Navesink River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Navesink River |
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Navesink River during the autumn months.
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 Navesink River
Location in New Jersey
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| Location | New Jersey |
| Coordinates | 40°22′19″N 74°02′15″W / 40.371975°N 74.037506°W |
| Type | Estuary |
The Navesink River is a beautiful waterway in Monmouth County, New Jersey. It's an estuary, which means it's where fresh river water mixes with salty ocean water. The river is about 8 miles (12 km) long.
It flows past towns like Middletown, Red Bank, Fair Haven, and Rumson. The Navesink River is also known as the North Shrewsbury River. Upstream from Red Bank, it's called the Swimming River. It eventually connects to the Shrewsbury River and then flows into Sandy Hook Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.
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The land around the Navesink River was first home to the Lenni Lenape Native Americans. In 1665, a settler named John Hance bought these lands from the Navesink Indians. This was part of a deal called the Monmouth Patent.
Red Bank's Connection to the River
The town of Red Bank was founded in 1736. It got its name because it was built on the "red banks" of the Navesink River. For many years, the river was a super important way to travel. People used side-wheeler steamboats to go from the Navesink communities all the way to New York City. These steamboats were used until the 1950s.
Today, the Navesink River is a popular spot for many outdoor activities. People love to go powerboating, crabbing, and fishing here. It's also great for sailing, canoeing, and kayaking. You can even go bird watching, swimming, and rowing.
Winter Fun on the River
When winters are very cold, the Navesink River can freeze over. This adds even more fun activities like ice skating and ice boating! The areas along the river's banks are some of the wealthiest in New Jersey.
Scenic Views and Riverfront Towns
The town of Red Bank sits right on the river. Many hotels and apartment buildings there offer amazing views of the water. Homes in Red Bank, Fair Haven, and Rumson also share these beautiful river views.
Fishing and Crabbing in the Estuary
Since the Navesink is a tidal estuary, it's a fantastic place for fishing. It flows into the Shrewsbury River, then Sandy Hook Bay, and finally the Atlantic Ocean. You can catch many types of fish here, especially in spring and fall. These include bluefish (smaller ones are called snappers), striped bass, weakfish, and fluke. You might also find blackfish, pufferfish, kingfish, and spot. Crabbing is especially popular in the Swimming River section, which is further upstream.
Sometimes, amazing visitors come to the Navesink River: dolphins! From June 2008 into the winter, a group of up to 16 Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins lived in the river. They likely followed a school of baitfish from Sandy Hook Bay.
Watching the Dolphins Safely
These dolphins attracted a lot of attention from local residents and the media. Local police made sure that boats kept a safe distance from the dolphins. They even gave tickets to boats that got too close!
Sadly, in late September 2008, one dolphin was found on the shore. It had died from pneumonia. A few days later, another was found floating in the river. But don't worry, another group of Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins was seen again in August 2012 near the Oceanic Bridge!
