Manasquan River

[dan4836]

I put my boat in Shark River from 11/15 to 12/15 but I am looking to move to Manasquan in the spring.

I know SkunkBoat is in Manasquan but not sure if anyone else boats out of this area.

Can anyone provide any local knowledge? I am looking to keep my boat in a slip.

Advice on: marinas, inlet, canal connecting to Barnaget and fishing would be great.

I have an 11 and 13 year old sons and Shark River does not offer much in the back waters.

Thanks,

Dan

[SkunkBoat]

Manasquan River is the best place to dock a boat if you like fishing and not "boating". It comes with a price. In the 14 years Ive had the boat it has ranged from $1700 to $3400. That was at Brielle Marine Basin, 1 mile from the inlet. I left at that price and went to Ocean Gate also know as HELL. 13 miles to the inlet(Barnegat!). Came back to Brielle Marine for a season at a "special" rate of $1800 but they sold to Hoffman's, who jacked it to $4000!
I found "the cheap dock" at Manasquan River Club in Brick, west of the Rt 70 bridge, 20 minutes to ocean. $2350,Nice place, excellent ramp, pool, floating dock (when it is not sitting in the mud). On a crazy low tide it is tight, but I've never not gone fishing. They just sold to Marine Max of Brick. Don't know what price change is, I guess I should look into that.

Beware of docks inside Glimmer Glass creek, LOW draw bridge.However, There is a small marina and ramp on the outside of the draw bridge. They are always full when I ask, but they are as close as you can get to the inlet.

If you go to the other end of the Point Plsnt canal its cheaper but the fastest you'll get through the canal is 20 minutes so your looking at +40 minutes to the ocean. The canal can be scary on a ripping tide and a lots of big boats churning standing waves. Oh, the tide is ripping every 6 hours!

Fishing in the river can be great at times. Bass near the bridges at night, lots of small blues from May thru July then again in september. Weakfish (BIG) when they show up can be awesome but they haven't shown in years. Fluking is best May/June then steady for the summer but you get beat up by boat traffic. You gotta fish early or find an "anchor fluke" spot.

Outside, its May/ June Stripers on live bunker along the beach out to 60 ft, 5 miles to wrecks on Sea Girt reef, 18 miles to Mud Hole and deep wrecks on Shark River reef. June/July -Tuna and sharks 20 to 60 miles.

[dan4836]

I think I got extremely lucky and found a slip on the Point Pleasant Canal (in the middle of the canal) at Point Pleasant Fish and Yacht club. I was able to get a slip under the roof for $2,500.

They are a really small marina and have very few openings. It just turns out, the day I called someone was not renewing their slip. I took a look and paid half down.

I want to be able to take the wife and kids to the bay but fish the ocean equally. I guess being in the middle of the canal is best bet.

Do you have any issues with your V in the canal? take any waves over the bow?

[Destroyer]

I don't boat the canal, but I drift bloodworms in it from the side for Stripers. I can tell you from experience that when the rip starts in the canal you'll have a monster wave that advances through the canal that you'll have to contend with. VERY scary and dangerous, so please be careful.

[dan4836]

Thanks for the info...

I did not know anything about large tide change waves. I know they exist and I always know when the tide changes in the Delaware River by a few waves but never dangerous.

I assume the canal can be dangerous to small boats such as rowboats or small bowriders. I expect the V to handle the canal without any issues.

let me know if I am correct on this.

Thanks

[captpete13]

Don't sweat the canal. It's really only bad on the weekends. Even then if you go through there with a little bow up attitude you will have no problem. I only took one wave over the bow of my V and it's because I was letting my daughter drive and she went into a wave at almost idle speed which let the bow dip down. Not really a big deal with the windshield closed. Just be careful going in and out of that marina. I suggest practicing during the week when there is less traffic. Slowly progress to going in and out with more and more current till you are confident.