Beachcombing for Cape May Diamonds at Sunset Beach, New Jersey
ALLOWED
No permit required
Key Conditions
- 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
- Cape May Point State Park, between the two, bars removing any rock without written Division permission under N.J.A.C. 7:2-2.10(c)
- Stay off the dunes at every site. At Higbee they're closed to all entry year-round under N.J.A.C. 7:25-2.19(a)8
- Don't climb on or salvage from the SS Atlantus wreck; take only the loose pebbles on the sand
Almost every Cape May travel guide names two beaches for Cape May diamonds: Sunset Beach and Higbee Beach. Only one of them lets you take any home. Sunset Beach, at the end of Sunset Boulevard, is private land. The Hume family has owned it since 1972, and they want you picking up quartz pebbles there. Higbee Beach, about two miles up the Delaware Bay shore, is a state Wildlife Management Area. New Jersey law bars removing minerals from Fish & Wildlife property, and pebbles count.
The stones are quartz that breaks off veins in the upper Delaware River basin and travels nearly 200 miles downstream over thousands of years. At Cape May Point the bay's tidal currents run into two obstacles: a rock jetty and the cracked concrete hull of the SS Atlantus. The Atlantus was a World War I concrete freighter that broke from its moorings in a storm on June 8, 1926, and has sat just offshore ever since. Where the current slows around them, the pebbles drop out, and that's why this one short beach is covered in them.
Higbee Beach: look, but don't pocket
Higbee Beach WMA is Division of Fish & Wildlife land, and N.J.S.A. 23:7-9 prohibits removing or disturbing any vegetation, soil, water, minerals or other state property there. The civil penalty is $50 to $1,500 per offense, plus restitution. There's no hobby-collecting exemption and no permit you can buy for it. The timing is also restrictive. From September 15 to November 1, all use is limited to designated trails, so the beach itself is off-limits during fall migration. The south-end beach is closed April 15 to September 15, and the dunes are closed year-round. Parts of the WMA have also been closed since January 2024 for the $37.5 million Pond Creek restoration, expected to finish around December 2026.
- From 12:01 a.m. September 15 to 8:00 a.m. November 1, use is limited to trails shown on the map posted at the parking lot.
- During that fall window, groups are limited to six people unless they have a free group permit.
- The south-end beach area is closed to all public access from April 15 to September 15.
- The north-end beach area is open year-round for activities otherwise allowed on WMAs.
- The dunes are closed at all times, and you may not enter them from established trails.
- Vehicles on the beach need a Division permit and must stay off the sand from two hours before to two hours after high tide.
Source: N.J. Admin. Code § 7:25-2.19, accessed September 2026
Where You Can (and Can't) Take Cape May Diamonds
| Location | Owner / manager | Take stones home? | Rule | Timing notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunset Beach | Private (Hume family) | Yes | Owner permits it; no limit | Busiest at the 7 p.m. flag ceremony in summer |
| Higbee Beach — north end | NJ Fish & Wildlife (WMA) | No | N.J.S.A. 23:7-9 bars removing minerals | Beach open year-round except Sep 15–Nov 1 (trails only) |
| Higbee Beach — south end | NJ Fish & Wildlife (WMA) | No | N.J.S.A. 23:7-9 | Closed entirely Apr 15–Sep 15 |
| Cape May Point State Park | NJ State Park Service | No, without written Division permission | N.J.A.C. 7:2-2.10(c) | Park open year-round |
Rules verified September 2026 from the New Jersey Administrative Code and statutes. Sunset Beach ownership from the owners' website and Cape May Magazine.
Diamond Hunting Through the Year at Sunset Beach
Winter (Dec–Feb)
GoodThe biggest stones of the year. Stronger winter currents move larger pebbles ashore, and the gift-shop owners' own advice is to hunt on cold, windy days when the bay is churned up. The beach is almost empty, but dress for wind off the bay.
Spring (Mar–May)
GoodThe tide line still has winter's stones. Spring nor'easters can bring in fresh material. Higbee's south-end beach closes April 15, which doesn't matter for collecting but does for walking.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
FairPlenty of small stones, but this is peak picking season, so the tide line gets picked over as the day goes on. Go at the first low tide of the morning. Flag-ceremony evenings (Mon/Wed/Sat in July–August) fill the beach at 7 p.m.
Fall (Sep–Nov)
GoodCrowds thin after Labor Day, and early storms start moving stones again. Sunset Beach is your only legal option nearby, since Higbee Beach is trail-only from September 15 to November 1.
What Makes a Diamond Hunt Easier
- OptionalSpray bottle of fresh water— Dry quartz goes white and chalky next to the gravel. A quick spray shows you which pebbles are clear, and those are the ones worth polishing.
