Hiking in New Jersey Striper Fishing: trails, map and practical info

Lest I be accused of spending more time in the examination of Jersey’s people than its fishing, I must note that I was struck by a number of that state’s geographical features. It is, above all, a place of countless jetties; so much so that surfcasting has come to mean jetty fishing in the shore-fishing mind there. Another observation I made is that the farther north one went in the Garden State, the better the striper fishing. It is widely believed in the state that being nearer to the Hudson River—a major source of East Coast stripers—can do nothing but help. There are notable climatic differences in New Jersey waters that influence those species found in its surf. For example, you won’t find puppy drum north of here, and only an occasional kingfish will visit waters above Long Island, whereas they can be found in nuisance numbers in South Jersey. Unaccountably, porgies—known as scup where I fish—are viewed as an offshore species. And while I examine predatory species, it is only reasonable to note that forage here is different from that found farther north on the Striper Coast. Anglers who baitfish with a live spot in Jersey would find no such bait available above Montauk, and only the most astute Rhode Island observer would even be conscious of a fall mullet run in his state, while it is a major natural event in New Jersey. Crabs and clams are popular striper bait in South Jersey, yet never used for linesides in Massachusetts or Rhode Island. Lastly, I must acknowledge that the per capita number of surf fishermen in this state is surely the largest of any state on the Striper Coast. On Thanksgiving morning of ’91—and this is a holiday celebrated by nearly all Americans, a day that custom and tradition acknowledge as one of the most significant family holidays of the year—there was no room to stand or fish among the 3,000-plus surfcasters lined up on Island Beach . . . at (are you ready?) 4:00 A.M. This eTrail contains 15 different surfcasting locations for striped bass including Cape May, Hereford Inlet, Townsend's Inlet, Corson's Inlet (Strathmere Inlet), Absecon Inlet Plus, Brigantine Inlet, Beach Haven Inlet (Hole Gate), Long Beach Island, Barnegat Inlet South Jetty, Barnegat Inlet North Jetty, Sedge Island Barnegat Bay, Island Beach, Manasquan Inlet, Manasquan to Long Beach (Jetty Country), and Sandy Hook Point.