No fishing license is required to fish from the ocean, beaches, or most public areas in New Jersey. Here are the best FREE fishing spots.
Best Free Fishing Spots
Ocean City Fishing Pier (9th Street)
- Small fee for pier, but beach fishing is free
- Good for flounder, blues, stripers
Corson’s Inlet
- Excellent surf fishing
- Striped bass, bluefish
- No crowds
Bay Bridges
📧
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- 34th Street bridge area
- Good for crabs and flounder
Jetties
- Great for tog, seabass
- Use caution on rocks
What You Can Catch
- Summer: Flounder, blues, weakfish
- Fall: Striped bass, blues
- Year-round: Crabs (bay side)
Pro Tips
- No license needed for ocean fishing
- Fresh bait from local tackle shops
- Dawn and dusk are best times