Doesn't anyone read or post to this section?

[ParkRode360]

are there any restaurants on that stretch of the ICW out to the Atlantic, osead? Or is it pretty barren?

[osead]

Down by me, at the end of Metedeconk is the Pilot House in Brick.  It's a bit pricey but on Wed. and Fri. they have a $1.00/sushui at the bar for a limited time.

There are others at Manasquan inlet but last time I looked some closed down.

I'm still unemployed, looking for work in this economy (thanks to great leadership exporting jobs), I haven't gotten out much.

I believe Capt. Bob is closer to the inlet than me.  Maybe he would know better?

Capt. Bob?

[Rob_boater]

What is boating like in the Barnegat Bay and North?  We are still searching for a marina for next season. 

Coves/beaches to pull up to to anchor for the day and swim?

We want a pool and a family friendly place.  We live in NY so Friday traffic will be bad.  I can take a train to Longbranch area on Friday nights and have my wife and kids head down during the day before traffic build up.

[osead]

Here are some other anchorages:

Treasure Island, a.k.a. Osborn Island
- Location: Manasquan River (40° 05' 030" N, 74° 04' 018" W, FL Red Buoy 4)
- Comments: Approach from West, give island way as there is a spit to the South that is submerged at high tide. Tide range about 3 feet. Low tide
can be a problem for drafts over 3 feet or so.

Silver Bay/Mosquito Cove, Just west of Cattus Island Park.
- Location: Coordinates 39°59'43.51"N 074°07'35.85"W. On the southeast corner of Silver Bay is Mosquito cove. Coordinates 39°59'15.47"N 074°07'36.88"W
- Comments: Charts shows minimum 4' depth in the area.

Applegate Cove, a.k.a. Cattus Island Park
- Location: Township of Toms River (39° 58' 847" N, 74° 07' 066" W)
- Comments: Just south and to the west of ICW #24 or just north and to the west of ICW #26

Windy Cove
- Location: Pine Beach, on the Toms River (39° 56' 398" N, 74° 10' 724" W)
- Comments: On the south shore of the Toms River approximately 3.75 miles West of ICW # 33 at the mouth of the river. Deepest water in river. Good for Northeast blow. Fireworks 4th of July

North Shore of Berkley Island Park
- Location: Berkley Township (39° 52' 474" N, 74° 08' 040" W
- Comments: Just north and west of the Cedar Creek mouth.

Tices Shoal
- Location: Island Beach State Park (39° 50' 026" N, 74° 05' 571" W)
- Comments: 3 feet of water at that mark. On the East side of the Barnegat Bay just north of the Barnegat Inlet. Sandy bottom, shallow water and a boardwalk to walk from the bayside to the ocean. From the North, from ICW #40 set a heading of approximately 155 Degrees for approximately 2.50 miles. From the South, from ICW BB set a heading of approximately 90 Degrees for approximately 3.0 miles. In either case, you will know you are there when you can't see the beach through the boats. Watch the depth gauge, OK for larger drafts just don't get to close to shore.

Barnegat Light Anchorage
- Location: Barnegat Light (39° 45' 417" N, 74° 06' 918" W)
- Comments: Just inside the inlet, good protection, big tide range. Watch the greenheads. Mark is the area back in the marshes, south of the main channel


Skull Island
- Location: shoal off Gateway National Recreation Park, Snady Hook (if you know the Lat & Long please let us know)
- Comments: features a guy selling Sabrett’s hot dogs from his boat, a bay side “pet friendly” beach and ocean beaches with walking distance of the bay.

Also is the "F" cove but it greats a little crazy.  Chek out the photos at:  http://f-cove.com/

For Marinas, I'm at the end of Metedonk River at Jersey shore marina.  It has a salt water pool cable electric and water.  Also, Green Cove has a pool and both you are able to drive up to the slip. Comstock usually has the best gas prices, I've found, but Jersey Shore was $2.99 for cash.  There's Brennan's and Lighting Jack also, but no pools as I remember. there are many on the bay as well bt i don't remember pools there. It gets crowded on the river but the Bay isn't too bad except for the traffic on the ICW on weekends.  Check out Marinas.com if you haven't already.  The map and chart search sections are pretty cool.

Hope that helps you.  Anyone else input?

[mflauer]

I'm in Brigantine, NJ. Good access to inter-coastal. Next door to AC with fishing at the inlet or offshore (I said fishing not catching). Several marinas around Brigantine and Atlantic City but can't tell you the prices since I'm at a private dock. Nice area unless you get a west breeze or no breeze and the green head flies come out biting  It's fairly central so north or south is accessible. Come on down!

