Special Section: Counting Down to Memorial Day

Less than one week until major tourist season

State Officials Approve New Beach Access Rules

The rules side with special interests by blocking access to beaches and waterfronts, Sierra Club says.

State environmental officials have approved a revision of the state's public access rules for beaches, bays and tidal waterways, the Associated Press reported Friday. Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin says the new rules maintain existing public access, while granting more power to local communities to write their own access plans, subject to state approval, the AP reported. The Public Access Rule was signed Wednesday, and will take effect Nov. 5. Jeff Tittel, head of the Sierra Club's New Jersey chapter, wrote a blog post for Patch Friday saying the rules "side with special interests by blocking people from getting proper access to beaches and waterfronts." "When they first proposed the rule it was a major roll…

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Belmar Pro Surfing Contest Opens Thursday

Some of the world's best surfers will gather on 16th Avenue beach this weekend

The Foster's Belmar Pro surfing competition kicks off Thursday, Sept. 13, at 16th Avenue beach in Belmar.  The event, which lasts through Sunday, features several heats including Jr. Pro, Womens Pro and Masters Pro, and will also include parties and live musical performances each night from local and regional favorites at area bars.  Musical acts scheduled to perform live on the beach during the competition and at various after-parties include Barry & The Penetrators, P-Dub Assassins and Paul Cilinski, according to the event's website.  Surfing begins 8 a.m. Thursday and concludes Sunday with an awards ceremony scheduled for 3:15 p.m.  Last weekend, the Belmar Pro held its amateur competition.  Here is the official schedule of events of …

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Amateur Leg of Belmar Pro This Weekend

First heat kicks off 8:30 a.m. Saturday at 16th Ave. beach in Belmar

As Hurricane Leslie heads north this weekend, likely creating some of the year's biggest swells, dozens of surfers will be hitting the water for the amateur leg of the Annual Belmar Pro.  And the fun is just getting started, as next weekend some of the world's best surfers will ascend on the Jersey Shore for the Belmar Pro competitions at 16th Avenue beach and the 20th Annual Manasquan Longboard Classic at the Manasquan Inlet.  This weekend's amateur categories are as follows:  Surfers and bodyboarders can still sign up by downloading a registration form here. Here is this weekend's schedule of events:  SATURDAY:  8:30 AM – Junior Men’s Heat 1 / Round 1 8:50 AM – Junior Men’s Heat 2 9:10 AM – Junior Men’s Heat 3 9:30 AM – Junior Men’s Heat…

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As Leslie Creeps North, Rip Current Risk 'High'

National Weather Service warning in effect through evening

Although Hurricane Leslie is hundreds of miles away and out at sea, the risk of rip currents along the New Jersey coastline on Thursday is high, according to the National Weather Service.  Wind and wave conditions will support the development of "very strong rip currents," the NWS says.  Swells from Leslie's large, slow-moving circulation are producing elevated surf along along most of the eastern seaboard, experts say.  And that elevated surf has caused an abnormally high risk of rip currents, they say.   "The rip currents will be life threatening to anyone who enters the surf," according to the NWS warning.  As current surf conditions are three-to-five feet high, the high risk warning will remain in effect through tonight across all New …

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Christie to Promote Shore Economy in Asbury Park Today

Governor to appear at 3 p.m. on the boardwalk

Editor's note: Read coverage of Christie's visit here.   Gov. Chris Christie is scheduled to appear at the Asbury Park boardwalk at 3 p.m. today to discuss the importance of clean beaches and waterways to the Jersey Shore economy, organizers said.  The governor's "Promoting the Jersey Shore" press conference will be followed at 3:30 p.m. by a boardwalk and beach walk, according to a release from Christie's office.  During the walk, Christie is expected to meet and greet boardwalk patrons and beachgoers, the release says. The press conference will be held on the boardwalk near Convention Hall, 1300 Ocean Avenue, the release says.  Check back with Patch later today for full coverage of the event. 

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Manasquan-Belmar Tide Table for the Week

Atlantic Ocean and Manasquan Inlet Tide Table

Here is the tide schedule for Belmar from Aug. 13 to Aug. 24, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The NOAA is a science agency and a division of the United States Department of Commerce that provides daily weather forecasts, severe storm warnings and climate monitoring to fisheries management, coastal restoration, and supporting marine commerce. For real-time surf conditions, check out these live beach cameras:  Daily surf and swell reports for Monmouth County can be found here, courtesy of SwellInfo.com.    Belmar: Manasquan:

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Ocean Bacteria Levels Low This Week

DEP tests in Manasquan, Belmar show water as clean as can be

As summer draws to a close, beachgoers have just a few more weeks to enjoy the ocean -- and, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection, there's no better time than now.  Bacteria levels in the waters off Manasquan and Belmar this week registered at the lowest levels possible, according to the DEP.  In fact, Monday's test results show that the entire Jersey Shore is as pristine as you'll find any time this summer.  Last week, due to high rain activity, some waters contained considerably high levels of bacteria, forcing the closure of several New Jersey beaches.  This week, however, beaches are as clean as can be.  All six beaches in Manasquan and Belmar tested by the DEP registered less than ten Enterococci per 100 mL of…

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UPDATE: Beach Swimming Advisories Lifted

State DEP spokeswoman calls reports of bacteria test results 'confusing'

After reporting beach closings and swimming advisories Tuesday and Wednesday, the state Department of Environmental Protection just hours later announced that all beaches in Monmouth County were open for business.  The spokeswoman told Patch late Wednesday afternoon that the DEP was receiving "different" results that have been "confusing."  Swimming advisories were reported by the DEP to be in effect for Spring Lake's Worthington Avenue beach and Shark River Beach and Yacht Club's bay beach in Neptune.  The DEP also reported Tuesday that the East Main Street beach in Manasquan was closed, but Borough Administrator Joe DeIorio said no beaches in the borough were closed that day.  Additional testing was conducted Tuesday after earlier tests …

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Keith

9:17 am on Friday, August 10, 2012

Wow, thank you Charlie for responding to my post so quickly. Its great that we have the patch for our local reporting and CONCERNS! My son just got back from the doctor and was diagnosed with cachsachii, a common cold amongst kids. I deleted my post since swimming at Mansquan beach is NOT WHY me and my son were not feeling well.   more ›