Skip to content

Crabbing in Barnegat Bay: Public Piers and Bay Access

Barnegat Bay offers a long chain of public bayfront access points behind the barrier island. The places below are documented public piers or access areas; they are not a promise that crabs will be present on a particular tide.

Mantoloking Bridge County Park

Best for: a dedicated public pier with evening access. Ocean County’s park includes a lighted 70-foot fishing and crabbing pier on northern Barnegat Bay. Confirm current park hours before a late trip.

Seaside Park bay piers

Best for: walk-on access from the barrier island. New Jersey’s municipal public-access plan identifies crabbing/fishing piers around K and M streets and additional bay access around 5th and 14th avenues. Observe posted hours and parking rules.

Lavallette T-piers

Best for: small public bayfront alternatives. The Reese Avenue and Magee Avenue T-piers are documented public access. Space is limited, so keep lines compact and avoid blocking other users.

Ship Bottom, Long Beach Island

Best for: pairing a bay stop with an LBI trip. The municipal access plan documents a pier/access area near 25th–26th streets. Confirm current construction and local parking restrictions.

How to choose a Barnegat Bay spot

For handlines or collapsible traps, choose a pier with enough vertical clearance to lift gear without striking pilings. Avoid marked navigation channels and never set unattended equipment where it can interfere with boats. After heavy rain, fresher surface water can push crabs toward saltier sections of the bay.

Rules and closures

New Jersey rules cover legal size, the recreational bushel limit and pot requirements. Harvest is permanently prohibited in the Newark Bay complex, but that restriction is not a Barnegat Bay rule; it is still important to consult the current statewide advisory and closure information before eating a catch.

Access sources checked August 13, 2026. Related: New Jersey crabbing report and statewide location guide.