Do I need a boating license?

No — if you do not hold a boating license, a short boater instruction is provided at the shop when you complete paperwork.

How many people can the pontoon hold?

The pontoon is rated for up to 12 people; if you request a mate the mate counts as the twelfth person and guest capacity is reduced to 11.

Yes — the operation is dog friendly, but keep pets leashed during check-in and be prepared to manage them on deck.

Can we dock at local restaurants?

You may pull up to waterfront restaurants only if you have a mate on board; otherwise docking restrictions apply.

Are life jackets provided?

Life jackets are required for children 13 and under on the dock and boat; staff can assist with jacket availability during check-in.

Can we beach the pontoon?

No — pontoons are not allowed to beach; follow the provided map and boundary instructions for safe anchoring spots.

Back-Bay Pontoon Fishing and Cruising in Ocean City, NJ

Fishing/Cruising Pontoon on Ocean City's protected back bays offers a flexible, family-friendly way to fish, crab, or cruise along the marshes of southern New Jersey. Departing from Ocean City, New Jersey, this 24-foot, 60-horsepower pontoon seats up to 12 people and focuses on stability, shade, and simple fun. The boat’s bench seating and bimini top make it easy to spread out coolers and tackle, while the shallow, protected waterways reduce motion and let children and novice anglers feel confident on deck.

Within minutes of leaving the dock you can be fishing productive tidal channels and flats that produce flounder, striped bass, bluefish, dogfish and the small sand sharks common to the bay. Crabbing is excellent throughout the estuary; set pots or hand-line for hard-shell peeler crabs and bring the day’s catch back to a waterfront picnic. Wildlife is as much a part of the trip as the fishing: watch ospreys lift from channel markers, herons stand motionless along creek edges, and salt-marsh grasses ripple around oyster bars and mudflats.

The experience is practical and flexible. Rentals run two to six hours, ideal for a half-day of casting or a longer cruise that pauses at quieter anchorages. Staff at the on-site bait and tackle shop can point out current hot spots and loan local knowledge, and a simple boater instruction is provided for guests without a license. Important rules keep outings safe and legal: arrive thirty minutes early to complete paperwork, all children 13 and under must wear life jackets while on the dock and boat, pontoons may not beach, and docking at waterfront restaurants requires a mate on board.

What makes this option special is how it opens the back-bay landscape to small groups: calm water, close wildlife encounters, and the convenience of short runs to fishing grounds. The setup favors mixed groups—families who want a relaxed cruise, anglers chasing a tide-driven bite, and anyone who wants an easy day on the water without venturing into the open ocean. Bring sun protection, waterproof coolers, and simple tackle, and expect a hands-on local outing that leaves room for both casting and conversation.

Groups often reserve a mate for extra help with fishing; a mate counts as the twelfth person and reduces guest capacity to eleven. Trips suit birthdays, reunions, or first-time boaters learning tidal navigation. A printed map and boundary brief are provided at check-in; boundaries run from the Longport Bridge to the Garden State Parkway Bridge, with limited crossing under the 9th Street Bridge on the Sommer’s Point side.