The Point Pleasant Fishing Access Wildlife Management Area in Point Pleasant Township, Ocean County, is a small 7-acre property purchased with funding from hunting and fishing license sales. This WMA offers anglers a great spot to try their luck in the man-made Point Pleasant Canal.

Recent improvements include new fencing along the canal, a concrete boat ramp with parking for both trailers and anglers accessing the fishing area, an extended fishing dock, and a dock for launching boats.


The current moves quickly through the Point Pleasant Canal, so anglers do best at periods of slack tide and can expect to catch striped bass, tautog, bluefish, blowfish, hickory shad, and juvenile sea bass. The bottom is rocky, providing structure and baitfish. Anglers can snag a line very easily.


There are two designated areas on either side of the launch ramp allowing anglers to park safely and fish. Take the Garden State Parkway to exit 98. Continue on Route 34 South. At the traffic circle, take the third exit to continue onto Route 35 South over the Manasquan River. Use the right two lanes to turn onto Richmond Avenue. Turn left onto Bay Avenue. Turn right onto Bridge Avenue over the Point Pleasant Canal, then turn left on Rue Lido. Make a left onto Beach Boulevard, then left on Barnegat Boulevard, and the first parking area is at the end.

Continue just a few hundred yards to the second parking area by proceeding past Barnegat Boulevard and making a left onto Rue Lafayette.

Owned by New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Fish & Wildlife, the Wildlife Management Area System is comprised of more than 360,000 acres in 122 areas throughout the state, which is more than 44% of New Jersey’s state-owned public open space.

WMAs are maintained and supported with funding from hunting and fishing license sales, the Federal Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program and the Wildlife Habitat Supporter Program.