Any one ever dive the Manasquan inlet in NJ?

[Richard]

The Manasquan side of the inlet( ANd the beach next to it) are the only places i have ever spear fished.

Im new at this (Only went spearing about 10 times) but i am getting more into it.
I use a pole spear(5ft and 6ft DIY) and i have never went out farther than about 10ft from were the Concrete "Jacks" start.

Local divers always go out too the "Jacks" to spear is this were the fish are?

Any tips for fishing the Squan inlet or just inlets in general?

What are other good spotsin the area?


ANy advice is appreshiated.

[tm999xxx]

Watch the tides. The current can pull pretty hard on an out going at the end of the jacks.

[hockeydiver]

Hi guys.
Me and Bruce S. dive Manasquan quite frequently. In my opinion, the best time to dive is high tide and before the beach is open (before 9am). You can park along the inlet till 10am and access at the beach side of the inlet - waves permitting. Swim out to the tip during slack high and come back around the tip to exit back to the beach. You don't have to climb the rocks and it's a short walk back to the showers and your parked car.

[njdiver]

Regulations For Diving In New Jersey

N. J. A. C. 13:82-3.17 Diving and swimming
(a) General provisions with respect to diving and swimming are as follows:
1. Underwater diving with or without an underwater apparatus is permitted in all navigable waters of
New Jersey unless otherwise prohibited herein.
2. Any person while diving shall mark his or her position with a buoyed flag approved by the New Jersey
Boat Regulation Commission:
I. Such flag shall be displayed so that it is visible all around the horizon from a buoy, float, boat or other floating object;
II. Such flag shall be a minimum of 14 inches by 16 inches, shall be rigid to enhance visibility and shall be a red background with a white diagonal stripe running from one corner to the other.
3. No person shall operate a vessel within 50 feet of the buoyed flag.
4. No person shall display such a flag at times other than when diving is in progress.
5. No person shall swim or dive in a narrow, confined or improved channel or in a marked fairway under a bridge or impede, obstruct or interfere with passage of a water craft therein.
6. No diver shall surface more than 25 feet from his buoyed flag except in an emergency.

(b) Provisions for Manasquan Inlet are as follows:
1. Underwater diving shall be permitted in the Manasquan Inlet only within 50 feet from the stone jetties and bulkheads.
2. Underwater diving is permitted only in the area east of an imaginary line drawn from Ocean Avenue, Point Pleasant Beach, extended to a point across the inlet at First Avenue, Manasquan.

(c) Provisions for Barnegat Inlet are as follows:
1. Except as provided in this subsection, no person or persons shall, while engaged in gogglefishing, spear fishing or skin diving, enter into any navigable channel or approach within 200 feet of any boat anchored or underway within the water adjacent to the land areas of the Borough of Barnegat Light.
2. No person shall dive in any of the waters of the Barnegat Inlet channel.
3. Skin and Scuba diving is permitted from the north and south jetties, but no person shall dive further than 25 feet from the rock jetty or bulkhead within the inlet.
4. No person shall dive within Barnegat Inlet between 8:00 A. M. And 5:00 P. M. on Saturdays and Sundays from June 1 to September 30.
5. A diver shall mark his or her position with a float and skin diver's flag.
6. Only "buddy diving" will be permitted in Barnegat Inlet.
7. Recreational diving is prohibited within 100 feet of the north monument.
8. Recreational diving is prohibited within the inlet when the current is at flood.

(d) Provisions for Shark River Inlet are as follows:
1. Underwater diving is permitted in the Shark River Inlet in that area which lies east of a line extending from the northwest end of A Street in Belmar to the southeast end of First Avenue in Avon.
2. Divers shall stay within 25 feet of the jetties and bulkheads in the area described.
3. A diver shall mark his or her position with a float and skin diver's flag.
4. No diver shall surface more than 15 feet from the buoyed flag except in an emergency.
5. No underwater diving shall be permitted in Shark River Inlet between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 5:30 P.M. during the period each year commencing May 1 terminating October 1.

