Kids Fishing Charter in Ocean City NJ: Shark Bait Family Guide

Kids Fishing Charter in Ocean City NJ: Shark Bait Family Guide

If you want a kids fishing charter in Ocean City, NJ that is not a crowded party boat, Shark Bait is built for that. Your family gets a private boat for up to 6 people. The captain and crew run the day at kid pace. Rods, bait, and ice are already on board, so you show up with sunscreen and snacks, not a tackle shop haul.

Why Shark Bait works for kids

Shark Bait is a private family fishing charter on the back bays out of 228 Bay Ave. Capacity is 6. All ages. Trips run 2 or 4 hours. A USCG-certified captain runs the boat. The crew helps cast, bait hooks, and keep younger anglers engaged when the action slows.

You are not sharing the rail with strangers. That matters when you have little kids who need space, help, or a quieter boat. Target fish include flounder, striped bass, bluefish, weakfish, and whatever else is moving that day. If someone lands a keeper, the crew will clean and filet it for you to take home.

2 hours or 4 hours with kids

Pick the trip length for the youngest person on the boat, not the most eager angler.

• 2 hours is usually the sweet spot for younger kids, mixed ages, or a first-ever fishing day. Enough time to learn the basics and celebrate a few bites without a meltdown on the ride back.
• 4 hours fits older kids, teens, or a family that already knows the drill and wants more time on the water.

Private charters start from $440 for the boat (not per person), as listed on sharkbaitfishingocnj.com. Confirm the current 2-hour and 4-hour rates when you book.

What parents should plan before you leave the house

• Book one slot for the whole family. Cap the list at 6, including adults who are coaching.
• Tell kids the dock address early: 228 Bay Ave, Ocean City, NJ (Boathouse Marina). The Yard is separate at 741 West Ave if you are stacking activities.
• Pack patience and a simple win. A first cast that lands, a fish that gets photographed and released, or a filet for dinner all count.
• Have a weather backup. Back bays are usually calmer than the ocean, but wind and storms still cancel. Check your FareHarbor confirmation for the operator policy.
• Assign one adult to phones, sunscreen re-application, and snack duty so the captain can focus on the fishing.

What to bring (and what to leave home)

• Sunscreen on before you leave, plus a hat and sunglasses
• A light layer—the bay gets windy even when the boardwalk feels warm
• Closed-toe shoes that can get wet
• Snacks, water, and drinks the kids will actually finish
• A small dry bag or zip pouch for phones
• A cooler if you want fillets to go
• Motion-sickness options for anyone who needs them

Leave rods, bait, and a full tackle laundry list at home. Gear is provided. Skip dangling jewelry and anything you cannot stand to lose over the rail.

Where to meet and how to book

Check in at 228 Bay Ave, Ocean City—same marina as Beachy Tiki. Book on sharkbaitfishingocnj.com, the fishing charter page, or through FareHarbor at totallytubularwatersports. Questions: 609-398-9000.

If the kids still have energy after you dock, The Yard at 741 West Ave (609-398-3345) has outdoor Sky Net play and an indoor sports simulator. For a ride without rods, Beachy Tiki runs 9 AM–8 PM from the same marina. Aqua Park is closed for the 2026 season and reopens June 2027—save that for next summer.

Book the private family boat, pack for kids, and let Shark Bait handle the gear and the bay.