One of the best spots in New Jersey to fish for striped bass and bluefish is at Island Beach State Park (nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/parks/island.html). You can acquire a permit at most bait shops or by contacting the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife. As of the 2011 season, a three-day pass for saltwater fishing cost $50, while the one-year permit cost $195. Some areas near the Boardwalk in Atlantic City (atlanticcitynj.com) are open fishing with no need for a license. You can learn the hotspots and acquire equipment from private outfitters located near the entrances to most state beaches.
While not as well-known as Southern California for its waves, New Jersey is a popular year-round destination for surfers. Weather patterns and tropical storms in the Atlantic usually create substantial water movement in the fall months. For those not as brave at heart, boogie boarding is a popular activity, too. Check with the beach office or ask a lifeguard if certain areas of the water and times of the day have been specifically reserved for water sports; at Island Beach, the southern tip is available at all times for sailboarding and surfing. Scuba diving also is permitted off the Jersey Shore, but be sure to check with the New Jersey Boating Commission (njsp.org/maritime/msb-location.html) at each beach to register if you are going out.
New Jersey has 11 historic lighthouses open to the public, including perhaps the most famous such structure along the state's coast. Barnegat Lighthouse State Park (state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/barnlig.html) is on Long Beach Island and its lighthouse protected ships for many years by warning sailors of the coastline and its swift, rapidly changing currents and sandbars. Many of these New Jersey lighthouses offer interpretive exhibits and historical artifacts to observe.
A trip to New Jersey wouldn't be complete without a boardwalk stroll. Many beachfront towns have their own wood-planked structure to get to the sand, but the most famous — and the world's longest — Boardwalk is in Atlantic City. These hotspots feature food vendors, kids' games and amusement parks. Wildwood (wildwoodsnj.com), at the southern edge of the state, even has a waterpark and rollercoasters on its boardwalks. And for those wanting to stroll along in nature without the glitz, Spring Lake (springlakeboro.org) near Asbury Park offers two miles of boardwalk without a commercial vendor in sight.
