Before we get into the nitty gritty of four wheeling can you ID the spot below. If you think you got it Click Here. First correct guess wins a Razors Edge Hook Sharpener and Video.

NOT ALL BEACHES ARE CREATED EQUAL

OK...I don't claim to have ridden every accessible beach on Long Island, Jersey or parts North but I do claim to have gotten stuck on some of the best fishing beaches in these parts so here's some advice.

Air Down Dummy...I've got a bunch of buddies who travel out along breezy without ever thinking about airing down. I do too. But it's STUPIDDDD. All beaches differ. True, Breezy has some hard sand and the entrance is where you're gettin stuck if you do get stuck but the fact is shoveling sand for 30 minutes doesn't near compare to catching a 30# srtiper. Here's my rule of thumb. If I know the beach I drop my tire pressure to 25# (from its normal 36#) on hard sand, 22# on soft sand and just below 20# on powder like Demo and Gilgo. Montauk and other rocky locales I don't air down unless we're talkin Shag (22#). Local knowledge is a must. Don't know the beach. Play it safe at 20#. Some more tips. DON"T BRAKE !!!! unless you want to hear that sickening digging and sliding in sound just before you hear the thud of sand just underneath your feet. Make turns SLOWLY. Travel in existing tracks. NEVER travel below the high water mark unless you've got props on your trailer hitch. If you go out with anything less than a 5 foot shovel you're NUTS!!! And last but not least the first rule of getting out of a "stuck" spot. Don't freak out. If you get stuck. Shut down your engine. Get out the car. Take a walk. Smoke a cig if that's your thing. Take 5. Then you can get started digging. IT WORKS!!!!! P.S. Cell phones ain't bad either. And a LIBBA decal helps as well.
............Just One More Cast Copen

PERMIT INFO-WHERE TO GET THEM AND RELATED INFORMATION

Gateway National Recreation Area - Breezy Point Fishing Permit

Allows for day and night parking for fishermen in designated areas at Floyd Bennett Field, Fort Tilden and Breezy Point.

Obtain at: The park offices at either Floyd Bennett Field or Fort Tilden (former Army Base, building #1).

Issued from: January 1st through December 31st Fee for Permit: $25 annually For more information contact the park office at Fort Tilden (718) 318-4300 (Sorry guys...2003 permits are all gone!!!)

4 Wheel Drive Fishing Permit:Same night fishing and parking privileges as the Fishing Permit described above PLUS allows for 4x4 beach access at Breezy Point. NOTE: 4x4 access is only allowed early spring and from September 1st through December 31st. From April 1st thru August 31st 4x4 access is not permitted.

Can only be purchased at the park office at Fort Tilden (former Army Base, building #1). Issued from: January 1st through December 31st Fee for Permit: $25 annually For more information contact the park office at Fort Tilden (718) 318-4300 SPECIAL NOTE: You do not need both the fishing permit AND the 4 Wheel permit! The 4 Wheel permit provides the same access as the Fishing Permit in addition to the beach driving privileges. --

New York State Parks Fishing Permit

Allows for night parking and off-season parking for fishermen in designated areas at Jones Beach, Gilgo Beach, Captree State Park, Robert Moses State Park, Sunken Meadow State Park, Montauk State Park, and Hither Hills State Park.

Obtain at: The park offices at either Jones Beach State Park, Robert Moses State Park, Sunken Meadow State Park, Belmont Lake State Park (park headquarters), or Montauk Downs (golf course building). Issued: From January 1st thru April 30th, and again from September 1st to December 31st. Fee for the permit: $25 annually For more information contact Belmont Lake State Park Office (516) 667-5055

4 Wheel Drive Fishing Permit: Same night fishing and parking privileges as the Fishing Permit described above PLUS allows for 4x4 beach access in designated areas at Gilgo Beach, Cedar Beach (the Sore Thumb area), Robert Moses State Park (Democrat Point), Napeague, Hither Hills, and Mountauk Point State parks. Obtain at: The park offices at either Robert Moses State Park, Belmont Lake State Park (park headquarters), or Montauk Downs (golf course building). Issued: From January 1st thru April 30th, and again from September 1st to December 31st. Fee for the permit: $39 annually For more information contact Belmont Lake State Park Office (516) 667-5055 SPECIAL NOTE: You do not need both the fishing permit AND the 4 Wheel permit! The 4 Wheel permit provides the same access as the Fishing Permit in addition to the beach driving privileges.

