Where have all the piers gone?

[ped579]

I was waiting to cross the street to go to one of my favorite Bait & Tackle shops in Seaside Park; a car pulls over and asks me if I am from this area.  I proudly acknowledged that I was with a smile.  Can you tell me where I can find a pier that I don’t have to pay for?  I looked into the car and saw only one adult a father with 4 children.  After thinking for a while, searching my brain to come up with a good answer, I could only give him two in that area.

I began to tell him of the two.  The South Pier and traveling as little further north, the North Pier.  The South pier is on the south bound side of the Rt. 37 bridge coming off Pelican Island, just look for The Dock Outfitters and pull into the parking lot you can pick up bait there as well I believe they are open 24/7 this time of year.  I then mentioned the North Pier which is north of the Rt 37 Bridge off Pelican Island and explained how to get there.

I began to think of other spots that vacationers or for that matter locals might use free so I drove from Island Beach state Park (along the bay side) in search of piers.  There were a couple of beautiful piers almost void of people in Seaside Park but they charge to use them weather for the day, week or season badge.

I went further north into Lavallette there were a couple of piers there but the parking lots were parking by permit only.  Again only a couple of people using them.

It is a shame to find from Island Beach State Park north into Brick along the barrier island there are no free piers except the two I mentioned earlier that a family can enjoy.

In Point Pleasant Beach there is the inlet with metered parking and plenty of fishing access as well as across the inlet in Manasquan you have easy but very limited parking and access to the sea wall.  But if you are not from the area and on vacation it might be a stretch to travel to take the kids crabbing or fishing.

I will be searching for more free piers and fishing areas that do not charge to access them. 

The next area will be mainland side of Barnegat Bay from Bay Head south to the Barnegat Inlet.

If you have any suggestions please PM them to me as I will be taking pictures of the areas as well.

Happy Catching

Paul

[IrishAyes]

Paul, that quite an endeavor. 
It seems the more you look for things in the great state of New Jersey the more you find that there is a price to pay, and usually a hefty one at that.  With all the money this state takes in you would think that some things would still be free.  I'm guessing that it's the price we pay for crooked politicians.

Good luck in your journey.  If I can think of or find any piers, I will PM you.  In Belmar there is the municipal dock where there is access to the tennis court area and the parking lot adjacent to the party boats and private boats.  These areas are still free, but parking can be a problem, especially on weekends.

Joe

[ped579]

Thanks Joe,

I know that there are some good areas still open and free I will be posting them here as I find them and then culminate them so people will have a handle as to where to fish with families for free.

Happy Catching

Paul

[Skolmann]

Keyport pier (currently being rebuilt) is a free pier that I've caught many a fluke and bluefish (from snappers to #6) off of. best fishing here for me as been mid summer til mid September.

Port Monmouth AKA Spy House pier is also free. I've caught stripers to 32"s (seen much bigger caught here), bluefish to double digits, fluke to #7, weakfish and winter flounder. Best fishing here for me has been from late March through mid June.

I recall about 4 years ago right after labor day that for a solid week the bluefish would blitz daily with the incoming tide at the Keyport Pier. Some days they'd pin the peanut bunker against the bulkhead and others you wouldn't know they were there unless you casted out. By far the lure of choice was a 1 ounce Krocodile spoon. You would literally catch a #3-5 bluefish everycast for hours (or at least until your arms ached  ) . My best day I lost count at 132 (all released).

Like to know where the pier that GT fishs (hint hint).

[ped579]

Thanks for the information skolmann,

I will be doing Monmouth County next,  This way we have the info at hand whenever someone asks for it.  Plus I will be taking pictures and noting if the access is by beach, pier or bulkhead as well as the access road to get there.

Happy Catching

Paul

[Capt. Ed]

Hi Paul,

If you don;t mind, we will highlight your work on the frontpage!

If there is anything I can do to help, please feel free to ask.

Thanks,

Ed

[ped579]

Thanks Capt.Ed,

I have a bunch of places to hit next week starting from Point and ending up at Barnegat Light SP.

