Just in time for Lent, here are 10 seafood markets and restaurants to visit at the Shore

Easter, the Christian holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus, is a day for feasting. Tables are full of honey-glazed ham, pasta, scrumptious sides — and chocolate eggs and baked goods galore.

But before the big day (March 31 this year) is Lent, a 40-day season of fasting and prayer. It begins on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 14. Those who observe give up something, such as candy or fast food. They also do not eat meat on Fridays.

But they can eat fish — and the Jersey Shore has access to some of the freshest seafood in the country. Whether you want to sit down with your family at a restaurant, or bring catches fresh from local boats home to cook, here are some places to check out.

Ahearn's Seafood Market, Waretown

For the last 60 years, this hometown seafood market has been serving local catches like shrimp, clams and scallops straight from the boat for its community. They also serve fresh fillets like cod, local flounder, Mahi Mahi, farm-raised and organic salmon, swordfish and more.

The market also offers a frozen selection, including king crab, octopus and coconut shrimp. If you want to get something prepared to take home, try the lobster mac n cheese, or shareable platters like lobster tail and cocktail shrimp.

Go: 158 Wells Mills Road, Waretown; 609-693-3486, ahearnsseafoodmarket.com.

Atlantic Offshore Fishery, Point Pleasant Beach

This is a spot where you can take fresh fish home to cook, or sit down for a good meal. At the fish market and restaurant run by commercial fisherman Mike Sarapochillo, customers get local, wild-caught fish brought to Point Pleasant Beach's docks by the company's own fleet. Buy fresh catches like clams, oysters, lobsters, crabs, shrimp, cod, flounder, monkfish, salmon and tuna; or frozen varieties like lobster tails, a variety of crab legs and calamari.

The restaurant serves casual bites like po' boys, filling entrees like whole stuffed lobster, and sushi rolls like the Kraken with shrimp tempura, avocado, spicy kani, octopus, lobster, black tobiko, tempura flakes and eel sauce.

Go: 212 Channel Drive; 732-206-6958, atlanticfisherynj.com.

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Keyport Fishery, Keyport

According to its website, this fishery originally known as "Wilson's," was opened in 1936 by Robert E. Wilson Sr. Some still know it as Wilson's to this day, and while they're have been many owners since then, one thing hasn't changed: the fresh seafood.

This is another market and restaurant all-in-one, with fresh catches like grouper, American red snapper, flounder and swordfish sold daily while various chowders and fried seafood platters are served inside.

Go: 150 West Front St.; 732-264-9723, keyportfishery.com.

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Local 130 Seafood, Asbury Park

This spot was founded by Eric Morris in 2014 to give back to local coastal communities. Fishermen bring a wide selection into the market, including locally-sourced Dayboat scallops, wild-caught sushi grade Ahi tuna, locally-sourced fluke, clams and more.

If you can't decide what you want to order, they have pre-packaged special boxes with different menu items, like the From Jersey with Love box that comes with two pieces of de-boned sustainable salmon fillets, 1 pound of local Dayboat dry scallops, and 2 pounds of local black bass fillet ($119). They also sell prepared dishes like lobster or shrimp salad, and steamed lobster.

Go: 1305 Memorial Drive; 732-455-3951, local130seafood.com.

Point Lobster Co. and Point Lobster Bar & Grille, Point Pleasant Beach

You may have seen these folks' food trucks, visited their restaurant or ordered some of the freshest seafood at the shore from the market. The shop itself sells fresh catches like live lobsters, shrimp, Dayboat scallops, local clams, local fluke, local monk fish and more. They are famous for their hot or cold lobster rolls, but you can also get fried seafood platters, various chowders, and bites like tuna tartare with sesame seeds, jalapeno and chili oil here, too.

If you pop on over to Point Lobster's Bar and Grill (just a few minutes away), you can enjoy their special Lent "Fish Market Fridays," starting Feb. 16. Depending on whatever fresh catches come in that week, the restaurant offers three or four different fish options, choice of sauce, a vegetable and a starch. A previous option has been shrimp scampi over risotto with fingerling potatoes.

Go: For the Market: 1 Saint Louis Ave.; 732-892-1718, pointlobster.com. For the Grill: 521 Arnold Ave.; 732-475-7363, pointlobsterbarandgrill.com.

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For more seafood

Belford Seafood Co-Op: A local seafood wholesaler that sells fresh fish straight from fishing boats. 901 Port Monmouth Road, Belford; 732-787-6508.

Blue Claw Seafood Market: One of LBI's favorite seafood markets. 1103 Long Beach Blvd., Surf City; 609-361-0050, blueclawlbi.com.

Monte's Fish Fry & Seafood Market: Specializes in fried seafood and seafood pasta dishes, as well as fresh fish from the market. 2119 Whitesville Road, Toms River; 732-886-2119, montesfishfry.com.

Shore Fresh Seafood Market, Point Pleasant: This market and restaurant sells fresh catches like tuna steak, grouper and shrimp. Shore Fresh serves dishes like salmon bites, blackened or grilled wild caught tuna, fish n' chips and more. For Point Pleasant Beach: 57 Channel Drive, 732-899-0909; For Point Pleasant: 703 Bridge Ave., 732-899-1300; shorefreshseafood.com.

Spring Lake Seafood: Order anything from raw bar bites like East Coast oysters and caviar to sushi rolls. Cooked plates include filling entrees like fluke scampi with arugula, tomatoes, red onion, ricotta salata or spaghetti. 1300 3rd Ave., Spring Lake; 732-449-4233, slsnj.com.

Gabriela L. Laracca joined the USA Today Network New Jersey in 2021 and eagerly brings her passion for cuisine and culture to our readers. Send restaurant tips to [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Jersey Shore seafood restaurants to visit during Lent