‘Pissed off’ fishermen lose Jersey Shore beach access to bennies. Now they’re devastated and raising hell.

When Richard Bloschock stepped onto the sugar sand, he knew his days were numbered.

Tranquil Island Beach State Park is where his father taught him how to surf fish as a child. Years later, he brought his son here to teach the next generation of Broshoks how to cast a rod in the waves.

“Everywhere I look is filled with memories,” Bloschock, 55, said on a cold December morning, watching the waves crash against his black wading boots.

But Bloschock won’t be making new memories here next year because of a controversial state decision that will undermine his access, he said. He knows exactly what his late father, Richard Bloschock Sr., would have said about New Jersey allowing an out-of-state angler to take his place.

“Bulls—” Bloschock said, imitating a gruff tone.

Bloschock, a Princeton resident who grew up in Lakehurst, was one of 3,609 losers in the new state lottery for parking permits, which are essential for surf fishing at secluded beaches. The denial of a small sticker sparked a huge uproar that underscored just how special fishing holes are to New Jerseyans — and how angry they are when one is ripped away.

Now, beach access has become the source of expletive-filled tirades directed at out-of-state fishermen. The heartbroken angler posted a tirade on social media. Some accuse “Benny” of showing up just to party on sacred fishing grounds, stealing access to land that many New Jerseyans see as key to their way of life.

“It’s like losing a little piece of paradise,” said Mark Dzindzio, 70, who has held the permit for 47 years.

Proximity to parking is crucial in surf fishing, which requires long rods, weights, bait and special gear for moving water. Anglers park on the beach and target areas where fish are feeding, often moving at a moment’s notice.

The state previously used a first-come, first-served system to issue the 8,000 available licenses, which cost $195 for residents and $225 for out-of-state residents.

That works well for guys like Bloschok, who makes dozens of trips a year in his black Toyota Tundra, unloading his equipment just steps from the water. He has been licensed every year for nearly a quarter of a century.

But competition for licenses has grown exponentially. They sold out for the first time in 2021, and demand has continued to surge since then. New Jersey’s new random lottery system, introduced in 2026, should be fairer, officials said.

“We’re trying to be as fair as possible and give everyone a chance,” said John Cecil, assistant commissioner for state parks, forests and historic monuments with the Department of Environmental Conservation.

Instead, the results were devastating, said Dzindzio, president of the New Jersey Beach Buggy Association, an 800-member beach protection group that includes many surf fishermen.

About 900 out-of-state residents obtained licenses through the online lottery, about the same number as in recent years, according to the state. But the key difference in 2026 is that many New Jerseyans who asked to get permits early in the first-come, first-served process got nothing.

Some licenses may go unclaimed and be won in a subsequent drawing. Otherwise, the state offered no solutions, angering those who were rejected.

“This is our beach,” Zinzio said. “The people who run it will run it for us.”

John Bushell Jr., owner of Betty & Nick’s Bait & Tackle, a popular store in Seaside Park, said no change in fisheries policy in the past 50 years has caused as much outrage.

“The people who have fished there for decades are very angry,” he said.

surge in demand

It all starts with a little sticker.

Long before the state bought land, New Jerseyans loved fishing at Island Beach State Park 1953. But anglers had to obtain a parking pass from the then-Island Beach Borough Mayor.

The state purchased the land and continued to issue licenses, often with colorful rectangular stickers decorated with fish or sea creatures.

The system ran smoothly for decades.

Until COVID-19.

As the pandemic rages on, New Jerseyans and their neighbors are craving the outdoors. fishing. Hiking. Bird watching. Island Beach is a popular attraction with unprecedented demand. DEP spokesperson Caryn Shinske said photos and videos of the trip to the barrier island circulated on social media.

License applications increased from 7,900 in 2020 to more than 10,000 in 2024. The state created an online system in 2021 to try to streamline the process after the number of applicants exceeded the 8,000-person limit for the first time.

