Enjoy the fun and good fishing that comes when you take your truck onto the beach.
With rods strapped to the roof, a grill tied down on the tailgate and sand under the tires, it promises to be a perfect evening. As the truck makes the turn off the trail and onto the open beach, the last building in sight ducks behind the dunes. The moderate onshore wind has created enough whitewater to reveal the structure sitting below the waves.
-photo by Kevin Blinkoff
Eyes peeled for a smooth spot flanked by breakers—a place where stripers would confidently invade the trough next to the beach to feast on the spearing, sand eels and crabs seeking refuge there—I motor the truck over the hard-packed sand left exposed by the falling tide.
-photo by Tom Lynch/angryfish.zenfolio.com
I find what I’m looking for a mile-and-a-half down the beach, a break in the outer bar with whitewater spilling into the trough. The truck rolls to a stop, ignition off, and it’s time to get to work. My fiancée Pam fires up the grill while I drive in the sand spikes. Burgers and dogs on the menu for the fishermen, fresh cut bunker on the menu for the fish.
Twenty minutes later, burgers in hand, seconds already on the grill, we’re watching the rod tips bow softly with each incoming wave as the light fades, hoping that bass are nearby, looking for an evening meal as well.
Beach-Driving Requirements
- Tow Chain
- Jack
- Plywood Board
(minimum ¾-inch thick, 12- by 12-inch) - Tire Pressure Gauge
- Fire Extinguisher
- Shovel
- Spare Tire
- First Aid Kit
- Flashlight
Having a four-wheel-drive vehicle capable of driving on the beach is the primary reason I wanted a truck. Driving over the sand opened up new opportunities and new stretches of shoreline that inaccessible on foot. It also allowed me to bring more gear than I could ever carry on the beach by myself. This didn’t just include fishing gear, but grills, coolers, firewood, and friends and family who would otherwise be difficult to convince to go fishing. Another benefit of driving on the beach that has never been lost on me is the ability to hop into the truck for a minute to blast the heat and warm up without taking the lines out of the water.
-photo by Tom Lynch/angryfish.zenfolio.com
Rules of the Road
Beach Fishing Essentials
Don’t end up chasing your rod to the water’s edge when a striper threatens to pull it out to sea; a tall metal sand spike will not only stay put better than a PVC holder, it will lift your line above the breaking waves and keep your bait from being dragged out of the strike zone.
Glow Sticks
When fishing after dark, a small glow stick taped to your rod tip will keep you from guessing about whether or not something has picked up your bait.
Bait-Feeder Reels
If you plan on fishing bait on the beach, spinning reels with a bait-feeder feature will pay out line to biting fish, allowing them to take a bait without feeling any resistance until you can get to the rod and set the hook.
Cooler & Cutting Board
For bait and beverages, a good cooler is a necessity on the beach.
Before driving onto the sand, you’ll need to put your truck into four-wheel drive and air down your tires. Airing down your tires creates a wider base when driving on the beach, making it less likely that your tires will dig into the sand. Always remember to re-inflate your tires after driving on the beach. Driving too long or too fast on a hard surface in aired-down tires can lead to a blowout. Some beaches will have an air compressor nearby, but if they don’t, drive at a safe speed to the nearest gas station to air back up.
On the beach, maintain a safe speed. Speed limits are often posted at the drive on, and are usually 15 miles-per-hour or less. Keep your eyes on the sand for holes or debris.
The more popular beaches will have tire tracks moving through the sand, and the sand in these tracks is often packed down a bit more than the untouched sand, making it easier to drive. If there is no one near the water and the tide is falling, the sand below the high tide line is often flat and packed down, making for a very smooth ride. Just make sure you aren’t interfering with anyone who is parked higher up on the beach and that the incline isn’t too severe.
Always avoid driving on the dunes and dune grass at the base of the dunes. This is a sore subject with park rangers or enforcement at the driving beach.
where can I obtain a map of cape beaches which you can drive and fish on? thanks
Bob. Don’t bother. Most or all of the National seashore beaches will be closed when u want to use them. The park service has destroyed my way of life during the summers. I used to drive and fish the beaches every night thru the summer. Little by little the closed area by area until there was nothing left. The closest tackle shop to race pt in ptown is in eastham! The nps completely destroyed our way of life. Columbus Day weekend used to have a hundred trucks lined up with hundreds of people fishing. If u weren’t there by 4:30-5 am u couldn’t find a spot. My buddy drove out there last year on Columbus Day (and it was open) he was the only one on the beach. Try sandy hook. The town runs it and they care about people so it’s still open. It’s in the bay. No big surf but you can drive and cover some ground
You mean sandy neck ? Or sandy hook
Its all here…
https://www.nps.gov/caco/cape-cod-national-seashore-oversand-beach-driving.htm
On Long Island, you can get a four wheel permit that last a year at the park police offices at Robert Moses State park. $65 and it allows you to access all beach access on LI
A good tip: if you start to get stuck STOP! Air down more to around 12 pounds, dig out behind the tires then back out. Could save a lot of digging later.
sounds like good advice for life in general!
Good tip, but don’t forget to fill in your holes once your out.
www,mbba.net
I too used to to chase linesiders down the back and bay beaches of CC. That’s why I bought my Honda Pilot. But, when I was the only buggy on the beach one night during Columbus Day weekend several years ago I quit going to CC.
The nature and compactness of sand varies greatly. Very dry sand is challenging and after a significant storm the sand is very loosely packed and increased attention is warranted. Nothing buries itself in sand faster than an AWD Willys Jeep which I used on the beach for several years. In contrast, I have never been stuck in a Pathfinder. I always deflate to 12 pounds PSI. When stuck in the Jeep I have successfully deflated to 8 psi and backed out. Backing out is definitely the direction of choice. Engaging the transmission in Low/Low creates too much torque, but Low/Second gear is often quite comfortable. Also when approaching a turn or crossing over tracks, I generally try to accelerate without spinning.
For 15 years I ran the jrs. program for the Plum Island surfcasters. Starting in August we would take the kids out on weekend fishing trips and we would have a ball. First we would clean up the beach in our area, then we would find drift wood for cooking and warmth. Now the refuge doesn’t open till Labor day. The kids are already back in school, started sports or other school related activities. The beach doesn’t get picked up and the kids miss out on some memories that would last a lifetime. Truly sad.
i live in Bronx ny please please were are the herrings
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Hi I use go fishing on the beach many years ago
Is thier any beaches in Connecticut where the public can go surf fishing and use a 4by 4 ??
Michael
Park services has a laundry list of requirements.
Some stupid requirements as well. For example of tire wall is less than 50, even with run flat tires they won’t allow it.