. A boater using spot in the inlet reported his best fall striper fishing ever.

[DarkSkies]

This just in......

Fin was doing a lot of scouting today......these observations thanks to his efforts.....

The National Guard is stepping up their presence.
Looting is still a problem and some posing as fishermen are suspected, among other suspects.
If an ocean or bay area doesn't have power in some areas, and you are found to be in those areas, expect to be questioned, and possibly ticketed.

Belmar is locked down tight.
There may be some inlet access in some areas but that may not last long as local police chiefs, to deal with looting and giving priority to construction and rebuilding, are further locking down areas perceived to be at risk.

Spring Lake, Sea Girt, and Manasquan all have various restrictions despite what people are reporting on the internet. Sea Bright, Deal, Ocean Grove, as well.
Same for most of the North Jersey inlet areas.

Monmouth Beach and Long Branch have limited access on the sand beaches. Remember that even for some sand beaches there are places where it is a 4' drop to the sand,
I would advise the smart fishermen, to not park anywhere near valuable construction equipment or temporary fences or barriers are.
You don't even want the suspicion of them thinking you are a looter.

South of Barnegat Inlet, is much more accessible, and less risky.
As mentioned, LBI is open and encouraging fishing and people to spend money on the island at the few businesses that have opened.
Even that has restrictions, the North End of LBI is the less restricted part, homeowner access only on the south end.










**But as for Monmouth and Ocean counties, proceed with caution.
Realize that the officers are only following commands.
I have several friends in LE. They have described the environments as Quasi-military.
Those that don't obey orders, could lose their jobs.

So please, no criticisms of how the cops "hassled someone"....there are still bad things going on, and they mean to clamp down on that.
Again, we are all put at risk because of the selfish acts of a few......


Be careful, be safe. and do not put yourself in a position where you are fishing restricted access......

A guy we know was escorted off a Bay Head Beach by the National Guard this morning.....

[baitstealer]

Thank you all for the updates. Will be fishing somewhere in moco this weekend. Hope to catch some fish to report about!

[Monty]

Thank you all for the updates. Will be fishing somewhere in moco this weekend. Hope to catch some fish to report about!

I think I'll get out there too, Sunday most likely.
Going to be a little chilly.

[fishinmission78]

The top part of lbi, brigantine, ocean city, cape may beaches all open.