It’s o-fish-ial!

New Jersey fishing industry is the reel deal.

FishingBooker, the online fishing guide company has released it’s report on America’s Fishing Index of 2026 which evaluates performance across Anglers’ Interest, Facilities, Financial, and Geographic pillars.

The extensive research was compiled from hundreds of thousands of fishing trips, reviews, and reports, as well as industry research based on 17 different criteria’s the report stated.

For the four edition, the report details the best US fishing states and real changes compared to last 2025.

Below are the results of the search for the Garden State:

New Jersey’s 2025 rank was 28, and its 2026 rank is 15. There is a 13-spot jump, and here’s why.

• With a total of 86 points, New Jersey has officially moved from the bottom tier into the upper half of the nation, proving that its diverse mix of urban freshwater and world-class saltwater access is a major draw for modern anglers.
• While the state is rising fast, Angler Interest remains a growth area. With a score of 22 out of 55, the data suggests that New Jersey’s actual fishing quality is currently outpacing its national reputation.
• A Geography score of 15 out of 25 reflects the state’s elite saltwater infrastructure. In 2026, the state’s Artificial Reef Program, one of the most active in the country, saw new vessel deployments (such as the Susan Rose), creating immediate hotspots for black sea bass, fluke, and tautog.
• New Jersey’s 2026 rise was fueled by a massive overhaul of its Trout Stocking program. By adding 19 extra days to the season and expanding stocking to 23 new ponds, the state has made freshwater fishing more accessible to suburban and urban families than at any point in the last decade.

They took them under their wing.

A large stretch of a Jersey Shore beach is roped off to protect a bird’s nest just in time for Memorial Day weekend.

A pair of American Oystercatchers made their home on the sand in Belmar — and New Jersey Fish and Wildlife is prohibiting beachgoers from trespassing in the area to protect them and their eggs, according to NJ Advance Media.

The agency erected signs at 7th Avenue Beach — one of the most popular spots in Belmar — that say “Do Not Enter,” and explain that the area is a nesting area for the shorebirds, which are protected under federal law.

The placards also warn that “harassing these birds, their eggs or their young” can incur a $50,000 fine or jail time.

The birds are not listed as endangered or threatened species in New Jersey, according to Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey.

However, their status has been to changed to one of “special concern.”

Many on social media agreed with the agency’s efforts to protect the creatures, which are known for their black and white body and long orange-red bill.

“Love love love this!!!! Beautiful birds! One of my favorite!” one gushed.

“Leave that cute birdie alone people,” another added.

Others thought even more safety precautions were needed.

“We should send a biologist or conservation police to guard the area,” one wrote.

DEP officials told the outlet that the length of time the area would be closed will be determined by whether the chicks opt to remain there after hatching.

If the baby birds decide to relocate to another spot on the beach, that new area will be closed off instead, the agency added.

It’s been nearly a decade and a half since the Brooklyn Nets moved out of New Jersey.

The organization has completely revamped its vibe since switching states, ditching the red, white and blue look for a very basic black and white colorway.

The Nets have also intermittently changed the colors of the banners hanging up in the Barclays Center from red, white and blue to black and white, much to the chagrin of traditional Nets fans.

Despite the Nets now playing in a bigger market and being far removed from their days in the Garden State, some fans seem to hope for the Nets to make their return across the river. New Jersey governor Mikie Sherrill was asked about the matter.

“I mean, would I support it? I ask about it all the time,” Sherrill said. “I love the idea. So, I have been pressing for that. I haven’t made a lot of headway yet; you know, maybe in my second 100 days.

“But I do think there is some work being done for some — I don’t know if I’m allowed to say too much about it — but some people are working on some different sports coming into the Rock.”

As time went on, the Nets eventually started to embrace more of their New Jersey roots, which started when they rocked a clean tie-dye jersey from the 90s during the 2020-21 season.

The next season, the Nets followed it up with uniforms commemorating their run in the 2000s, when the team got to the NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003 and endlessly broke the ESPN top 10 with each crazy Jason Kidd assist and Vince Carter dunk.

It’s fitting that Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, the latter of whom grew up in New Jersey as a Nets fan, got to rock these uniforms, helping boost the popularity of the New Jersey brand to a wide array of fans.

True Nets fans embraced the Continental Airlines Arena/Izod Center and the swamps of East Rutherford, getting to witness a winning basketball team for a fraction of the cost of the team mired in dysfunction that happened to play their home games at “The World’s Most Famous Arena.”

Not many marquee free agents would have signed up to play in New Jersey, but real fans remember the good times in the swamps, especially with Sly the Fox as the team’s mascot. Those times deserve to be remembered properly.

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