Barnegat Bay, approximately 30 miles long, is only four feet deep on average and ranges from less than a mile to five miles at its widest point.  A remarkable diversity of wildlife and habitats is supported by Barnegat Bay.

The wildlife migrations at Island Beach are often spectacular and are not limited to birds. Although warblers and waterfowl are the more popular migrants, butterflies, bluefish, striped bass, marine mammals, and sea turtles also migrate through the area.

The salt marsh area of Island Beach State Park is heavily utilized by waterfowl and nesting shorebirds. During the spring migration, sandpipers, red knots, dowitchers, curlews, willets, plovers, turnstones, and yellow-legs feed and rest in the marsh grasses.

Salt water fishing may bring a catch of striped bass, weakfish, fluke, founder, white perch, sea bass, sharks, and bluefish. There is also excellent clamming, but state licenses are required.