The marina at the Shark River mouth is the quieter, more local counterpart to the beach strip. Fishing boats and charter vessels tie up here, and a cluster of seafood restaurants and fish markets line the waterfront. The food is unpretentious — this is where the fishermen bring the catch — and the prices are honest. The fish market attached to a couple of the restaurants is worth a look even if you are not eating.
The drawbridge over the Shark River inlet opens periodically to let taller boats through, which provides one of those small pleasures of waterfront watching: everyone on the bridge stops and waits while the bridge rises and the boat clears. The marina district is significantly calmer than Main Street in summer and makes a good alternative for an evening meal away from the bar-heavy crowds.