- OptionalKitchen strainer or small garden sieve— Scoop the wet pea-gravel band at the tide line and shake out the sand. It's faster than picking stones one by one.
- OptionalWater shoes— The beach is mostly pebble and shell fragments, not soft sand. Bare feet get sore fast.
- RequiredZip bag or small bucket— You'll be carrying a lot of small, loose stones.
- OptionalRock tumbler at home— Tumbling brings out the clarity, since the stones are about as hard as agate. Save the clearest ones for faceting, which is what the local jewelers do.
Before You Go Diamond Hunting
- Set your map to Sunset Beach (502 Sunset Blvd), not Higbee Beach, if you plan to keep what you find
- Check the tide table and aim for the hour around low tide, when the pebble band is widest
- If a storm just passed, go the next morning
- Visiting Sept 15–Nov 1? Skip Higbee Beach's sand entirely; it's trails-only
- Plan to stay off the dunes and the Atlantus wreck
Who Sets the Rules Here
502 Sunset Blvd, Cape May (Lower Township), NJ 08204
Private owner of the Sunset Beach upland and businesses since Marvin Hume bought the property in 1972. The owners promote diamond collecting on their beach. (609) 884-7079.
N.J.S.A. 23:7-9; N.J.A.C. 7:25-2.1 and 7:25-2.19
State wildlife land on Delaware Bay about two miles north of Sunset Beach. Removing minerals and other state property is barred by statute. It has its own seasonal beach and trail rules, and part of it is closed for the Pond Creek restoration project through about December 2026.
N.J.A.C. 7:2-2.10
The state park around the Cape May lighthouse. Removing soil, rock, historic or fossil material needs written permission from the Division of Parks and Forestry.
- StateNew Jersey public trust doctrine (tidelands)
Land below the mean high-water line is generally state-owned tidelands held in trust for the public, whoever owns the upland. No state statute or rule restricting hand-collection of loose quartz pebbles on non-park, non-WMA tidelands was found.
Permits & Licenses
| Permit | Required? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Collecting at Sunset Beach | No | No permit, fee or quantity limit. The beach is private and its owners promote diamond hunting. The stones on their sand are the same ones they cut, polish and sell as jewelry in the gift shop. |
| Collecting at Higbee Beach WMA | Yes | Not obtainable for hobby collecting. N.J.S.A. 23:7-9 makes removing minerals or other state property from Fish & Wildlife land illegal without Division authorization, and no Cape May diamond collecting permit program exists. Walking the open beach and looking is fine. Pocketing the stones is not. |
| Collecting at Cape May Point State Park | Yes | N.J.A.C. 7:2-2.10(c) requires written permission from the Director or Assistant Director of the Division of Parks and Forestry to remove any rock. That's an administrative approval process, not a walk-up permit, so plan on collecting at Sunset Beach instead. |
| Higbee Beach group permit (Sep 15–Nov 1) | No | During fall migration, groups larger than six need a free permit from the Endangered and Nongame Species Program office at the WMA. It's for access, not collecting. |
Time & Seasonal Restrictions
- Higbee Beach, Sept. 15–Nov. 1: all use is limited to the designated trails shown on the map at the parking lot (N.J.A.C. 7:25-2.19(a)1). You can't walk the beach during fall migration
- Higbee Beach south-end beach: closed to all public access Apr. 15–Sept. 15 (N.J.A.C. 7:25-2.19(a)6). The north-end beach is open year-round, but for looking, not collecting
- Higbee Beach dunes: closed at all times, and you can't enter the dunes from established trails (N.J.A.C. 7:25-2.19(a)8)
- Parts of Higbee Beach WMA have been closed since January 29, 2024 for the Pond Creek restoration project, with construction expected to finish around December 2026
- Sunset Beach, summer evenings: the Veterans Flag Ceremony at 7 p.m. (Saturdays in June; Monday, Wednesday and Saturday in July and August; last one Labor Day weekend) draws a crowd to the beach, so plan to collect earlier
Equipment Notes
- A small bucket or mesh bag. The pebbles are on the surface, so you don't need to dig
- A kitchen strainer or garden sieve helps sort pea-sized stones out of the wet gravel at the tide line
- Water shoes. The beach is mostly pebble and shell hash rather than soft sand
- A spray bottle of fresh water. Wet quartz shows its clarity, while dry quartz looks chalky and blends into the gravel
What People Find Here
- Clear to frosty quartz pebbles, usually pea-sized to thumbnail-sized, which are the 'diamonds'
- Amber, smoky, rose and yellowish quartz. Pieces with a tint are less common than clear ones
