New Jersey has 127 miles of bathing beaches on the Atlantic Ocean, which comprise a large part of its $35 to $40 billion tourism industry.
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, whom Corzine supports, reversed himself Monday and called for limited new offshore drilling.
Republican John McCain advocates more oil drilling off the U.S. coast.
Corzine says it makes more sense to consider drilling in the Gulf, where there are proven oil reserves.