Surf-fishing in the Atlantic Ocean is the main angling attraction of Fenwick Island State Park. Also, party boats that fish out of nearby Ocean City, Md. offer offshore fishing at a reasonable price.

This barrier island separates the Atlantic from Little Assawoman Bay. The area that is now Fenwick Island State Park was established as a public area in 1926 and was designed a state park in 1966. Since that time, it has remained in a wild state in a region that has seen heavy development.

Fenwick Island State Park covers about 442 acres. Surf-fishing is made much easier by means of the Surf- fishing Vehicle Permit, which allows anglers with four-wheel-drive vehicles access to the park's shoreline.

Detailed information on specific requirements for a permit can be obtained by logging on to the Web site: www.destateparks.com/know/fees/otherfees/surffishrate.htm. The fee for a permit is $65 a year for Delaware-registered vehicles, and $130 for out-of-staters. Permits can be purchased at the state park office and the bathhouse gift shop, as well as online. Access to the shoreline is permitted only at designated dune crossings.

During breaks from fishing activities, state park visitors can enjoy sunbathing, swimming and surfing. During summer months, lifeguard patrols run from 9 a.m., until 5 p.m. Umbrellas, chairs and rafts can be rented at the park. The slope of the beach on Fenwick Island is gentle, so an extensive swimming area exists. A new bathhouse was recently constructed, one that includes changing rooms and showers. A designated surfing area is also featured at Fenwick Island State Park.

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, New Jersey
We can thank those who, decades ago, successfully fought against the proposed Tocks Island Dam for the area now known as the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Now administered by the National Park Service, this area provides a wide host of recreation possibilities, rather than being inundated by backwaters. A stretch of 40 miles of the Delaware River is found with the Water Gap National Recreation Area.

One of the greatest free-flowing rivers in the East, the Delaware provides a wide assortment of angling opportunity, perhaps the best-known being the annual American shad spawning run. While the run will have been over by the time folks visit the park in July, there will still be a lot to fish for. The options are not limited to the river either, as ponds and creeks within the area provide additional options.

In the river proper, anglers can enjoy good fishing for smallmouth bass. Other species include walleye and muskie, both of which tend to be found in the slower, deeper pools of the river. The Delaware Water Gap NRA encompasses portions of not only New Jersey, but Pennsylvania as well. A cooperative agreement between the two states allows fishing from either bank of the river with either license. But this does not apply to ponds and tributaries of the river within the park.

The small ponds of the park provide good fishing for warmwater species such as panfish, pickerel, sunfish and catfish. Some of the ponds are also stocked with trout in the spring -- a good option for younger or less-skilled anglers. Many streams feeding the river are also stocked with trout. Depending on the weather, some trout may still be in the streams by this time of the year. Trout are also often caught in the river at stream mouths.

As you might expect, many of the activities of this area revolve around the river. Canoeing and kayaking are popular. Rentals are available on the New Jersey side of the river at Delaware River Rafting and Canoeing, Inc. in Delaware, N.J. For more information on rentals, phone 1-800- 543-0271.