Reef off the New Jersey coast
The Claim Beds cover roughly 816 acres of shell bottom 3.6 nautical miles northeast of Barnegat Inlet. Old bivalve beds like these hold forage that keeps striped bass rooting across the ground in spring and fall — a close-in stop on the way north out of the inlet.
The surrounding area is characterized with hard sand, gravel and shelly material as a bottom type in the offshore part of it.
Click a species row to see fishing methods, regulations, and tips.
| Species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Striped Bass | Off | Off | Good | Peak | Peak | Good | Off | Off | Good | Peak | Peak | Good |
Most charters depart from point-pleasant-beach - Best striper access
point-pleasant-beach
Cape May
Atlantic City
Compare all striped bass charters and book online
Check AvailabilityInshore tackle for back-bay and jetty
Ships free with Prime
Recommended tackle for Striped Bass fishing.
Medium-power 7 ft rod + 3000-class reel. Stripers, fluke, and weakies.

PENN

PENN
“The combo NJ surf-fishing beginners actually keep using two seasons later.”— Jersey Shore Guide editors
1/2 to 2 oz bucktails for fluking the channels and bridge pilings.
Topwater plugs for blitzing stripers at sunrise off the inlet.

JOGFFDE

Dr.Fish
Paddle-tail and shad-style plastics for snapper blues and fluke.
3-4 tray bag built to walk jetties without snagging or dumping.

KastKing

Reaction Tackle
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Claim Beds is known for Striped Bass.
Claim Beds is located 3.5 nm NE (65 degrees T) from Barnegat Inlet. The nearest departure point is Barnegat Inlet.
Reef structures provide habitat for a variety of species. Artificial reefs are regularly stocked and monitored by NJ Fish & Wildlife.
Check recent reports to see what's biting at Claim Beds.
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