NJ Protecting Angler Beach Access

Fishermen in New Jersey soon will not have to worry about getting kicked off the beach at night.

The state Department of Environmental Protection is rewriting its proposed beach access rules to explicitly protect the right of anglers to use the beach during off-hours.

The department says the rewrite was needed because of a court decision that struck down broader rules mandating 24-hour access not only to beaches but also to places like marinas.

The state is relying on individual towns to write their own beach access rules but says it'll step in if any are too restrictive.

Fernando Costa of Monroe Township in Middlesex County says the fishing protection is long overdue. He says he's repeatedly been chased away from a favorite fishing spot in Cliffwood Beach at sunset.