[ryanpal]

Hi guys.
Me and Bruce S. dive Manasquan quite frequently. In my opinion, the best time to dive is high tide and before the beach is open (before 9am). You can park along the inlet till 10am and access at the beach side of the inlet - waves permitting. Swim out to the tip during slack high and come back around the tip to exit back to the beach. You don't have to climb the rocks and it's a short walk back to the showers and your parked car.

ive been trying to go spearfishing all summer. between my schedule and the cloudy water (when i could go) i've unable to make this happen. im going down the shore this weekend to give this another go. unfortunately my buddy who has done this before will not be around. you wouldn't happen to be going this weekend (saturday) by any chance woulda yah?

[bruce_s]

This weekend the inshore will be crap because of all the rain and runoff and poor wind conditions.Best conditions are always when the wind is out of the west northwest.South and southeast brings swells and stirs up the bottom.Maybe labor day weekend will be better.

[ryanpal]

you were corret..the visibility was horrible. guess i'll have to hope for better conditions this weekend ;]

[33fish33]

Anyone have an idea if wed will be good. Thanks.

[Richard]

Any one have info on conditions in Manasquan?

Im going diveing at the inlet this weakend ill have a report(Pics) when i get back.

[Richard]

Whent spearing at the inlet sunday.
Covered the jetty from the manasquan beach side to the far side T Rocks.

Vis. was mostly good but some spots of murk right before the T rocks start.

Lots of bait fish and small toutog but most of the fish were scared by a boat race that was in and out of the inlet all day.

I stoned one nice Toutog (17 inches) that was hidding in a cave.

[tm999xxx]

i was down on fri and sat ... those race boats were awesome..(to watch, not dive around)

[Mako993]

Bruce/Tony - I'll be back up around LBI this weekend and through next Tuesday. If you guys want to meet up somewhere around there or even up there at the Inlet on Sunday or Monday, I'm down.

Fishin' Dog - if you can tolerate my floppin' sorry self in your boat again, let me know if you want to dive the Inlet :O I've been training pretty hard dude, seriously.

[Arnie]

wow im actually able to post..... not quite sure why i couldn't before and after about 2 months without trying... i'm now able to *shrugs*

ANYWAYS..... i've been to the manasquan inlet a few times with no luck as far as visibility goes..... a few years back, a friend of mine saw a rather large shark swimming up the inlet..... he said it had to have been atleast 8ft and when he saw it, he was near the end of the jetty. I don't mean to scare anyone :) just be careful..... a lot of guys fish off this jetty.....

I'm rather "new" to spearing so if anyone wants to get together one day - send me a PM. I'm a little busy with my upcomming wedding but maybe early october or next spring?

Glad to be a part of the community :)

~Arnie~

[Richard]

Im going out diving at the inlet Saturday so ill have another report then.

[Mako993]

Richard,

How was it? Did you go? I have designs on hitting the Inlet jetty tomorrow morning at high tide. Tell me if it was worth it

[Richard]

Mako993 I didnt get out Sat. but i was out today(sunday) At high tide.

By my count their were 16 spearos out today at the inlet.

At slack high the vis. was the best i have ever seen.

Lots of totaug,Triggers,Black fish and other asorted fishys.

I speared one 16inch trigger and another one twice as big that worked its self of the shaft(How i dont know).

[dave p]

Went out yesterday on the manasquan side for a couple hours.... saw a lot of kooks....
vis was prob the best I've ever seen there..... ~15-20 clear and 25-30 hazy...... A couple small stripers around 30", a few decent blackfish and triggers. It was just a nice day to get out.

By the way.... blackfish and tog are the same fish

[Richard]

Black sea bass and Tog

[Mako993]

AH, I didn't make it down to Barnegat Inlet on SAT or SUN, but just went to LBI yesterday and didn't bring my gear. Southern end of LBI, where you can't spearfish anyway, was ROUGH, but I didn't check out the Barnegat end. Sounds like I missed out over the weekend :( I'll be heading back to DC today but I may stop off in Barnegat to see what it's like before I do.

[OysterToadFish]

Whats up guys, never dove manasquan but have dove shark river... Was there last week and shot tog vis was terrible untill incoming then had to get out because of current. lots of bait and baby jellies..i hear manasquan is really popular these days

[Richard]

Ill have another report sunday.
Trying the inlet at slack high saturday.

And a pic. from my last dive(My first trigger)

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p49/Redstratplayer1/Picture053-1.jpg

[OysterToadFish]

Kool Did you eat it?

