New jersey's island beach fishing buggy permit fiasco leaves locals competing with out-of-state buyers for passes

TOMS RIVER, NJ – A long-standing New Jersey tradition of lining up in person each January for Island Beach State Park beach buggy fishing permits has collapsed into chaos after the state moved to an online system that locals say has shut them out of their own coastline.

The new digital process, designed to modernize permit sales, has turned the coveted passes into what some frustrated anglers describe as a “global commodity,” with out-of-state buyers snapping up the limited spots within minutes of release.

Residents and officials across Ocean County say the move has alienated New Jersey taxpayers who have supported the park’s upkeep for generations.

In the past, fishermen would even gather at midnight on New Year’s Day to get their pass. There has always been bragging rights for the lowest numbers that seperate the hardcore anglers from the weekend warriors.

It’s always been that way. Now, New Jersey wants to change it, making lifelong beach badge owners compete against out-of-state visitors who might use their passes just once or twice per season.

Ocean County Commissioner Jennifer Bacchione said residents should not have to “compete with out-of-state applicants for access to their own state parks,” calling on the state to establish a resident-first registration window.

Key Points

Island Beach State Park’s new online permit system has sparked backlash from New Jersey residents.
Ocean County officials are calling for a priority registration period for state residents.
The county says locals are being pushed aside as out-of-state buyers dominate sales.

Ocean County demands resident-first access

In a formal resolution sent to the Department of Environmental Protection and the Division of Parks and Forestry, the Ocean County Board of Commissioners urged the state to open a brief early registration period exclusively for New Jersey residents before the general sale begins.

Bacchione emphasized that the proposal would not block out-of-state visitors but ensure fairness in a process funded largely by New Jersey taxpayers.

“We’re asking the state to sequence access in a way that gives New Jersey residents a reasonable window to obtain permits first,” she said. “Once that window closes, the remaining permits can be made available to everyone.”

Island Beach State Park, one of the state’s most treasured public lands, offers miles of shoreline for surf fishing and off-road beach driving. Each year, demand for vehicle access far exceeds supply, with hundreds of anglers vying for a limited number of permits.

County leaders say they plan to continue pushing for changes to protect what they call a vital cultural and recreational tradition — one that has bound New Jersey fishing families to the barrier island for generations.

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