Coastal states and the Federal Government have created, and continue to develop, hundreds of artificial reefs that provide a habitat for many fish species and enhance and improve Recreational Fishing.
* New Jersey waters are home to 13 Federal Reefs located 3 miles off the coast. New Jersey however, seems to have taken a
cautious approach and has created only 3 State-sponsored Reefs. Finally, our state is working on the first Delaware Bay Artificial Reef within close proximity and easy access from both Fortescue and Cape May. This Artificial Reef will have a base of quarried rock topped with concrete construction (at this time no deployed vessels or barges are planned), This reef is expected to create a diverse fish habitat and hopefully attract Weakfish, Striped Bass, Drum, Flounder as well as many other types of bait fish and a variety of shellfish.
* The State of Delaware on the other hand, continues its’ aggressive reef building and has already provided the states’ recreational fisherman with 8 Delaware Bay Artificial Reefs. The Delaware Fish & Game Commission has indicated that it will continue to build reefs as quickly as it can, and will provide suitable reef material and enhance fishing to boost the many related economic activities that benefit from good fishing grounds.
The SFEC continues to be engaged with NJ Fish & Wildlife to hopefully enhance and expand the Ocean City Artificial Reef site with additional reef sections dedicated by, and in memory to, friends and families of our organization.
The SFEC board will be discussing the deployment of Barges of jetty-size rock at our desired sites in early 2018.