Living On The Water

If you have a love for boating or would just like to spend some time on or by the water the Jersey shore on Barnegat Bay is a great area to live. The boating life style, whether it’s for fishing, crabbing or just enjoying a day on the water, the local area of Bayville and Lacey Township provides this opportunity. The ideal boating life style is having a home on the water and your boat in the back yard!

But why this area? Barnegat Bay south of the Seaside Bridge provides some of the best water in New Jersey. This along with good sea breezes in the summer months is one of reasons you see so many sail boats along the Toms River and Barnegat Bay. The bay is protected by the barrier islands of Seaside, Island Beach State Park and Long Beach Island but allows quick access to the ocean through Barnegat Inlet or Manasquan Inlet to the north. Water depth is generally good along the western two-thirds of the bay and both the inter coastal waterway and channels are well marked.

For us, being active boaters, some of our best times have been at an area called Tice's Shoals. It is east of inter costal ICW mile 23 and during the summer can be easily found by the number of boats gathering at this area. Boats with drafts less than five feet can anchor on a soft, sandy bottom, where swimming can be enjoyed in the bay. Additionally you can easily access the beautiful beach on Island Beach State Park; there is a boardwalk that leads to the ocean. Watching sunsets from this anchorage can be especially enjoyable. During good weather in the summer months, a number of boats will be seen overnighting in this location.

Restaurants can be accessed by boat. Martell's Water's Edge in Bayville, provides a number of anchorages and water taxi to their restaurant. Both indoor and outdoor dining is available. Also along Forked River, the Captain's Inn is one of the spots frequented by boaters during the summer months.

If you are an avid fisherman, Barnegat Bay and the coastal waters is like living at a "Big Seafood Market". Whether it is clamming, crabbing or Stripper fishing that you seek, the area is a fisherman's paradise. Below is one of the bigger local catches. Our neighbor landed a 550 pound Thresher shark summer 2007. While this was a big fish it was a few pounds shy of the state record, they will try again this summer.

Life on the water is a different atmosphere than living inland as people are more social, one reason is the common thread of boating and living by the sea.

To learn more about the area and New Jersey waters, we highly recommend "A Cruising Guide to NJ Waters", a book written by Captain Donald M. Launer, a local area resident, an accomplished sailor and author. Also his web site www.donaldlauner.com is worth a visit.

A seagull overlooking the bay	Sunset from Tice's Shoals
Sunset from Tice's Shoals	Old Barney
Photos by the authors

Bob and Kathi Nunn are full time Real Estate professionals specializing in waterfront homes. Being waterfront homeowners and boaters ourselves, we know what is important to the waterfront buyer. So if we can help you achieve your goal of living on the water please give us a call. More...