American Littoral Society Fish Tagging Program

06/01/2026

The National Park Service and the American Littoral Society are partnering this summer to teach young people surf fishing on Sandy Hook. As part of the program, we will cover the basics of casting, knot tying, lure/bait selection, and “reading” a beach. All skill levels are welcome!!!. Rods, reels, and tackle will be provided. Children 10-16 are welcome with a supervising adult. Parents must have a copy of their NJ Saltwater Registry License. Please bring your lunch and snacks. Please also note that space is limited to 12 kids per event.

​Sunday, June 07, 11:30am - 4:00pm
​Tuesday, June 23, 1:30pm - 6:00pm
​Tuesday, July 07, 12:00pm - 4:30pm
​Monday, July 20, 12:00pm - 4:30pm
​Monday, August 3, 10:00am - 2:30pm
​Monday, August 17, 10:00am - 2:30pm​
Rain Date*: 8/24 3:30pm-8pm

Contact Littoral Society Fish Tagging Program Director Justin Saginor with any questions: [email protected]

For more information and to register, please see link in the comments.

05/19/2026

Members Day this year will be an extra special event where we honor Tim Dillingham's 23 years of service as executive director of the Littoral Society! Please join us on Saturday, June 27th at Sandy Hook. There will be opportunities to explore the ecology of the Hook, listen to live music, and enjoy food & drinks. RSVP link in the comments.

05/18/2026

It's our favorite time of year, horseshoe crab spawning season! The Littoral Society has begun our annual tagging and monitoring programs for these fascinating creatures. But perhaps even more exciting, we welcomed Justin Saginor as our new Fish Tagging Program Manager!

Additionally, we've been working hard to protect the beaches through native plantings, promote nature-based solutions to state flood plain managers, bring students out to experience the bay, and advocate for improved stormwater management to the Delaware River. We've also welcomed back a familiar face as our new Habitat Restoration Operations Specialist.

Read these stories and more in the latest edition of our Field Notes newsletter. Link in the comments.

05/02/2026

It’s striper season! As waters warm, stiped bass migrate into New Jersey’s nutrient-rich estuaries to feed on migrating baitfish and to spawn in tidal rivers. With this influx of species presence, it’s a great time of year to get involved with our Fish Tagging Program.

As one of the most recognized community science fish-tagging initiatives on the Atlantic Seaboard, the data you collect through the program will contribute to over 60 years of data and knowledge. All needed equipment to become a fish tagger is provided through the program.

For more information and ways to get involved, please visit our website: https://www.littoralsociety.org/become-a-tagger.html or contact: [email protected]

05/01/2026

Spring is in full swing, and we are kicking off May with a host of seasonal activities!

Next week we will welcome back some of our oldest friends — the 445-million-year-old "living fossils" — during our Sandy Hook Horseshoe Crab Walks starting Wednesday, May 6. These sunset walks offer a unique chance to see these ancient creatures up close as they arrive on our shores to spawn. Then on Saturday, May 16, we will resume horseshoe crab tagging along the Shark River in Neptune, NJ. You can lend a hand as we tag and track these amazing animals. Tagging dates will run through June 2.

In June we will host two of our favorite Littoral community events, beginning with "Sunset on the Bay" in Fortescue, NJ on Saturday, June 13. On Saturday, June 27 we will hold our Annual Members Day at Sandy Hook. This free event is our way of saying thank you to our members. If you aren't a member yet, now is the perfect time to join and be part of this special community celebration. Learn about these events and more in our May Events newsletter: https://www.littoralsociety.org/littoral-news.html

04/30/2026

Join the Littoral Society for two family-fun walks at Sandy Hook, NJ!

Discover the hidden flavors of the coast on Friday, May 1, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. with our Spring Wild Edible Plant Walk. This guided foraging adventure will teach you how to identify the seasonal species that flourish throughout the park. Come prepared to taste the wild side of nature with freshly prepared bites made from foraged ingredients. Meet at Littoral Society HQ in the Fort Hancock Section of Gateway National Recreation Area's Sandy Hook Unit.

Then on Wednesday, May 6, at 6:30 p.m., join us for the first of our Horseshoe Crab Walks at Sandy Hook. Meet at the Lot B parking area to witness these incredible living fossils as they arrive on our shores to spawn. It’s a unique, hands-on experience where you can wade into the shallows and hold these ancient friends as the sun sets over the bay.

Registration links for both events are in the comments.

04/24/2026

April arrived with a poignant mix of reflection and renewal for the American Littoral Society. At the beginning of the month we lost our dear friend and colleague, Capt. Al Modjeski. Al was a cornerstone of our restoration family, a true champion for the coast, and a mentor to so many. As we move forward, we carry his spirit with us in every reef we build and every acre of habitat we restore.

Despite the weight of this loss, the rhythm of the littoral zone continues, and our team has stayed busy honoring that mission. In addition to providing testimony for implementing New Jersey's REAL rules for flood protection, our staff also took part in an award ceremony on how the state is turning climate funding into on-the-ground projects that protect both communities and ecosystems.

Along the shores of Jamaica Bay, we also completed dune grass planting season with our partners from the National Wildlife Federation, the Resilient Schools Consortium (RiSC), and NYC Parks. Meanwhile, horseshoe crab tagging season begins at the end of the month on our restored beaches along the Delaware Bay. This work is a vital piece of our ecological puzzle, helping us track the health of these "living fossils" and ensure the survival of the migratory shorebirds that depend on them. Read more about these and other Littoral Society initiatives in the April edition of our Field Notes newsletter: https://www.littoralsociety.org/littoral-news.html

04/13/2026

Dart Tags are back in stock! We just received a new shipment and you can get yours through our online store. You must be a Littoral Society Fish Tagging Program member to purchase.

Learn about the Fish Tagging Program, how to become a member, and how to purchase tagging supplies on our website: https://www.littoralsociety.org/fish-tagging.html

04/07/2026

04/02/2026

Earth Day is just around the corner (Wednesday, April 22), and the American Littoral Society is celebrating all month long with events and activities that allow you to lend a hand with caring for the coast! We are kicking things off this weekend, Saturday, April 4, with a double header: a beach cleanup at Sandy Hook to protect our local wildlife and a dune grass planting at Coney Island Creek Park to strengthen our natural coastal defenses.

As we head into Earth Week, the action continues with a cleanups in Bridgeton, NJ, and Arverne, NY, as well as a volunteer workday at our Sandy Hook pollinator garden. Whether you are a teen looking to earn volunteer hours at our Cumberland County Library rain garden event or someone who would like to help us deploy recycled Christmas trees at our Slade Dale Sanctuary living shoreline project, there are opportunities for you.

Beyond April, we are already looking forward to a sun-drenched season of discovery and community. In addition to our Homeschool Family Fun Day at Sandy Hook on May 14, you can also join us on the beach in Fortescue, NJ for Sunset on the Bay (June 13) and our Annual Members Day celebration on June 27. Find details about all of these upcoming events and how you can participate in the April edition of our events newsletter: https://www.littoralsociety.org/littoral-news.html