[Richard]

Kool Did you eat it?


Yes and dam it was good!

[spearman21]

Hello Guys im new to this forum and im also from Northern Jersey and im looking to meet some new spearing partners to go with or meet at Manasquan/point pleasant/shark river/belmar/deal and asbury park are areas that I can drive too... just waiting for my new custom made gun from Posiedansub that baby will rock.....

[Richard]

Sunday water was crap vis.
Saw almost no big fish.
One kill ,a tog worked its self of the shaft.

Saw A shark(The one with the long tail) about 4ft long (Like 6' with tail) came up within arms legth to check me out.
Freaked me out

[spearman21]

That would of called for a change of shorts for me.lol...knowing there that close to the rocks is scary.....................

[33fish33]

I saw a similar shark will at Manasquan. It was about 4-5 ft and looked like a sand shark. I only caught it out of the corner of my eye as it turned and swam into deeper water. I was excited because after 7 yrs of free diving in Jersey this was the first time I had seen a shark while swimming.

[tm999xxx]

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j302/tm999xxx/IMG_4922.jpg

Pic of one of the triggers i took from the squan.

Have any of you guys seen the monster rays?? Bout 3 weeks ago i saw 4 huge rays.. I ve yet to see a shark at the squan but the surf casters catch them off ibsp a lot.

[spearman21]

Nice trigger..........lol....

[Richard]

Have any of you guys seen the monster rays?? Bout 3 weeks ago i saw 4 huge rays.. I ve yet to see a shark at the squan but the surf casters catch them off ibsp a lot.


Two weeks ago i saw one of those rays off of the T-rocks.

That trigger is huge!!


Whats the ibsp?

[njspearo]

hey guys! so ive been out at the man-let twice in the past 2 weeks, I went out last thursday then on monday, this vis was alright(buut 5 to 7 feet) managed to shoot a few tog, nothing that big but it was fun any way. Im kinda new to spearfishing and new to doing it in this area. so if any one else ever wnats to meet up and shoot some fish por let me in on some other good spots here in NJ shoot me a mesage or somethin!

[OysterToadFish]

Thats a big trigg how many inches?

[tm999xxx]

Thats a big trigg how many inches?

Not sure I’ll have to measure my cooler ...But his boys were pissed after I shot him...I had forgotten my stringer that day so I had to wait for my wife to get the cooler. hile I was waiting, 3 of them would not back off. I had to keep stabbing at them to keep them away... Nasty little buggers!

[spearman21]

Have not ever diving the Manuasquan inlet how do you guys deal with the fisherman...I have been there a few times and it has been elbow to elbow with fisherman....Do they ever give you a hard time when your trying to dive there???? Also how is the boat traffic???

[njspearo]

boat traffic isnt bad at all, and the fisherman dont seem to mind, just watch out for their lines, try to pass em when they are all reeled in. they usually are trying to talk to me and ask me what im seeing down there and what not

[spearman21]

cool does the tide play a heavy role in ur ability to spearfish in the inlet????

[tm999xxx]

Theres an old italian guy at the end that WILL cast for you... In his eyes he owns the jetty. Him and i have had words ... but mostly people are cool..

I have had my float thrown into the rocks twice now by a large boat wakes...Snapped my flag the last time... Its a pain but make sure you have a flag.

[spearman21]

Thats what I thought I was there a few times and kept seeing boats flying in and out of the inlet and loads of fisherman........I was on the point pleasant side....

[Richard]

Knowing what point pleasant cops are like i would not spearfish on that side.

On the manasuan side the fishermen are really cool about not giving you a hard time.
About 1 in 10 will have a snide remark as you swim by but only like 1/100 will do anything about it(like cast at you/throw a fishing weight). Mostly they leave you alone(Maby because you have a gun?) just dont stay infront of them swim passt.

does the tide play a heavy role in ur ability to spearfish in the inlet????

Yes, the water gets cloudy during tide changes and the current kicks up.
At slack high tide the water is much clearer and the current goes away.


how is the boat traffic???

The traffics not bad just stay (Very)close to the rocks.


tm999xxx Maybe i have seen you around. What color is your wetsuit?

