Visitor Guide Effort, We Have Made Great Strides in Restoring the Park
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IslandIsland BeachBeach StateState ParkPark VisitorVisitor GuideGuideBrought to you by Friends of Island Beach State Park TO OUR CLIENTS, PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE: WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR BUSINESS AND LOOK FOrwARD TO SERVING YOU IN 2013. Sales and Rentals Mortgage Title Insurance YAKKITY YAKS KAYAK RENTALS “Leave Only Footprints” Full, Multi-Day and Weekly Rentals ECO TOURS One & Two Person, Sit-on-Top ISLAND BEACH Kayaks with Paddles, Seats, Life State paRK & Vests and Instruction Included. ANYONE CAN DO IT! SEDGE ISLANDS • Fishing • Schools • Parties Yakkity Yak • Ocean Paddling Kayak Rentals 22nd Av e e • Surf the Waves e iew Av 23rd PADDLE BoaRD RentaL AND V Ave Bay e INSTRUCTION AVAILABLE 24th Ave Av 35 Barnegat Av WE DELIVER & PICK-UP ISLAND BEACH SW Central STATE PARK At your Home, the beach or the bay! GROUP RateS We Serve the Barrier Island from Mantoloking to Sales of New & Used Equipment Island Beach State Park! www.yakskayakrental.com • [email protected] (732) 830-1835 22nd Avenue • Seaside Park, New Jersey www.thefriendsofislandbeach.org 1 Contents2Contents Welcome Visit the Interpretive Daily Park Fees and Nature Centers NJ State Park Pass 3 Visitor Information 7 miles from the front gate. 4 Kayak Raffle 5 Beach Plum Festival 6 Swimming Beaches Lifeguard Beach Patrol 7 Help ReClam the Bay Sedge Island Education Center 8 Governor’s Surf Fishing Tournament 10 IBSP Environmental Hero The Nature and Interpretive Centers 11 Recreational Fishing Minimum Size and Limits 12 Volunteers at Island Beach 14 Dunes at IBSP Sedge Islands “Then & Now” Kayak Tour 15 History of Island Beach The Bumblebee Project 16-17 IBSP Map and Trails 18-20 IBSP Summer Programs 20-21 Harvest the Bay La Bahía de Cosecha! 22-25 Nature Notes – The Osprey – Birding on the Beach Quiz – Turtle Crossing – How Did the Fox Survive... – Marine Mammals – Beach Plums – Diamondbank Terrapins 27 New Jersey Beach Buggy Association 28 Friends and Organizations 29 Stinging Jellyfish 30 Horseshoe Crabs 31 Friends of Island Beach State Park Cover Photo courtesy of Ray Hallgreen 2 Island Beach State Park 2013 Visitor Guide effort, we have made great strides in restoring the park. Of course, all healing takes time. The appearance of our dunes or our services may Welcome... seem a little “different” for a while. But the sand On behalf of the park service, park staff, and our is returning all the time and the birds, fish and partner organizations, I want to welcome you to Is- animals are back and thriving. land Beach State Park. The desire of the park’s staff and our part- I also want to thank the Friends of Island Beach ners is to provide you with the opportunity to State Park for all the work they do for the park, includ- best enjoy the area, while also protecting its ing making this very Visitor Guide available. precious natural resources. It has been a trying off-season in the wake of Su- Thousands of people are attracted to the perstorm Sandy. However, through dedication, com- natural beauty of our unspoiled beaches during mitment and hard work on every level, the park is the summer months. Please reach out to park open. The park, like most barrier islands on the Mid- staff or the Friends of Island Beach to learn Atlantic coast, sustained damage to its infrastruc- about volunteer opportunities. ture and natural resources. But with extraordinary Island Beach State Park also features ame- nities like the concession areas and showers to rinse off, all of which our tireless maintenance Vehicle Entrance Fees staff manages all year long. And, of course, Autos – 20' and under: bathers are protected by one of the best life- Summer Season guard crews on the east coast. (Memorial Day weekend – Labor Day) Kids of all ages can take advantage of our Weekends/Holidays daily bay seining (conditions permitting) and $10.00/auto (NJ Resident) $20.00/auto (Non-Resident) fish tank talks. If you prefer some solitude or Weekdays just want a break from the surf and sand, take $6.00/auto (NJ Resident) a stroll on one of the numerous trails on the is- $12.00/auto (Non-Resident) land to absorb the unaltered beauty of this bar- Off Season rier island. (Labor Day weekend – Memorial Day) Once you’ve had a taste of the natural en- $5.00/auto (NJ Resident) vironment, I encourage you to join our park $10.00/ auto (Non-Resident) naturalists and partners for some interpretive Motorcycles: programming. Our staff has partnered with The Year Round Friends of Island Beach and Conserve Wildlife $5.00 (NJ Resident) Foundation to create an array of programs that $7.00 (Non-Resident) are focused on FUN. Bus (advanced registration required) And of