Seaside Park has two very nice piers that can be used for fishing and crabbing. Both piers are located on the Barnegat Bay and are situated in the north and south ends of the Borough. The northern pier is located at Bayview Avenue & 5th Avenue and the southern pier is at Bayview Avenue & 14th Avenue. There is a fee required to use these piers: Monday - Friday 9:00 AM - 4:15 PM and Saturday & Sunday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM a daily Beach Badge is required and costs $8 per person. There are also weekly and seasonal badges available. After the designated hours, the Piers are free and do not require a beach badge. Both piers have the same species of fish. Snappers, bluefish, striped bass, weakfish, fluke, winter flounder, juvenile black sea bass, juvenile black drum and juvenile croakers are some of the species you can encounter here. Blue claw crabs love these areas too. A 6-7 foot rod with 8-10 lb test is ample for fishing in here. However, if you have a larger rod or heavier line, you can certainly fish with that here. All of your typical baits and lures will work too and all methods of crabbing can be used.
5th Avenue PierExtending into the Barnegat Bay approximately 450 feet, this pier is situated over mostly shallower water in the 1-4 foot range, with then end of the pier extending into some deeper areas, 4-7 feet. The pier has both sandy/muddy bottom areas and eels grass beds. Be careful as there are many places to get snagged with various rocks and sunken boat moorings. This is an open style dock with no railings, plenty of pilings and is just a few feet above the water, even during low tides. There are lights for night time excursions. At the street end of the pier there are garbage and recycling cans so PLEASE use them!
There is a also a Bay Beach that is Guarded and a nice playground for the kids. There is not a parking lot, but parking is free. Parking is along the street only and can be troublesome during peak hours and days. The pier can also get very crowded during summer days. There are also park benches along the shoreline among the dune grass that can be used to sit and eat or relax and enjoy the great views
14th Avenue PierExtending into the Barnegat Bay approximately 400 feet, this pier is situated over almost entirely shallow water in the 1-4 foot range, with the end of the pier extending into some deeper water of 3-6 feet. The pier is on both rocky/sandy/muddy bottoms and eels grass beds. Although, this pier is shorter than the 5th Avenue Pier, it is built on a point rather than in a cove like the other pier. So, you really are extended out into the Barnegat Bay farther at this pier. There are many places to get snagged here, also, with rocks, sunken moorings and some type of cable about 5 feet off the end of the pier. This pier has railings and is very secure and safe for younger children. They also have areas where the railing is cutout and lowered for shorter children to fish or crab from. There are wooden benches to sit on and wooden cutting boards for bait. The dock does have lights for night time adventures. The pier is higher over the water than the 5th Avenue Pier. At high tide you may still be 3-4 feet above the water and then have another 4 feet of railing. At low tide the pier is sometimes 4-6 feet above the water and then there is the 4 feet of railing. So, you need to have a long net with an adjustable handle for fishing and crabbing. There are garbage and recycling cans in the parking lot so PLEASE use them.
There is plenty of free parking here with a gravel parking lot. I have never seen the lot full, however, at peak times the pier can be crowded. There is also a public boat ramp here and a small beach on the other side of some bulkhead to the north side of the pier. This beach is not guarded and there is no swimming allowed at this location. To the left of the pier is a small pavilion with a couple of benches perfect for sitting and eating lunch or just relaxing. This gives you a great southern view of the Barnegat Bay. Unfortunately, there are not any picnic tables to eat at, but we all know how people eat when they fish and crab. Nothing like a good sandwich that smells like your bait!
Good Luck and enjoy!
Borough of Seaside Park Website Seaside Park Hours & Fees5th Avenue Pier Map14th Avenue Pier Map