[njdiver]

hey guys! so ive been out at the man-let twice in the past 2 weeks, I went out last thursday then on monday, this vis was alright(buut 5 to 7 feet) managed to shoot a few tog, nothing that big but it was fun any way. Im kinda new to spearfishing and new to doing it in this area. so if any one else ever wnats to meet up and shoot some fish por let me in on some other good spots here in NJ shoot me a mesage or somethin!

Try this site:

http://njscuba.net/sites/index.html

[33fish33]

Boat traffic is only a problem within the inlet (inside the inlet is restricted and you can get picked up by state cops for it - which has happened to me before). The north jetty gets submerged typically at about 3/4 high tide, there is a strong current that rips into the inlet as the jetty becomes submerged going from low to high and rips out going from high to low. Its nice though at slack and also once the submerged part begins to block the outgoing tide from high to low.

[striperhyper]

I love the point side of the inlet, AN di know what you mean rich about point cops they are dicks,But they dont bother you for diving there.At the point pleasant side i like better the black fish travel in schools out front.Inside they are all were the rocks turn to sand down like 23 feet.Also it isnt against the law diving in the inlet, you just have to obey the imaginary line drawn from ocean ave, and dive from ocean ave to the east.

I realy ant into the inlets anymore.My new thing is freediving the beach wrecks and other structures i found.This year i found some realy realy good spots for blackfish were im sure in another week or two i will be pulling out a 10 lb fish.I saw and shot at one last weekend , and the shaft never when through.Fish swam away fine.One thing im mad at it all these little blackfish i see with scare marks front divers shooting them most of theses fish are 12 inches:( .... makes me mad.

[33fish33]

Sorry, wrong inlet. Thinking Barnegat was being discussed.

[striperhyper]

I dive barnegate all the time, Alot of big fish.I have never had them ask me to leave or get out, and i have coast guard and state police see me all the time in there.

[33fish33]

Well, thats good. But its technically illegal to be in the water within the inlet.

[Richard]

striperhyper if you dont mind me asking were are their "beach wrecks and other structures"?

I like shore dives better than inlets two but i dont have the gun to kill Stripers and flatys get boring. Do you see other fish out their?

[striperhyper]

check your pm rich

[OysterToadFish]

Yeah triggers are real currious fish.. Usually after you shoot one the rest come just to check you out...

[OysterToadFish]

Did i see any of you guys at shark river today. I saw 3 kids when i was leaving the north side, on the south..

[spearman21]

check your pm rich

Hey striperhyper im interested also on the shore wrecks your speaking off can u pm me thanks.......;)

[OysterToadFish]

Island Beach State Park

[Richard]

Tides for the weakend.

Tides for Manasquan Inlet, USCG Station starting with September 28, 2007.


Day High Tide Height
/Low Time Feet

F
Low 2:53 AM -0.6
High 9:08 AM 5.4
Low 3:31 PM -0.5
High 9:33 PM 4.8

Sa
Low 3:37 AM -0.5
High 9:57 AM 5.4
Low 4:22 PM -0.3
High 10:27 PM 4.6

Su
Low 4:23 AM -0.3
High 10:50 AM 5.2
Low 5:14 PM 0.0
High 11:25 PM 4.2

[njspearo]

hey stryperhyper if you could let me in on some of those beach dives that would be sweet, i got a 50'' biller gun and im lookin to shoot some big fish

[spearman21]

Hey guys I know its off topic a bit but is it illegal to speafish in freshwater in NJ????

[tm999xxx]

bit a wind on sat out of the north might mess things up a bit

[OysterToadFish]

was out in shark river today at slack afternoon low tide, The vis was like 5 inches the only way to find bottom was to crash head first into it..really bad, the ocean was like brown... where is the vis?

[njspearo]

was out in shark river today at slack afternoon low tide, The vis was like 5 inches the only way to find bottom was to crash head first into it..really bad, the ocean was like brown... where is the vis?

tell me about it, I was at shark river and manasquan the past two days, dove at slack high tide first day at shark river, current was very strong in channel and the viz was terrible.and thhe next day i hit up manasquan and sharkriver and both sucked! still managed to shoot a nice sized tog each day though!

[kill em all]

manasquan is the worst spot in nj unless u like to be at underwater heavy metal concerts with a sick line up of huge boats that never end