Jersey Shore Surf Fisherman Say They’re Excluded From Island Beach State Park By Their Own State

Beach buggy vehicles on the sand at Island Beach State Park. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

It’s often said that the early bird catches the fish, but this year, Jersey Shore anglers are crying foul after they won’t even be able to hook a worm at Island Beach State Park – in many cases after enjoying the park’s fishing access for decades.

A long-standing tradition – something of a rite of passage for surf fishermen – was to line up at the entrance to the park the morning mobile sport-fishing vehicle permits (the technical name for beach buggy permits) were put up for sale. The park always limited the number of permits sold each year, and the “low number” permits were always the most coveted – a bit of a friendly competition to see who could snag a sticker first. But this year, die-hard anglers willing to wake up at the crack of dawn had no better chance of scoring one of the permits than someone fast asleep in their bed out-of-state. The permits, which allow anglers to drive on the beach in four wheel drive vehicles in order to access the fishing areas – some of which are miles from paved parking lots – were only offered for sale through a digital lottery system.

The permits sold out almost immediately this year, but many anglers say they never got the chance to purchase one. They simply received an e-mail saying they were not selected, even if they had consistently purchased the permits every year for multiple decades. Worse still, some argued, there was no carve-out for local anglers who would use the beach more often – or even for anglers from New Jersey as a whole. Theoretically, a person across the country – or the world – could purchase one simply because they were randomly selected by the state’s computer system.

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Disappointment was immediately expressed by hundreds of people on local social media fishing groups, including some residents who shared heartfelt stories of fishing traditions being broken after generations. Some areas of the park with the best fishing, especially near the north jetty of Barnegat Inlet, are virtually impossible to access without a four wheel drive vehicle – and even areas where there are pedestrian access points are inaccessible to anglers who cannot haul heavy gear a long distance through deep sand.

The entrance to Island Beach State Park, South Seaside Park, N.J., June 2022. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

“I’ve been an avid fisherman since childhood and now my summer beach fishing is completely shut down,” said Edward Regan in a post. “I’ve been a resident of Ocean County since childhood and a homeowner for many years in this area. After giving some thought to the situation, I cannot rationalize why citizens of Ocean County are not recognized as the most prominent users of the beach.”

“Congrats to all tailgaters that got their sport fishing pass,” one person posted, referencing those who obtain stickers just to drive on the beach without fishing, which occurs frequently despite being against park regulations.

“This is a insult to disabled folks who depend on our vehicle to fish,” said another angler who was denied a permit.

Ocean County officials, who have no control over the state park, issued a statement Tuesday following the uproar to call on Trenton to allow an in-state only purchase opportunity before permits are sold to non-residents.

“New Jerseyans should not have to compete with out-of-state applicants for access to their own state parks,” said Ocean County Commissioner Jennifier Bacchione. “Ocean County is proud to host several of New Jersey’s most beautiful state parks, and we welcome the tourism that supports our local economy – but our Ocean County and New Jersey residents must come first. They fund these parks, and they deserve priority access, especially at Island Beach State Park.”

In a resolution sent to the state’s Department of Environmental Protection and the Division of Parks and Forestry, the Ocean County Board of Commissioners called for a “brief priority registration period exclusively for New Jersey residents” prior to the general sale. This would help ensure “equitable access for citizens who contribute directly to the maintenance and preservation of the state’s parks, fisheries, and coastal resources,” the resolution said.

Striped Bass (Credit: NJ Shore Fishing/Facebook)

“We are not proposing to limit access,” Bacchione said. “We’re asking the state to sequence access in a way that gives New Jersey residents a reasonable window to obtain permits first. Once that window closes, the remaining permits can be made available to everyone. It’s a balanced, common-sense approach.”

While it appears as if those who were not declared “winners” of the lottery will have to find a different place to fish this year, county officials said they would continue lobbying the state to change its policy.

“The board will continue to advocate for a policy change that prioritizes New Jersey residents, reaffirming its commitment to protecting the rights of Ocean County residents to fair and reasonable access to public lands and coastal resources,” the statement said.

Several other local communities sell beach buggy permits, including Brick Township, Toms River, Lavallette and Seaside Park, though most of those towns also limit the number sold each year. Seaside Park officials announced on their website Tuesday that their permits have already been sold out for the season.