Summer Seining at Bayshore Waterfront Park

This is not a sponsored post.

Do some seining and see what’s in the bay!

 

Programs like these are why I love writing for Jersey Family Fun. It’s rewarding to find something educational, fun, and free that excites your children and gets all of you out in the fresh air, and I’m so glad I can tell more people about it!

 

Seining is the act of holding a net vertically in the water, dredging slightly at the bottom and seeing what comes out! In this case we were seining in the Sandy Hook Bay.

 

We have family in northern Monmouth County so we frequent the bayshore area. On a recent Friday we headed to Port Monmouth’s Bayshore Waterfront Park for their free Summer Seining program. We didn’t know what to expect either at the park or with the program, so imagine our surprise when we found a gorgeous beach, pier, and activities building! Parking and beach entry, and the seining program are all FREE!

 

 

The crowd was gathered a bit down the beach from the parking lot, so they had already started by the time we got there. No worries though, as they seine the water numerous times during the hour. There were all ages of children participating, and any child who wanted to work the 30 foot net in the water was given a chance. There were containers of water lined up on the beach, to hold the fish that were caught by the net. Most of the fish caught were bait fish, but in our case a young bluefish, a crab, and a snapper fish came out. As the net comes out of the bay, the children run to rescue the fish and put them in the containers.

 

 

At the end of the program all fish and creatures are released back into the bay.

 

 

Monmouth County Parks employee, Frank was leading the program, and he had a great way with the children, answering their questions, getting them all involved and giving them information at a level which they could understand. Other volunteers and park employees are on hand to help with fish retrieval and release, and answer questions.

 

If you go to Summer Seining at Bayshore Waterfront Park:

• Parking was available, but limited. Arrive early or look for nearby off street parking.
• Wear your bathing suit so you can go in the water with the net!
• Closed toe shoes are required per their website (though most children were barefoot).
• It’s on the beach so sunscreen is a must. Bring your beach gear and make a day of it! No lifeguards are at the park so swim with caution.
• The program runs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, June 22–August 21, from 11 a.m.–12 p.m.

 

 

Sound like something you’d enjoy? There’s plenty more free nature programs through Monmouth County Parks.

See more Summer Seining at Bayshore Waterfront Park photos in our Facebook album. Here’s a preview.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10153067743255745.1073742224.71658875744&type=3

Monmouth County Bayshore Waterfront Park is at 719 Port Monmouth Road, Port Monmouth. Park opens at 7 a.m. 365 days a year. Closing time is 9 p.m. July 18-August 15; and 8:30 p.m. August 16-31.

 

This is not a sponsored post.