THERE ARE REGULATIONS, AND THERE’S COMMON SENSE

EDITOR: This article was written by our good friend and Long Island Beach Buggy Association officer Joe Pellegrini. We are re-sharing it as a reminder that- especially in summer- we fishermen need to remember how to “stay between the lines”, follow the rules, be safe and be prepared.

Let’s go over some Do’s and Don’ts of driving and fishing on our beaches. I am going to refer to Long Island state and local regs, but whether you are further north in New England, or down the mid-Atlantic coast in NJ, DE, MD or VA, if you see a reference to a local law, please realize this is not only best practices, it also likely applies in your area.

Most areas along the Striper Coast have regulations requiring tagging and licensing- often for your vehicle, your person, your fishing or all three. Here’s the thing, when it comes to the items required to satisfy the regulations for the pass, a lot of people tend to buy equipment that's just “good enough” to check the box.  I’ve seen trucks pull up next to me on the beach and a group of five gets out. They set up 3 freshwater rods and stick them in the sand. One has a surf rod with the price tag still on it. The other just seems to concern himself with the cooler of drinks.  I’ve helped people stuck in the sand and noted that they either had no shovel, or one meant for building sandcastles. My observations have also shown me that the same people who did not want to spend $40 on a proper surf fishing rod had no hesitation spending $400 on a cooler. Lesson 1: There are times in life that going the cheap route is fine, and other times- especially when investing in your safety and the safety of your vehicle and passengers, that you shouldn’t skimp. The corollary to lesson 1 is: The most expensive isn’t always the best, and the least expensive is often that way because it won’t really do the job.

I know you’ve heard this said before, “protect your investment”.  I think we can all agree that your vehicle is a big investment. Despite its price tag, that young engineer did not envision every situation you could encounter year-round on the beach. It's not worth damaging your vehicle, or possibly not being able to recover it, because you did not properly prepare, and purchased poor quality equipment or tools to bail yourself out. Believe me when I say, I have seen it all.  Whether you get stuck below the high tide line and the ocean swallows your rig, or you need Sav-Ur-Butt Towing to come get you, it will turn out to be a much more expensive outing than it would have been if you had spent a little bit more on the right gear to meet the regs and, of course, comply with common sense.

If you look on the back of your NY State pass or at the literature you received when you purchased your Suffolk County permit, you will see that to be in compliance you need to have a whole check- list of equipment. I dedicated an entire Tackle Tuesday to the top one- a portable compressor. Get one, I am not going to reiterate everything I wrote. There is, however, so much more beyond the compressor.

Per the New York State Permit you are required to have the following equipment:

A Shovel- one of those small foldable shovels won’t get you too far. Sand, rust and accumulated “gunk” gets in the hinge and makes it difficult, maybe impossible, to open. If you don’t have the room for a full-size shovel, one of those garden shovels with a handle approx. 3’ long that you can buy at a local hardware store is OK for the job. But if you’re really stuck, buried up to your chassis, you’ll appreciate that longer full-sized handle when you are digging close to the hot exhaust. You’re back will also thank you.

Next is a Rope or Tow Chain. Remember when Crocodile Dundee showed us a real knife? Think like that. Most people go the route of one of those thick heavy duty bright yellow tow straps. They are good enough to satisfy the rules, but you need to make sure what you purchase is truly good enough for the job at hand. The strap that you purchase should be rated to 3x the weight of your vehicle.  Additionally, there is a difference between a tow strap and a recovery strap. Besides the different material construction, recovery straps are usually manufactured from high strength nylon, while tow straps are usually made of polyester. Both are durable, but they have different characteristics. The main difference is elasticity. Recovery straps are a bit flexible and absorb some of the impacts of a recovery procedure by providing an additional tug due to kinetic energy.  A tow strap on the other hand is very stiff with almost zero give.

Portable Toilet- Yes, you are supposed to have one and yes, a 5-gallon bucket will suffice. They sell bags that have a substance that will gel or clump up when wet. Please take your bags home with you and don’t just dig a hole or dump the waste on the sand.

