The following represent a sampling of the rich smorgasbord New Jersey offers to saltwater fly anglers. Frank Daignault's Striper Hot Spots (Globe Pequot Press) assigns a five-fish rating (his highest) to only one New Jersey locale, Sandy Hook. This barrier beach peninsula, running due north with the Atlantic Ocean on the east and Sandy Hook Bay on the west, is part of the Gateway National Recreation Area. The Point is the best-known spot for shore-based anglers but on the bay side there are many great fishing locations, from the bridge at the mouth of the Navesink River to Fort Hancock, a distance of about 5 miles. The ocean-side beaches are also very productive.

I recommend the bay side particularly at night in the fall, although daybreak along the beaches can produce good action during the fall migrations. A small fee is charged to use the park in the summer. Fishermen can use the park after dark with a special pass sold at the ranger station.

Not far south of Sandy Hook, stretching down to Manasquan Inlet, you'll find what Jerseyites call "jetty country," because of its 100 or so beach-stabilizing rockpiles. These structures provide temporary residences for striped bass through the season and make excellent casting locations. During summer months, focus on the hours of darkness. Note that these jetties can be difficult to navigate, even with the best creepers. Some are slippery and jagged, so exercise extreme caution at all times.

Offshore fly rodding has been gaining popularity along New Jersey's coast and Capt. Gene Quigley is one of several who have been tapping into this resource with consistent results. The interesting bottom structure of places like Monster Ledge, east of Manasquan, for example, draws many pelagic species to this part of the New Jersey coast. Due to deeper waters, fish sometimes must be teased or chummed into fly-rod range, but you have a chance to wrestle with some real brutes if that excites your interest.

Nearly midway down the coast is Barnegat Inlet, long ago explored by European seamen, including Sebastian Cabot and Henry Hudson, and dubbed the "inlet of breakers" by Captain Cornelis May.

To the immediate north of the inlet and accessible from Seaside Park is Island Beach State Park, boasting about 10 miles of sand beaches. Seasonal and 3-day passes available at the entrance to the park, allow four-wheel-drive vehicles to cruise the sands. This narrow barrier spit ends at a long jetty that guards the north side of the inlet.

The south side of the inlet is bordered by an even longer jetty at the northern tip of an 18-mile long barrier island known as Long Beach Island. Beach buggies are allowed along much of that island too, but each township requires separate passes.

Famed Barnegat Bay lies between the mainland and the barriers of Island Beach and Long Beach Island (yes, the names do get confusing). Its shallow, fertile waters supply forage and refuge for weakfish, fluke, striped bass, and bluefish. You can reach the bay from either of the islands or a number of ports on the mainland. The east side of the bay is a bit shallower than the west, and the long flats on the bay side of Island Beach State Park are a delight to wade for weakfish and stripers, especially in spring and early summer. In May and June, casting popping bugs to small bluefish is popular throughout the bay.

You can launch your own from Beach Haven on Long Beach Island or from Tuckerton on the mainland to get to the waters of Little Egg Inlet and Great Bay, south of Long Beach Island. There is a lot of water here to explore, and shore anglers can access the grassy marsh creeks and sod banks via Seven Bridges Road from Tuckerton. Great Egg Inlet and the bay behind Ocean City, Corson's Inlet, Townsend's Inlet, and Hereford Inlets (north to south) can all be productive areas. Some shore access is available at each, and marinas are close to all. The topography of the shore between Ocean City and Wildwood is different from northern New Jersey (generally more gradually sloping) and the bars and inlets are more susceptible to change with seasonal flow changes.

Unquestionably, the best venue at the bottom of the state is the area around Cape May, at the southern extremity of the Garden State Parkway. Cold Spring Inlet, between Cape May and Wildwood Crest, is a prime location, and the jetties of Cape May Point, immediately to the west, is weakfish country. Daignault picked Cape May as the number one weakfish venue from Delaware to Maine, and with good reason. Delaware Bay's spring weakfish run has been recovering in recent years and although it doesn't approach the glory days of the '60s and '70s, double-figure fish are not uncommon.

Since many of the gamefish and baits are migratory, the New Jersey shore usually offers less consistent fly-fishing opportunities than many New England venues. Nevertheless, the longer season, accessibility, and various options balance the account. The late Frank Wentink, fly-tying author and traveling fisherman, claimed that he never experienced more exciting fishing anywhere than he had when the slammer bluefish (10-pound plus) invaded New Jersey's beaches. If you want to pursue the opportunities and explore the potential of the New Jersey coast, I suggest you get a good road map and consult Jim Freda's recently released book, Fishing the New Jersey Coast (Burford Books, 2001). While not exclusively devoted to fly fishing, it is filled with detailed information about New Jersey fishing. Finally, since the state has so many resort towns, like Cape May, Ocean City, Atlantic City, consider incorporating a family outing into your fishing excursion.