[Rob_boater]

We have to start looking very soon.  We are going to need North NJ for traffic reasons.  So far Channel Club is winning for NJ.  We would like to be a little more south near the ICW to give us more to do then the long 1 hour ride out to open water to get on plane.

Just do not know if its worth just going to the boat very late on Friday nights and leaving Sunday afternoons before the traffic to get home.

[osead]

Channel Club seems to be on the Shrewsberry River.  If you want to go on Barnegat and the ICW, you'll have quite a way to go.  the Garden State Parkway is crowded on summer Sunday nights but I don't know the route you'll intend to take.  It's been better to go late Friday night than right after work and leave earlier on Sunday.  I sometime take Rt 287 to the GSP from central NJ or Rt 9 and back roads.  A GPS is invaluable.  Try these sites to decide where is best for you:

http://marinas.com/browse/marina/US/NJ/

http://www.harborguides.com/regions.php?ID=1&

http://www.mels-place.com/Contents/Marinas/marinas.htm

Also to see the traffic, you can Google Map the Marina locations and pick traffic tab, then where it says live, you can also specify a time and day.

Hope that helps.

[Rob_boater]

We would travel the garden State Parkway.  I work in CT so the Friday night crawl can be bad.  We would like to use the boat more than 1 day a weekend and if it rains on a Saturday that means no boat at all.

How bad is the GSP on Friday/Sundays?

[ParkRode360]

Rob, if you're taking the GSP south on Friday, it's usually a horror show, at least the stretch I (used to) commute on, down to 78.  Not much better south of that, from what I understand. Then all those people comeback on Sunday afternoon.  What would normally take a half hour (Paramus to Rt 78) could easily go to an hour and a half or more, depending on how silly people were and how much construction the parkway decided to leave out.

You might be better off thinking CT if only because you'd be going against the traffic...

[NJTOW]

We're @ Key Harbor Marina - Waretown, NJ  exit 69 off the GSP, Pool, tennis court, pet friendly, etc., Has Rest. & fuel. Close to Barnegat inlet & Tice's shoal (raft up sand bar.) look up at   www.keyharbormarina.com

[osead]

I'm at exit 91 on the GSP with Cable, pool, water and elcrric and you can drive right up to your slip and put up a pop up with a BBQ if you want. 

If you want to use the boardwalks with the kids, it's kind of close (20 min by car) to a few.  ANd, like NJtow  said, Tice's Shoal is so close to Island Beach State Park with natural dunes and a walk to the ocean.

Morgan's Marina is down by Perth Amboy but if a pool is important than you have to get a little exploratory.

There are many ways down to get around the traffic if you really want to come to Jersey like driving off hrs. and back roads, but like Park Rode said, if travel time is a priority for you, then you need to consider staying in CT.

[capt bob]

I'm at exit 91 on the parkway and there are quit a few marina's to choose from with pool and stuff like that and there prices are varied.
Traffic on the Parkway is a disaster but if you can be here by 3pm you shouldn't have too much of a problem.  As far as leaving on Sunday there is a way to go and not use the parkway.  We have a bunch of Northern New Jersey people that use that way to go home. 
There are plenty of things to do by boat to keep everyone happy and if you dont want to do the boat thing this is the Jersey Shore and in my opinion is the most happenest place around. 
I can understand your wanting to avoid traffic and get the time boating as you can.  You may want to look for a place around Sandy Hook.  It is probably a bit more money and deffinetly more crowded but you will avoid a lot traffic.   Hope it all helps if you need any more info I'll check the board more often

[Rob_boater]

I work in CT - I get to Rockland County NY ~6:30 PM on a Friday.  Without traffic to Pt Pleasant from my house is ~1.5 hours.

There are trains I can take form my office that should get me to Long Branch, NJ in ~2 hours from my work office on a Friday night.  But no trains to get me to work on Monday morning in time.

We have thought about driving down late Friday night (Leave Rockland ~8).  This would give us Saturday on the boat.  Just do not know about Sundays either staying over and droving 3 hours to work on Monday mornings at 4:00 AM or leaving after 9 on Sunday to drive home?

[osead]

I live in Morris Plains, NJ and it takes me 1.5 hrs. to get to Brick, NJ at exit 91 w/o any traffic!

I hit traffic on the GSP going south on a Friday afternoon from late lunch on till around 10 or 11 or 8 a.m. Sat. I go back a little early afternoon Sunday or stay till very early Monday.

NJ transit goes to Bay Head as the last stop if you want to check the schedules.

Best of Luck where ever you choose. 

[Black_Diamond]

I had to laugh at the mention of an exit in NJ.  My wife is from there and hates that stereotype..yet so true.