Jack and Jack board- hey, it happens, you get a flat, tire came off the bead, or maybe you’re stuck, and your rig is “buried”, and you need to get it out of the hole. These are scenarios where jacking up your rig might be needed. It is important to have a substantial board, with some width and thickness to rest your jack so it doesn’t sink into the sand when using it. Keep something with a little “substance” on hand.  If your rig is modified with larger tires or a lift kit, the stock jack may not be adequate. For $125 you can purchase an inflatable jack. It’s essentially a heavy-duty balloon that inflates via a hose attached to your exhaust. It will lift your rig up. I’ve never needed to use one, but people who have said they work well and are a safer and easier solution to your standard jack. One other option is what’s referred to as a farmer’s or hi-lift jack. Beware of these, if used improperly they can be dangerous, however they can double as a winch if needed. If you go this route, make sure you know what you’re doing.

You need a full-sized spare. This one is self-explanatory. If you get a flat, putting on a “donut” spare isn’t going to get you far. It won’t have the footprint needed to drive through the sand.

Think about tire size: Your tires should not exceed 35”x12.5” and should be “aired” down to ½ their max pressure before entering the beach. Side note, for a long time the max size was 33”x12.5, and LIBBA petitioned and lobbied long and hard to have the size increased to 35”. the State finally listened, and it's been at 35” for the past few years.

Tire gauge to register a minimum of 5 PSI.  It’s a required piece of equipment, they’re small, cheap and easy to store. The excuse that you can just look at your dashboard won’t work. I recommend a nice backlit digital one. They are accurate, easy to use and easy to see at night.

Fishing Rod, reel, line, bait, hooks, lures- You would think it would not be necessary to mention these, but they are required for each person in the vehicle that is 12 years or older. Remember this is a four-wheel drive access permit for the purpose of fishing only. You also need to note, ANY person over the age of 16 in the vehicle is required to have a Marine Registry license. These are easy to get online, and for now they are free in most states. Although we often like to think fishermen rule the beach, if you have the State Surfing Permit you also need to possess a surfboard per person. This permit is valid only during daylight hours.

In addition to state authorities, local (county, township or city), likely have their own peculiarities. I will use Suffolk County Outer Beach permit requirements as an example but don’t leave it to chance, check with your local authorities. I will highlight a few I have not yet mentioned in addition to those I have. Jack, Jack board, Shovel, Rope, chain or snap line, Fire Extinguisher, Spare Tire, Tire Gauge, Flashlight, First Aid Kit, and Portable Air Compressor or Air Tank.  Oddly enough there is no mention of fishing gear. The Suffolk County Outer Beach permit is NOT for fishing or surfing only. You are allowed access to their beaches to just relax or explore. Smith Point sometimes has portions of the beach designated for Fisherman only, but other than that you are free to enjoy the beach within the rules. Suffolk’s outer beach pass also allows dogs, if they are on a leash with a maximum length of 6’. The State permit allows dogs in designated areas on a max 6’ leash only at Napeague, Hither Hills and Montauk. Every beach has different rules regarding dogs but if you are allowed to have your dog, PLEASE be courteous and clean up after it.

That covers the requirements, but as a conservation-minded organization concerned with the safety of All surf anglers, LIBBA has some “common sense recommendations. Consider having a minimum of one red flare (especially if you fish at night), a USCG approved fire extinguisher, a plastic pail/bucket, and a GMRS radio. I’m confident most readers have a plastic pail, especially if they are bait fishing. The fire extinguisher is self-explanatory and although a requirement in my county (not my state) it may not be required in yours. They are not expensive, can be stored under your seat and will be a big help if things ever go sideways. Having a radio isn’t a new idea either, but GMRS might be a new term to some of you. It stands for General Mobile Radio Service and has become more mainstream than CB radios. Within LIBBA’s Courtesy Patrol we have a Radio Communications Division. Again, we are concerned with your safety.  

 Another thing you should consider to enhance your experience and make it more “trouble-free” is a tide chart, or tide app on your phone that tells you the tides. This can be extremely beneficial to both your fishing and safety. The way beaches have been battered by storms over the past few years, there are some beaches where you really need to pay attention to the tides. Sore Thumb beach is a great example. If you arrive at lower tide, travel all the way West, and you’re not paying attention, you could get stranded when the tide comes in. Tides often rise faster than you think and is always higher around a new or full moon. Plan accordingly. One last thing, it never hurts to take a class on beach driving. LIBBA offers them as do many beach communities. There is always something new to learn. I will end with one of my favorite quotes: “By failing to prepare, you are preparing

to fail” -Benjamin Franklin

See you on the beach!

Joe Pellegrini