I headed out this afternoon to check out what the waterfront areas looked like after the storm and 11+ days of strong north east winds. Winds were still out of the ENE, but more like a breeze today than wind, probably around 5 with gusts of 10 knots. Still very overcast with some dark clouds coming off the water.
I started at the 14th Ave Pier in Seaside Park. Lots of signs that said "Road Closed," but all the roads were dry with just some puddles here and there. Even Bay View Ave was clear. Bay was very calm, almost like glass and the water was a little higher than normal. Maybe by a foot or two. Water was murky dirty. People were fishing and crabbing and the crabs were biting at least.
Then I jumped over to "D" St in Seaside Park on the beach. Again "Road Closed" signs all over the place, but all of the roads were passable. Lots of sand moved around, though. There was sand covering the roadway in areas, all over the boardwalk and you could see where the dunes really took a beating and where water was pooling in them. The walkways out have about 3-4 feet of extra sand on them. I don't know if this was put there by the towns or carried by the water
? Hard to tell... The beach here was not too bad. Water was definitely high and moved some sand around, but the no drop offs or "shelfs" created up on the beach or that I could see in the water line. Lots of debris and garbage too. Surf is still rough, even on the outgoing, with 4 footers up to 6 footers. Undertow was strong, but not too bad. I have seen it much worse, even this summer. I couldn't find too many rips either, which is good and bad. Overall, as far as I could see the beaches in this area were not too badly battered. Of course, rough surf and broken clam beds means a striper buffet so...
Next and last stop was the Manasquan Inlet on the Point Pleasant Beach side. The water is back where it belongs with only puddles left. Only minor damage there, that I could see. Waves were a little rough and current a little faster/stronger than normal, but nothing bad. Walked out onto the rocks and onto the jetty to the end. Point Pleasant Beach beaches took a much harder pounding than south of there. There was a 6-8 foot drop and even 10 feet in some places right around the high tide mark. This was quite a shelf with lots of sand taken out. Didn't look to be any big changes in the water, but with all the sand going out, I am sure the structure has been changed. Lots of big waves here too. I guess mostly because of the jetty/Inlet and the surfers were having a great day out there. Lots of people fishing the Wall and the Rocks. The Wall was putting up a lot of postage stamp and short fluke. Seems that's all people were really fishing for in there, since they were dragging bait on the bottom. Farther out on the rocks and in the surf, nothing was biting. Lots of boats going out too...PB, personal boats and commercial fishing boats all heading out.
I have pics and some video, but I am having some technical "stupidities" on my end, so I will have to add them later. All in all, everything is fishable again, especially from shore. Just use your head and be careful and extra cautious with the rough surf.
Few pics from Seaside Park.
Good luck and enjoy!
