fishing
Division of Fish, Game & Wildlife, 609-292-2965. Anglers age 16 and older are required to obtain and display a valid New Jersey fishing license to fish the state’s fresh waters. For trout fishing, an additional trout stamp is required. Children under 16 and residents over age 70 do not need licenses. Licenses can be purchased from most county and municipal clerks, designated sporting goods stores, or via the internet. Call the trout hotline (in April, May and Oct.), 609-633-6765, for recorded information on stocking locations and times. A free fishing weekend when no license is required for fishing New Jersey’s public waters is held annually in early June. Visit the New Jersey state website or TakeMeFishing.org for boating and fishing info and tips.
boating
For a list of registered and licensed charter and
party boat operators on the Jersey shore, visit the New Jersey Fish and Wildlife website, select "Fishing - Marine Fisheries” and open the “Charter and Party Boat Directory” pdf. For information about locations and guides for freshwater fishing, select "Fishing - Freshwater."
Bayshore Discovery Project
2800 High St., Bivalve, Port Norris, 856-785-2060. Operates the restored A.J. Meerwald, a Delaware Bay oyster dredgeboat built in 1928. The schooner is now a sailing classroom. Field trips, summer sailing camp, deck tours, sailor for a day program, and public sails from ports in New Jersey, including Liberty State Park, are offered in season.
Bel Haven Paddlesports
1227 Rt. 542 (GSP Exit 52), Green Bank, 800-445-0953. Canoe, kayak or tube through the Pine Barrens on the calm Batsto, Mullica, Wading and Oswego Rivers.
Belmar Municipal Marina
Rt. 35 (at Shark River), Belmar, 732-681-2266. A large number of party & charter boats make daily half-day & full-day ocean trips for fluke, blackfish, blues, albacore, or shark.
Bucks County River Country
2 Walters Lane, Point Pleasant, PA, 215-297-5000.
Cranford Canoe Club
250 Springfield Ave., Cranford, 908-482-2400. May-Nov.: Sat. & Sun. 9-8. June-Labor Day: Weekdays 11:30-8, weekends 9-8. Canoes, kayaks and paddleboats available for paddling on the tranquil Rahway River. Group and scout programs.
Delaware River Family Campground
P.O. Box 142, 100 Rt. 46, Delaware, 908-475-4517, 800-543-0271. E-mail: delawareriver@nac.net. Open April 1–Oct. 31. Located in Warren County near the Delaware Water Gap offering trailer and cabin rentals and trailer and tent campsites. Raft, canoe, kayak and tube trips.
Delaware River Tubing
2998 Daniel Bray Highway, Frenchtown, 908-996-5386.
Highlands Natural Pool
180 Snake Den Rd. (I-287N exit 55), Ringwood, 973-835-4299. Open weekends Memorial Day-late June, daily late June-Labor Day. Day passes & memberships. Olympic-size, stream-fed chemical-free pool with stone retaining walls was carved out of the hillside in 1935. Set among poplars and evergreens, it is adjacent to miles of hiking trails in the Norvin Green State Forest and across the field from the Audubon Society’s Weis Ecology Center. Children’s area; snack stand; picnic tables; volleyball court, basketball court and softball field.
Hunterdon County Park Canoe Trips
908-782-1158. Canoe trips on Hunterdon’s waterways spring-fall for beginning and experienced canoers include 2½ hr. pond paddles to whitewater and birding day trips and camping trips. Custom trips for groups, schools, clubs.
Kittatinny Canoes, Inc.
Dingman’s Ferry, PA, 800-FLOAT-KC. Canoeing, kayaking, rafting, tubing on the Delaware River.
Pine Barrens Canoe & Kayak Rental
3260 Rt. 563, Chatsworth, 800-732-0793. Canoe and kayak rentals through the Pine Barrens on the calm waters of the Wading and Oswego Rivers.
Ringwood State Park
1304 Sloatsburg Rd., Ringwood, 973-962-7031. State Botanical Garden open 8-8. Ringwood Manor tours: Wed.-Sun. 10-3. Skylands Manor tours: one Sunday per month March-Nov. Entrance fee Memorial Day-Labor Day: $5 weekdays.
Encompassing 4,044 acres, Ringwood includes the formal gardens of the New Jersey State Botanical Gardens; Ringwood Manor, a beautiful country house which was once owned by Abram S. Hewitt, America's foremost ironmaster; Skylands Manor, a 44-room mansion built in the 1920s; and spring-fed Shepherd Lake Recreation Area offering boating, swimming, and fishing opportunities. Boat rentals and swimming are offered Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day from 10-6. Hiking and multi-use trails range from easy to difficult, from woodlands to rocky vistas, some connecting the Ringwood and Skylands sections of the park. 7.5 mile mountain bike loop; food concession at Shepherd Lake.