Camp Hero (Montauk) Fishing Permit

Allows for parking at Camp Hero (Montauk Point, South side). Obtain at: This permit can only be obtained at Montauk Downs (golf course building). Issued: From January1st thru April 30th only. Fee for the permit: $25 annually For more information contact Belmont Lake State Park Office (516) 667-5055 or Montauk Downs (516) 668-3781

Caumsett State Park Fishing Permit

Day and night parking access for fishermen at the beach front lot. Obtain at: Only 500 permits are issued each year. Half are given out first-come/first-served in the fall (usually early October) for the following year. The other half are issued via lottery the following February. Contact the Belmont Late State Park Office for the dates. Fee for the permit: $20 annually (NOTE: Parking fees may also be imposed during daytime hours) For more information contact Belmont Lake State Park Office (516) 667-5055 (Sorry guys...2003 permits are all gone!!!)

Suffolk County Parks Outer Beach stickers and Green Keys

Allows for parking and/or beach access to the various Suffolk County parks. The Outer Beach Sticker and Green Key allows 4x4 access to Smith Point Park , Cupsogue, Shinnecock Inlet East, Cedar Point Park, and Shagwong Park (at Montauk). Obtain at: The park offices at the West Sayville Golf Course (Monday through Friday only) and Smith Point County Park (7 days). Fees for Permits (fees are annual unless otherwise noted): Resident Outer Beach Sticker $75.00 Resident Green Key $20.00 (valid for 3 years) Green Key Card for juniors, seniors and the handicapped: $9.00 Tourist & non-resident Outer Beach $200.00 Tourist & non-resident Green Key $8.00 (valid for 1 year) Tourist & non-resident 1/2 year Green Key $8.00 Tourist & non-resident 1/2 year Outer Beach $75.00 (NOTE: 1/2 year permits are valid from September 16th thru December.31st) Tourist Green Card (non-residents): $35.00 For more call the Suffolk County Park Administration Office at (516) 854-4949 or the Park Police Headquarters at (516) 854-1422. Also, for the latest beach information (conditions, closures, special events etc.) call the Beach Hotline (516) 244-PARK

Fire Island National Seashore (FINS) 4 Wheel Drive Fishing Permit

Allows 4x4 fisherman access to the Fire Island National Seashore from the access area at Smith Point Park westward (no beach access is permitted from Robert Moses State Park Eastward). Obtain at: The ranger station at Smith Point Park Issued : from April 1st thru June 15th and from September 15th thru December 31st ( 9:00 am to 12:00 pm M-F only) Fee for the Permit: $20.00 annually For more information call the ranger station at Smith Point Park (516) 281-3010 or the FINS Patchogue office at (516) 289-4810

Town of Babylon 4 Wheel Drive Permit

NOTE: This permit is ONLY available to Town of Babylon Residents. What it gives you: Allows for fishermen 4x4 access to Cedar Beach (aka the Cedar Bar). Obtain at: Babylon Town Clerks Office 200 Sunrise Highway, North Lindenhurst Fee for Permit: $40.00 annually For more information call (516) 957-3005 Town of South Hampton 4 Wheel Drive Beach Permit What it gives you: Fishermen 4x4 access to the beaches of South Hampton township. Obtain permit at: Town Hall Trustees Office, Hampton Rd., South Hampton Permit Fees are: $10.00 (Resident) $5.00 (Senior Citizen) $200.00 (Non-Resident) For additional information contact (516) 287-5717

Town of East Hampton 4 Wheel Drive Permit

Fishermen 4x4 access to the beaches of East Hampton township. Obtain at: Recreation Department, Toilsome Lane, East Hampton Fee for Permit: Residents – FREE, non-Residents - $200 For more information call (516) 324-2417