Paddle to Oak Island (I think)

[scubabruce]

The USGS maps indicate that it should be possible to paddle to, or close to Oak Island, from Bass River so today I gave it a shot.

Point of departure - Bass River

Collapsed bridge near the island

On southern most part of island - what is it?

The waterway twisted through the marsh and eventually ended right at the southern part of the island. There were no bugs in the marsh, but as soon as I hit the island, the mosquitoes were terrible. I had on only a bathing suit. Lots of thorny plants too. I couldn't explore much or stay long.

Another shot of the bridge

Meadow in front of the island

Some kind of overgrown berm leading out to the island. Either a pathway or spoils from Corps digging canals

another shot of the berm

Looking out towards RT 9 from the island

I wasn't supposed to be there. It was a nice paddle, worth doing again without mosquitos. Mud up to my knees if I stepped into the canals, but I could walk across the marsh OK. I set out on an incoming tide. I wish I could have explored more of the island -maybe next time.

 

[pinelandpaddler]

Edit: Nice photos.

 

[Teegate]

As you say it is off limits. I would not recommend anyone going there especially during hunting season.

 

[bobpbx]

Thet thar contraption looks like 'en oyster dredge.

 

[scubabruce]

As you say it is off limits. I would not recommend anyone going there especially during hunting season.

Are you saying you can hunt there in season but never kayak?

 

[manumuskin]

Gee i wonder who stood that up like that????

 

[manumuskin]

Are you saying you can hunt there in season but never kayak?

thats about the size of it.Imagine that! a national wildlife refuge that welcomes hunters but not nature lovers,not saying that hunters can't be nature lovers too but it does seem ironic that it is okay to come there to kill animals and not just to study or photograph them.

 

[Teegate]

I have been told by someone who should know, that they give out a limited number of permits for the island. These individuals have the legal right to be there and I suspect they would not take kindly to someone illegally being there. I am not critizing you or anyone from going there, I am just giving you my opinion. I like the fact you enjoy exploring, and I enjoyed your photo's.

Al, I am sure you have no idea who did that.

Guy

 

[manumuskin]

ScubaBruce ....The Renegade!

 

[scubabruce]

The way in is a navigable, tidal, natural waterway. I can't believe the state can restrict access like that. What's to keep them from restricting access to Barnegat Bay or Great Bay in the name of wildlife if they wanted to? I didn't touch the oyster dredge - didn't know what it was. I went in in the off season for critter reproduction, even mosquitos, though they were still biting. Anyone with a permit living out there is nuts with all the mosquitos. There was a small trail that I followed for a while but I didn't get to the ruins. It would be interesting to know what the permits are for. I don't think there are any oysters in the area. I gotta go back - the area is way cool!

 

[manumuskin]

That is not state land,it is federal NWR.haven't you figured out that the government weather state or federa does what ever the hell it wants to?I thought everyone knew that.

 

[ecampbell]

Govment sucks!

 

[Teegate]

Yea.... if anyone does get caught they face a federal judge.

 

[Teegate]

The permits are for hunting.

 

[46er]

The permits are for hunting.

They also issue special use permits, such as visiting Little Beach Island. Give them a call at their Oceanville HQ and ask about Oak Island, you just might get lucky. This all sounds vaguely familiar.....

 

[RednekF350]

The area known as Oak Island is a NJF&W Deer Management Zone (DMZ) in and of itself. It is known as zone 70.
The Federales allow hunting in accordance with NJFW rules.

Here is the Forsythe Refuge link to the description of the zone. It is outdated, listing the dates for the 2011 season.

http://www.fws.gov/northeast/forsythe/pdf/deer_hunt/DMZ_70_Bass_Riv_Oak_Is_Final_2011.pdf

The NJFW 2012 regs are found here on document page 54 for DMZ 70

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/2012/dighnt44-55.pdf

Enjoy.

 

[scubabruce]

Thanks to everyone for all the info. I contacted Don Friday at the Forsythe Preserve HQ in Oceanville. He informed me that you are allowed to kayak into most areas of the Forsythe Preserve (since it's tidal waters), including the area around Oak Island without a permit as long as you don't step out of the kayak into the marsh. If you want to walk on the marsh areas, you need a special use permit. Hunting there requires a hunting permit. He is e-mailing me an application. I need to fill out the application and his supervisor will decide whether to grant it. Since I am a biologist and I just want to take pictures, he didn't see any problem.

 

[manumuskin]

Thanks to everyone for all the info. I contacted Don Friday at the Forsythe Preserve HQ in Oceanville. He informed me that you are allowed to kayak into most areas of the Forsythe Preserve (since it's tidal waters), including the area around Oak Island without a permit as long as you don't step out of the kayak into the marsh. If you want to walk on the marsh areas, you need a special use permit. Hunting there requires a hunting permit. He is e-mailing me an application. I need to fill out the application and his supervisor will decide whether to grant it. Since I am a biologist and I just want to take pictures, he didn't see any problem.

You are a biologist as in a Batchelors degree holding biologist?What type of Biology?
This is the type of crap that aggravates me,nothing against biologists but it seems that in a few years holding an accredited college degree will be the only thing that will allow you to access most of our public land.I guess holders of degrees must weigh less then the rest of us and they don't make footprints or squish ants like the rest of us inadvertently do.I feel like an alien on my own planet.

 

[46er]

You are a biologist as in a Batchelors degree holding biologist?What type of Biology?
This is the type of crap that aggravates me,nothing against biologists but it seems that in a few years holding an accredited college degree will be the only thing that will allow you to access most of our public land.I guess holders of degrees must weigh less then the rest of us and they don't make footprints or squish ants like the rest of us inadvertently do.I feel like an alien on my own planet.

Have you be turned down for a permit request?

 

[pinelandpaddler]

You are a biologist as in a Batchelors degree holding biologist?What type of Biology?
This is the type of crap that aggravates me,nothing against biologists but it seems that in a few years holding an accredited college degree will be the only thing that will allow you to access most of our public land.I guess holders of degrees must weigh less then the rest of us and they don't make footprints or squish ants like the rest of us inadvertently do.I feel like an alien on my own planet.

It's not the fact that you're not an educated biologist. It's because you're a creationist.