Corson's Inlet State Park was established by the New Jersey Legislature

New Jersey Legislature

The New Jersey Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, as defined by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, the Legislature consists of two houses: the General Assembly and the Senate...

 in the early 1960s to protect and preserve one of the last undeveloped tracts of land along the state’s oceanfront. The park borders Corson Inlet

Corson Inlet

Corson Inlet is a narrow strait on the southern coast of New Jersey in the United States.Corson Inlet leads from the Atlantic Ocean through barrier islands off the northeast coast of Cape May County, New Jersey...

. The area’s natural habitats are teeming with wildlife established in the numerous primary and secondary sand dune systems, shoreline overwash, marine estuaries and upland areas. The park offers scenic beauty and opportunities for observing a multitude of migratory and residential wildlife species. The park itself is located in Cape May County

Cape May County, New Jersey

-Climate:Being the southernmost point in New Jersey, Cape May has fairly mild wintertime temperatures. Contrary to that, the summertime has lower temperatures than most places in the state, making the county a popular place to escape the heat. It is in zone 7a/7b, which is the same as parts of...

. The park is operated and maintained by the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry

New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry

The New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry is responsible for the management and operation of New Jersey's 42 parks, 11 forests and 3 recreation areas, as well as for the more than 50 historic sites and districts...

.

Strathmere Natural Area

This 98 acres (396,592.3 m²) natural preserve is undeveloped and undisturbed sand dunes that serves as a protected nesting site for the endangered Piping Plover

Piping Plover

The Piping Plover is a small sand-colored, sparrow-sized shorebird that nests and feeds along coastal sand and gravel beaches in North America. The adult has yellow-orange legs, a black band across the forehead from eye to eye, and a black ring around the neck...

, the Least Tern and Black skimmer

Black Skimmer

The Black Skimmer, Rynchops niger, is a tern-like seabird, one of three very similar birds species in the skimmer family. It breeds in North and South America...

s. Other shorebirds and waterfowl, such as the American Oystercatcher

American Oystercatcher

The American Oystercatcher , occasionally called the American Pied Oystercatcher, is a member of family Haematopodidae. The bird is marked by its black and white body and a long, thick orange beak...

, various species of sandpipers, gull

Gull

Gulls are birds in the family Laridae. They are most closely related to the terns and only distantly related to auks, skimmers, and more distantly to the waders...

s, heron

Heron

The herons are long-legged freshwater and coastal birds in the family Ardeidae. There are 64 recognised species in this family. Some are called "egrets" or "bitterns" instead of "heron"....

s, sanderling

Sanderling

The Sanderling is a small wader. It is a circumpolar Arctic breeder, and is a long-distance migrant, wintering south to South America, South Europe, Africa, and Australia...

s and duck

Duck

Duck is the common name for a large number of species in the Anatidae family of birds, which also includes swans and geese. The ducks are divided among several subfamilies in the Anatidae family; they do not represent a monophyletic group but a form taxon, since swans and geese are not considered...

s also stop during the year. Pets are not permitted in the area during the nesting season.

Boating

Boating is allowed (regulated by the New Jersey Boating Regulation and Marine Law). The boat ramp is open 24 hours day, seven days a week year round.

Fishing

Corson's Inlet provides excellent opportunities to catch blue fish, kingfish

Kingfish

-Fish:* King mackerel Scomberomorus cavalla* Kingcroaker Menticirrhus spp.* Narrow-barred Spanish mackerel Scomberomorus commerson * White croaker Genyonemus lineatus * Cobia Rachycentron canadum...

, striped bass

Striped bass

The striped bass is the state fish of Maryland, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and the state saltwater fish of New York, Virginia, and New Hampshire...

 and weakfish

Weakfish

The weakfish, Cynoscion regalis, is a marine fish of the drum family Sciaenidae.The head and back of this fish are dark brown in color with a greenish tinge. The sides have a faint silvery hue with dusky specks, and the belly is white. The origin of its name is based on the weakness of the mouth...

. Fishing is regulated by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is a government agency in the U.S. state of New Jersey that is responsible for managing the state's natural resources and addressing issues related to pollution...

, as well. Fishermen are allowed to use four wheel drive vehicles (with permit) from September 16-May 14.