This should be interesting.  Once I have that done I hope to explore Monmouth County next.  It will be interesting to visit some of my old fishing spots up there.

I will not be targeting the ocean side will save that for another time.

Happy Catching

Paul

[Mate Mike]

On the west side of the new Mantoloking Bridge.  It was supposed to be condos but Brick Township bought the area and created a fishing area.  It will eventually have a restaurant, bait and tackle shop and a park open to the public.

[ped579]

Thanks Mike,

I will be over there on Monday checking it out, Thanks again.

Happy Catching

Paul

[Mate Mike]

And don't forget the "wall" at Manasquan Inlet, both the Manasquan (north) side and the Pt Beach (south) side.

[vespo]

Great thread! I could use all the help I can get to find free spots to fish from on those days when I can skip out of work early. Compiling a directory listing how to get there, where to park, and nearby tackle/bait shops would be a huge help to anyone looking to fish on the cheap.

[Reel Time]

 capt ed, how about that section of bridge they left up for fishing from after the new one was built,, the one you go by everytime you go out. cant remember the name of the bridge, but i would assume its free access.

[catfish hunter]

I know it is not free but dont forget the casino pier ,for a small price you can fish all day

[IrishAyes]

capt ed, how about that section of bridge they left up for fishing from after the new one was built,, the one you go by everytime you go out. cant remember the name of the bridge, but i would assume its free access.

If you do enough figuring, you can find the times of the tide and go from one spot to another and catch the tide at the right time for that spot.  It might keep you running all day, but you can get to the fishing spots at the most opportune time to catch.   

[Mate Mike]

Reel Time I believe this is the spot you are referring to:

On the west side of the new Mantoloking Bridge.  It was supposed to be condos but Brick Township bought the area and created a fishing area.  It will eventually have a restaurant, bait and tackle shop and a park open to the public.

[ped579]

I believe you are correct.  I remember Capt. Ed talking about this in the early summer.  You have to either go around a fence or under it I believe not sure.

What prompted me to look into this free stuff was a father and his 4 children looking for a free place to either fish or crab.  Free is good  especially with big families that can't afford to pay for a whole group.

Happy Catching

Paul

[Kick your bASS]

I believe you are correct.  I remember Capt. Ed talking about this in the early summer.  You have to either go around a fence or under it I believe not sure.

What prompted me to look into this free stuff was a father and his 4 children looking for a free place to either fish or crab.  Free is good  especially with big families that can't afford to pay for a whole group.

Happy Catching

Paul

Can't some family activities be kept free, seems everywhere you look someone finds a way to charge you to do anything these days.

There is a pier in LBI on the bayside that was free w/ parking right at it. Cross the bridge go down till you hit the main strip, make a right. About a mile or so down you will see an open lot on the right, let me google earth it and see if I can find a road name. There was a small shack that sold beach toys and crap. Its right behind that, dunno if it is still there been about 2-3 years since I was there last. You can see some AWESOME sunsets at this pier also. Dunno if fishing/crabbing there is any good but I have seen a good number of people there in the past.

[Kick your bASS]

[quote author=Kick your bASS
About a mile or so down you will see an open lot on the right, let me google earth it and see if I can find a road name. There was a small shack that sold beach toys and crap.[/quote]

Right between w25th and w 26th streets, in Ship Bottom. And it is just under a mile, gotta like Google Earth. 

[Extendereng]

I took the kids to a small park in Brick that was on the bay side.  It was an U-shaped sea wall.  There were benches, a gazebbo, picnic benches, and a playground.  There were quite a few families there crabbing.  We were there for about an hour and a half.  The oldest daughter caught a pufferfish in her crab net and I caught a small northern kingfish before it started to rain.  Very nice place to take the family.  I will see if I can find some direction on google.

[mboy]

Keyport pier is open now.

Im addition to the blues Skolman was talking about, I have personally caught a couple of 4-5lb weakfish there.

Nice holeto cast to towards middle when fishing from bottom floating dock.