- Larger, clearer stones after winter storms, when stronger currents move bigger pebbles ashore
- Sea glass and worn shell mixed into the same gravel band
Penalties for Violations
← Scroll to see all columns
| Violation | Statute | Penalty |
|---|---|---|
| Removing minerals or other state property from Higbee Beach WMA | N.J.S.A. 23:7-9 | Civil penalty of $50 to $1,500 per offense, plus restitution where applicable |
| Removing rock from Cape May Point State Park without written permission | N.J.A.C. 7:2-2.10(c) | Citation under the State Park Service Code |
| Entering Higbee Beach dunes or a seasonally closed beach area | N.J.A.C. 7:25-2.19(a)6 and (a)8; enforced under N.J.S.A. 23:7-9 | Civil penalty of $50 to $1,500 per offense |
Etiquette & Leave No Trace
- Take what you'll actually use. Sunset Beach has no limit, but the tide line is a shared resource for the thousands of visitors a year who come to hunt
- Leave the Atlantus alone. The concrete hull has been breaking apart for a century and is dangerous to climb
- Stay quiet and off the beach during the Veterans Flag Ceremony. It honors a veteran every night it's held, using a family's casket flag
- Don't cut through dune grass to get to the water. Use the marked paths
- If you're at Higbee Beach, look and photograph, then put stones back where they were
Other Hobbies Near Here
Distances are straight-line, not driving distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it legal to take Cape May diamonds from Sunset Beach?
Yes. Sunset Beach is privately owned by the Hume family, who have run Sunset Beach Gift Shops there since 1972 and encourage visitors to hunt for the stones. No permit or limit applies.
Can I collect Cape May diamonds at Higbee Beach?
No, though many travel guides say you can. Higbee Beach is a New Jersey Wildlife Management Area. N.J.S.A. 23:7-9 prohibits removing minerals or other state property from Division of Fish & Wildlife land, with civil penalties of $50 to $1,500 per offense. Walk the open beach, but leave the stones there.
Why do Cape May diamonds collect at Sunset Beach specifically?
It comes down to the wreck and the current. The quartz breaks off veins in the upper Delaware River basin and travels nearly 200 miles downriver over thousands of years. At Cape May Point, strong tidal currents run against the hull of the concrete ship SS Atlantus, grounded here since June 8, 1926, and a rock jetty, and the stones drop out onto this stretch of beach.
When is the best time to find big Cape May diamonds?
Winter, and right after a storm. The owners' own advice is to go on cold, windy days when the bay is churned up, and larger stones tend to arrive when winter currents are strongest. Summer mornings still turn up plenty of small stones, just fewer large ones.
Are Cape May diamonds real diamonds?
No. They're quartz, about 7 on the Mohs hardness scale compared with diamond's 10. Cut and polished, they look enough like diamonds that the gift shop says they fooled pawnbrokers before modern gem testers.
Can I visit Higbee Beach in the fall to look for stones?
Not on the beach. From September 15 to November 1, N.J.A.C. 7:25-2.19 limits all use of Higbee Beach WMA to designated trails, with groups capped at six, because of the fall bird migration. The trails don't count as beach, so in fall Sunset Beach is the only realistic option nearby.
Disclaimer
Information is provided for general guidance only. Regulations change frequently. Always verify current rules with the official jurisdiction before relying on this information for legal decisions. Permitted Pursuits is not a substitute for official agency guidance. Report an error.
Sources
- N.J. Admin. Code § 7:25-2.19 — Higbee Beach (seasonal trail-only rule, south-end beach closure, dune closure)(accessed 2026-09-25)
- N.J.S.A. 23:7-9 — Actions forbidden on property under State control; penalty(accessed 2026-09-25)
- NJDEP Division of Fish & Wildlife — N.J.A.C. 7:25 Subchapter 2 (courtesy copy)(accessed 2026-09-25)
- NJDEP — Portions of Higbee Beach WMA closed through December 2026(accessed 2026-09-25)
- NJDEP Office of Natural Resources Restoration — Higbee Beach WMA Restoration Project(accessed 2026-09-25)
- N.J. Admin. Code § 7:2-2.10 — Damage to property/tampering (State Park Service Code)(accessed 2026-09-25)
- Sunset Beach — SS Atlantus, the Concrete Ship (owner's history of the wreck and diamond deposition)(accessed 2026-09-25)
- Sunset Beach — Veterans Flag Ceremony (2026 schedule)(accessed 2026-09-25)
- Cape May Magazine — Sunset Beach and the Wayward Sign (Hume family ownership since 1972)(accessed 2026-09-25)
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