Round Valley Recreation Area
Rt. 78 Exit 18, Rt. 22E (8 mi. east of Clinton on Rt. 22), Annandale, 908-236-6355. Regarded as the foremost trophy trout water in New Jersey, scenic reservoir has small boat launch (10hp max.) or fishing from dam or shore. Hiking and nature trails, wilderness campsites accessible by boat, canoe or backpacking 3-6 miles. Separate swimming area with bathhouse, picnicking and playground.
Selected Interpretive Programs
Meet at the South parking lot, first right past park office.
Feb 19, Mar 18
Bird Walk, 9-11am. Bring field guides and binoculars.
Feb 5
Traces: Looking for signs of life in winter, 11-1.
Mar 11
The Sun Returns! Spring Ahead, 11-1pm.
Shawnee River Trips
The Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort, One River Rd., Shawnee-on-Delaware, PA, 800-SHAWNEE, ext. 1120. Canoe, raft, kayak, mountain bike rentals; guided fishing trips, family packages and instructional classes; escorted rafting trips. Shuttle services available.
Silas Condict County Park
William Lewis Arthur Dr. (off Kinnelon Rd.), Kinnelon, 973-829-8257. Daily 8am-dusk. Paddleboat and rowboat rentals available weekends and holidays from Memorial Day-Labor Day. Picnic areas, hiking trails, softball fields and lake fishing.
Somerset County Park Commission Putting Course and Paddle Boats
Colonial Park, Franklin Twp., 732-873-8585. Putting Course: April-Oct. Adults $6.50, children/srs. $5. Paddle Boats: Summer thru Labor Day. $5. A sports complex for all ages. The putting course is a golf course in miniature with water features and "sand" traps. Both facilities are accessible for persons with physical disabilities.
Somerset County Park Commission Family Canoe & Kayak Programs
908-766-2489. Spring, summer and fall canoe and kayak trips designed for beginner to intermediate paddlers. For canoe and kayak trips, an adult must accompany children under the ages of 15. Each canoe can accommodate two paddlers and a child passenger. A pool session must be completed before a Kan-U-Kayak session is undertaken. Likewise a Kan-U-Kayak session must be attended prior to a river trip. Call or visit website for schedule of day-long river excursions.
Can-U-Cannu?
Introductory canoe workshops for adults and children, ages 7 and older, teach basic paddling, handling and safety on Branta Pond at the Environmental Education Center. $14.
Apr 10
10-noon.
Apr 15
9:30-11:30.
May 13
1:30-12:30.
Kan-U-Kayak?
Introductory kayaking workshops, designed for adults and ages 10 and over, teach basic paddling, handling and safety. Must attend this class and 11⁄2-hr. pool training session (included in this fee) prior to taking a river trip. $25.
May 13
1:30-3:30pm.
Games on the Pond
Improve your paddling skills by playing games on the water. $20.
Apr 10
1-3pm.
May 20
1-3pm.
Delaware and Raritan Canal Paddle
Paddle on the peaceful and still Delaware & Raritan Canal. Bring a bag dinner and money for ice cream. $60.
Apr 9
2-7pm.
Spruce Run State Park
Van Syckels Rd. (I-78 to Clinton Rt. 31N), Clinton,
908-638-8572 or 908-638-8573. Seasonal parking fee. Swimming beach and bathhouse, small boat launch for boaters and windboarders, boat and canoe rental (908-638-8234), fishing, camping, picnicking and playground..
Sunrise Lake Beach Club
Lewis Morris Park, Rt. 24, Morris Township, 973-829-8257. Memorial Day thru Labor Day: Weekends & holidays 11-7, daily starting June 28. Season passes available. Summer swimming, fishing, rowboat and paddleboat rentals, beach volleyball, bath/boathouse with restrooms, changing rooms and snack bar. Birthday parties.
Lewis Morris Park has hiking trails, mountain biking, fitness circuit, softball field, picnic sites and Saturn Kids Kingdom playground in Doe Meadow. Camping for organized groups by advance reservation.
Wawayanda State Park
885 Warwick Turnpike, Hewitt, 973-853-4462. 255-acre lake with a number of explorable islands in the remote, rugged highlands of northern New Jersey. 400-acre park also includes mountain bike trails, hiking on the Appalachian Trail, fishing, beach area with lifeguard, camping, and food concession. Canoe rental available mid-April-late Sept.
