Do I need a boating license to rent the pontoon?

No—if you don’t hold a license, the shop provides a boater instruction course and basic orientation when you arrive.

How many people can the pontoon hold?

The pontoon holds 12 people total; if you request a mate the boat’s capacity is 11 because the mate counts as one person.

Are dogs allowed on board?

Yes, the operation is dog friendly—bring any required pet safety gear and keep pets leashed while boarding.

What species can I expect to catch?

Common local catches include flounder, striped bass, bluefish, dogfish, small sand sharks, and abundant blue crabs.

Can we beach or dock at restaurants?

No—beaching is not allowed, and docking at restaurants is prohibited unless a mate is on board per operator rules.

Where can we go in the bay?

Boundaries run from the Longport Bridge to the Garden State Parkway Bridge, with only one allowed crossing under the 9th Street Bridge on the Somers Point side; a map is provided.

Ocean City Pontoon Fishing: Family-Friendly Back Bay Trips

On a calm morning in Ocean City, New Jersey, a 24-foot pontoon slips off the dock and into the shallow, maze-like back bays that define this stretch of the Jersey Shore. Fishing Pontoon #2 offers anglers a stable, family-friendly platform powered by a 60 HP motor and shaded by a Bimini top—perfect for half-day excursions or the full six-hour sweep through tidal creeks and sand flats.

The setup is straightforward: the pontoon holds up to 12 people (11 if you request a mate), allows fishing and crabbing from the deck, and keeps travel time to a minimum so you spend more minutes hooking flounder, striped bass, bluefish, dogfish, and the occasional small sand shark. Crabbing is productive year-round in the bay’s shallow channels and marsh edges; staff point out soft-bottom flats and drop-offs where blue crabs gather. An on-site bait and tackle shop means last-minute rigs are never far away, and the crew shares local tips to put lines over the fish without an all-day run.

The back bays themselves are a defining feature: tidal marshes, sandy flats, and narrow channels carved behind barrier islands that shelter Ocean City from the Atlantic. Those flats concentrate bait and game species, especially at moving tides, and offer easy casting from the wide, stable deck. While the region lacks dramatic cliffs or alpine peaks, the marsh ecology and salt-sculpted shorelines are a distinctive coastal landscape worth exploring.

Practical notes matter here. You must arrive 30 minutes early to complete paperwork and receive a brief boater instruction if you don’t hold a license. Children 13 and under are required to wear life jackets on the dock and boat. The operation restricts passage between the Longport Bridge and the Garden State Parkway Bridge, with a single allowed crossing under the 9th Street Bridge on the Somers Point side; the guide will provide a map and orientation.

Why book this trip? For families and mixed-ability groups it removes the hassle of boat ownership while delivering an immediate shot at productive fishing in sheltered water. It’s also a useful choice for anglers practicing inshore techniques—drift, cast, and crab—with the confidence of a roomy platform and local support. Whether you’re after a hands-on beginner afternoon or a focused six-hour push for striped bass, Fishing Pontoon #2 is a practical, accessible way to fish Ocean City’s bays.

Trips are flexible: choose a two-hour sampler to teach kids how to bait and release, a mid-length three- or four-hour outing for steady action, or a six-hour stretch to chase tides and cover more ground; a mate can be hired for help. The combination of shallow-water structure, local knowledge, and roomy pontoons makes this one of Ocean City’s most approachable maritime outings.