course, there’s fishing – one of my Bus reservations require a $25 deposit paid in advance. own personal passions! It is common to catch $65.00 In-state groups stripers, fluke, bluefish, kingfish, and blackfish, $120.00 Out-of-state groups maybe even the occasional drum, false alba- For more information on Oversized-vehicles and core or cobia! Weekend/holiday restrictions call the Park Office Don’t forget the bay-side fishing, where it’s (732) 793-0506 a blast to catch bluefish, weakfish, and bass on the shallow flats of Barnegat Bay. NJ State Park Pass There is much to do here and we hope you Frequent visitors may be interested in annual park enjoy your time with us. We are here to make passes that allow entrance to all NJ State Parks. your visit enjoyable, educational, safe and espe- $50 NJ resident cially relaxing. If you have any questions, com- $75 Non-resident ments, concerns or suggestions I am always NJ Residents Senior Citizen Pass (62+) – Free NJ Residents Disability Pass – Free happy to hear them. Ray Bukowski, Park Manager For more information call NJDEP at 1-800-843-6420 or 609-984-0370 Photo Credit: Mark Gleason www.thefriendsofislandbeach.org 3 Mark Your Calendar Youth Fishing Visitor Information Tournament ...............Saturday, Sept. 7 Hours of Operation Beach Plum Daily 8:00 a.m. to dusk. Weekends & holidays Festival ....................... Sunday, Sept. 8 during the summer season 7:00 a.m. to dusk. Governor’s Surf Island Beach is a carry-in carry-out facility. Fishing Contest ............. Sunday, Oct. 6 Please be kind to the environment. Picnicking Interpretive Center and Nature Center Picnicking is allowed on the ocean beach in The Forked River Interpretive Center and the Recreation and Southern Natural Areas. the newly renovated Nature Center are both Open fires are permitted 50 feet east of the located at Historic Coast Guard Station #112. dune line from parking area 3 south only. They are both open weekends starting June No fires or cooking devices of any kind are 1, 2, 8 and 9 and daily during the summer permitted on the beach in the lifeguard areas season from June 15 – September 2. during the summer season. Ocean Swimming Pets Pets are permitted in the park, but must be Lifeguards are on duty 10:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m. on a leash (maximum length six feet.) They on weekends beginning May 25, 26, 27 and are NOT allowed on the lifeguard beaches daily during the summer season from June 15 during the summer season and NOT allowed - September 2, as well as September 7 and 8. on the Spizzle Creek Bird Blind Trail. (Pets can No swimming permitted after 6:00 p.m. frighten wildlife.) Scuba Diving, Surfing, Windboarding Beach Access Vehicles Scuba divers must provide valid certification Vehicle use is restricted to the purpose of and register at the park office. Surfing and sport fishing only and a Mobile Sportfishing wind boarding are permitted at the south end Permit must be obtained at the Main Gate of the lifeguard area. Surfing is also permitted (Visitor Contact Station). For information about from parking area 2 south. permit requirements call 732-793-0506. Kayaking Annual $195/3-Day $75 (In State Vehicles) Opportunities abound along the Sedge Island Annual $225/3-Day $90 (Out of State vehicles) Marine Conservation Zone. Launch along $25 Replacement Fee the bay shore at A-15 or A-21. Beware of tide Safety/State Park Police conditions and potential strong wind in the State Park Police are here to insure that your afternoon. visit is safe and enjoyable, and are trained in Bicycles first aid and emergency procedures. Cycling is permitted in the bike lanes running To contact State Park Police, call parallel to the road. All children under 14 1-877-WARNDEP (927-6337) must wear helmets. For emergencies call 911. Horseback Riding Park Awareness Riding is permitted on the southern six miles It is very important to us that your visit is safe of ocean beach from October to April. and enjoyable. Please follow posted speed Advance registration is required. limits and be aware of joggers, skaters, bikers, Prohibited walkers and the animals that share the park. Alcoholic Beverages, Camping, ATVs. Please do not feed the native fox! Please do not walk on the dunes! This is your park. Help to maintain its integrity by keeping it a safe place to visit. The wildlife will surely appreciate it. This Visitor Guide is published by Friends of Island Beach State Park, a non-profit volunteer organization. To become a member of Friends of Island Beach visit our website at www.thefriendsofislandbeach.org facebook.com/friendsofislandbeach Twitter.com/#!/FOIBSP 4 Island Beach State Park 2013 Visitor Guide Kayak Raffle By Friends of Island Beach State Park Tickets $5 each 5 for $20.00 Drawing to be held at the Beach Plum Festival Sept.