Fishing vehicle permits are granted only to four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive vehicles and are capped to avoid overcrowding or damage to the park’s natural resources. That number remains steady at 8,000, although applications will grow to nearly 12,000 in 2026 (excluding additional licenses for disabled veterans).

New Jersey won 7,089 of the 8,000 licenses in 2026, or about 88%, a number similar to the previous five years.

Not shown in the chart above? Click here.

But that’s little comfort to people like Jonas Garcia, 58, who has been playing on the beach at Island Beach State Park for 50 years and won’t be able to fish there next year.

Garcia, of Toms River, enjoys evening beach bonfires after a day of fishing with her son and friends. Driving his silver Toyota FJ Cruiser through the beach grass and onto the sand felt like he was traveling through time.

“It’s kind of like you’re in another world,” Garcia said.

Dzindzio said losing the license is “very frustrating.” He held the pass for nearly half a century but was denied in 2026. It’s an especially hard pill to swallow, considering residents of Oregon, South Carolina, Montana, Maine and 20 other states received new licenses.

Some out-of-state lottery winners may also have residences in New Jersey. But that has nothing to do with locals, who view Island Beach State Park as a stolen haven.

“This is our second home,” Zinzio said angrily. “A lot of people have their ashes scattered there.”

Tensions rise

The only nervousness Kevin Deiter felt at Island Beach State Park was when a 35-pound striped bass unexpectedly dragged his pole off.

But South Florida fishermen say the friendly atmosphere has changed dramatically in recent years.

“Go back to Florida, you bastard!” someone scolded him recently.

Although Deiter grew up in Burlington Township and has been fishing at Park Beach since 1973, it doesn’t matter. People saw his license plate and made noises or occupied his space to send messages.

“They were standing right next to me fishing. Giving me dirty looks like they were saying you don’t belong here,” Deiter said by phone.

Deit understands why New Jerseyans might resent him. But he said they were angry at the wrong people. The bigger problem, he said, is that people with permits but no plans to fish show up and violate park rules.

Bushell Jr., owner of the Bait and Tackle Shop, said outsiders often buy children’s fishing rods to show they are using the pass as intended. Local anglers said they then parked multiple vehicles in one spot just to hang out on the beach, often drinking, which is prohibited by park regulations.

“They buy little pieces of trash and stick them in sand spikes,” Deit said of those who take advantage of the permits. “They party all day long and the police don’t do anything.”

Social media pages about island beach fishing are awash with similar comments.

“Congratulations everyone,” quipped one poster who didn’t get a 2026 pass. “You have officially destroyed the dream of a humble, experienced, generational coastal angler. I hope the Instagram photos were worth it.”

New Jersey is working to address complaints from locals being excluded from the lottery, including complaints about lax enforcement, officials said. But it’s working hard to find the perfect answer.

The weekday pass, introduced four years ago, was no good for anyone wanting full access. In light of the latest controversy over the pass, Island Beach State Park is bound to get more attention.

Cecil said the state is concerned that returning to a first-come, first-served system would disrupt traffic and negatively impact nearby communities. Rebecca Fitzgerald, DEP state park ranger, said officials are still evaluating whether the lottery is the best option for the 2027 permit.

The DEP declined to comment on the proposed legislation, which would provide an initial 14-day window during which only New Jersey residents could purchase fishing licenses. Lawmakers who introduced the bill said residents who pay taxes for park improvements should have priority.

But even if the new bill passes, it won’t change the fact that any New Jerseyan who doesn’t participate in the 2026 lottery will already lose out.

The salty ocean breeze hit Bloschock’s face as he stepped into the icy surf near the old beach hut where he usually starts his outings.

His 2025 vehicle sticker remains valid for a few days.

He threw the line out and became quiet.

“On December 31st, I got the heat gun out,” Bloschock later said in a text message. “Cancellation may be my last license.”

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