Enjoying the Water
Boating has long been a pastime enjoyed by members of all ages. The Club supports active sailing fleets, while many individual members enjoy the use of kayaks, canoes, rowboats, paddle boats, pontoon boats, and small pleasure boats powered by electric motors only.
Freeways, Boat & Dock Locations
Freeways are lakefront locations that provide lake access, boat racks and limited dock space on each of the five lakes. Those racks and dock spaces are available to all members in good standing* on a first come/first serve basis.
The Club maintains larger marina docks on the Main Lake freeways located at: Club Park, Comet Row, Eckhart Sailing Center, Beach 3, Beach 4 and Black Bear Path.
These marina docks are identified by numbered spaces and are available by submitting a Dock Lottery Application to the Club Office by March 15th of each year. The Dock Lottery Application is available to download in the Members' Portal.
The Eckhart Sailing Center dock continues to be designated for racing sailboats only. All other freeway docks, including the boat racks, are open and available on a first-come/first-served basis.
No private docks are permitted at any of the freeway areas.
For all racks and docks:
You must put both your permit on the space and your watercraft in the space at the same time.
Your watercraft must have a boat sticker on the bow.
How to Claim a Boat Rack SPACE
The Club has boat racks at each of its five lakes, all of which are available on a first-come/first-served basis.
Follow these rules to claim a space on a rack:
- If the rack is empty and does NOT have a current year's member sticker, it can be claimed immediately.
- In order to claim a rack space, you must place your boat onto the rack and place a current year’s member sticker on both the rack and your boat.
- Do not remove any boats and/or stickers.
- Do not chain boats to a tree or leave them on the ground.
- Members are required to remove their boats from the racks by November 15th of each year.
How to Claim a Boat Dock Space
- In 2024, a Boat Dock Lottery was implemented and applies to all members wanting a dock space in the following locations:
- Club Park (North of the Clubhouse)
- Comet Row (South of Beach 2 near the Clubhouse)
- Beach 3
- Beach 4
- Black Bear Path Freeway
- Members must submit a Boat Dock Lottery Application (available on the Member's Portal) to the Club Office by March 15th of each year for space at the docks noted above.
- Proof of Registration from NJ MVC is required for any mechanically propelled boat that will be entered in the Lottery (effective January 1, 2025).
- Pontoon boats are assigned designated spots at each of the docks noted above. Pontoon boats are not allowed to be docked at any of the unnumbered freeway docks.
- Members who have been assigned a dock space per the Lottery have until July 4th to put their boat in its assigned space.
- Members must remove their boats from all Club docks by October 15th of each year.
Fishing in the Lakes
One of the favorite activities enjoyed all year round is fishing in our 5 lakes. Anglers in Highland Lakes have always enjoyed a variety of both common fish as well as game fish. Currently, our five lakes hold Sunfish, Bluegills, Black and White Crappie, Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Walleye, Chain Pickerel, Bullhead Catfish, Channel Catfish, and if you are a lucky main lake angler you may get to tangle with a trophy Muskellunge! In addition, one or more of our lakes host an abundance of Carp but they are generally not heavily fished and are classified more of a nuisance and a detriment to the health of our lakes.
Fishing can be enjoyed both while in the water and from any of the beaches, docks, freeways and dams.
The Fish Committee sponsors several fishing events throughout the season.
Youth Fishing Derbys
The Fishing Committee hosts several Fishing Derbies every year. The Catfish Derby is held on Family Day on the Main Lake, while the Fishing Derby is set up on Lake 4 along Cherry Ridge Road. Both Summer events provide excitement and memories for the younger anglers. Awards and trophies are given for the largest of their catch. Check the CALENDAR for derby dates and other fishing events.
Ice Fishing
Many of the avid fishermen in the community don’t take the winter months off, instead choosing to venture out onto our frozen lakes to try their luck at ice fishing. The Fishing Committee sponsors an annual Ice Fishing Derby each Winter.
If you’re considering joining the fun for the first time, here are a few tools you might want in your arsenal:
To drill your hole in the ice, you’ll either need an old-school ice “spud” or chisel, which can be used to slowly chop a hole, or take the efficient route with the ever-popular ice “auger.” Gasoline-powered augers are prohibited at all times.
Some fisherman jig a tiny metal fishing lure off the lake’s bottom in an attempt to resemble a small bait fish. Others use a device called a “tip-up” (aka a “fish trap”), which incorporates a spool of fishing line fixed to a spring-loaded flag that’s supported over the hole by a simple “X” of crossed sticks. When a game fish bites, the flag goes up.
NJ State laws permit no more than five fish-taking “devices” by any one person and require the owner’s name and address to be permanently affixed to those “devices.”
