Allowed
Sunset Beach & Higbee Beach (Cape May Diamonds)
New Jersey, Cape May·Beachcombing
Collecting Cape May diamonds is allowed at privately owned Sunset Beach with no permit. At Higbee Beach, a state WMA, taking stones is illegal.
- Sunset Beach is privately owned by the Hume family (Sunset Beach Gift Shops), who openly welcome diamond hunting. No permit, fee or bag limit applies to hand-picking loose quartz pebbles
- Higbee Beach is a state Wildlife Management Area. N.J.S.A. 23:7-9 bars removing minerals or other state property from Division of Fish & Wildlife land, even though travel guides still send collectors there