Fisherman’s Walkway at Island Beach State Park

In New Jersey, a popular and functional surf fishing access point at Island Beach State Park has been fully restored and is now reopened, according to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. The structure, known as Fisherman’s Walkway, was completely destroyed by Superstorm Sandy.

Approximately 1,000 feet of wooden walkway, measuring about eight feet in width, has been constructed starting from Parking Area 7, providing fishing access for persons with disabilities and other anglers on foot who prefer more mobility in transporting their fishing equipment from the parking area to the ocean.

Work on the walkway began in late September and was completed in late December by GCS Contractors Corp. The walkway officially reopened this month after inspection. The $203,000 project was funded by Corporate Business Tax dollars. The DEP is seeking reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Fisherman’s Walkway has been a popular destination for people with disabilities, anglers, birdwatchers and other users since it was first constructed in 1995 with funds through the Americans With Disabilities Act. Its location within the park is south of lifeguarded swimming areas and north of mobile sport fishing access roads.

Since Superstorm Sandy hit in October, 2012, Island Beach State Park has seen the repair or restoration of the boardwalks and the lifeguard station at Ocean Bathing Area 1, the gatehouse and maintenance buildings within the park. A major repair of the Sandy-damaged north jetty at Barnegat Inlet, at the southern tip of the park, was completed in October.

For more information, visit www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/island.html.

source: New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection

Island Beach State Park Shoreline Flounder Fishing

Shore-Based Enhanced Fishing Opportunity Program for Summer Flounder at Island Beach State Park Opens Saturday, June 14
June 13, 2014

On Thursday, June 12, 2014, NJ Department of Environmental Protection (Department) Commissioner Bob Martin signed a Notice of Administrative Change adjusting the size and possession limits for summer flounder (a.k.a "fluke") for anglers fishing from shore at Island Beach State Park (IBSP) during the 2014 open season.

The Shore Based Enhanced Fishing Opportunity Program (Program) for summer flounder at IBSP will begin Saturday, June 14, 2014. Summer flounder is New Jersey's most popular recreational saltwater species. Last year, New Jersey anglers caught an estimated 7.6 million summer flounder and kept 1.2 million of those fish.

Anglers participating in the IBSP Program may retain 2 fish greater than or equal to 16 inches (total length) only at IBSP during the current 2014 New Jersey summer flounder fishing season, which opened on May 23 and remains open until September 27. The Program will be available to "shore-based" anglers only, defined as fishing from a pier, jetty, beach, bank, or marsh. Anglers participating in this Program may NOT fish from a boat, kayak, canoe, personal water craft, or arrive to the shore by means of water craft.

In addition to monitoring the recreational summer flounder harvest at IBSP, the Department will be collecting data on other important recreational species as well by conducting a creel survey at the numerous beach access sites on IBSP. The interviewers will record number of anglers, number of hours fished, number of fish caught and take measurements of fish kept. This information will be utilized to determine the feasibility of the Program as well as provide important data for coastwide management of the species.

For additional information, anglers can contact the Department's Marine Fisheries Administration at 609-748-2020.

source: NJ DEP