Barnegat Bay is a shallow coastal lagoon stretching south from Toms River, separated from the Atlantic by the barrier island. For kayakers and paddleboarders it is excellent water — calm, relatively warm, and full of life. Great blue herons stalk the shallows, osprey circle overhead, and in the cordgrass marshes you can find diamondback terrapins in summer.
Several outfitters in Toms River and along the bay rent kayaks and stand-up paddleboards by the hour or the day. The most rewarding trips head into the smaller creeks and backwaters behind Island Beach State Park. The bay also supports a recreational crabbing season; blue crabs are abundant and catching them requires nothing more than a piece of chicken, a length of string, and a net.