Freshwater Fishing
Spring Season
High - Pre-spawn and spawn activity
40°F
Est. Water
2
Active Species
27
Locations
📡 Live USGS data from 3 gauges • Updates every 15 min
17
Lakes/Ponds
8
Rivers/Creeks
40°F
Est. Temp
Spring
Season
FISH
Active Species
Trout (Rainbow/Brown/Brook)
50-62°F optimal
Active
Chain Pickerel
55-70°F optimal
Active
LIST
All Freshwater Species
Trout (Rainbow/Brown/Brook)50-62°F
Largemouth Bass65-80°F
Smallmouth Bass60-72°F
Chain Pickerel55-70°F
Channel Catfish70-85°F
Common Carp65-80°F
Sunfish (Bluegill/Pumpkinseed)65-80°F
Crappie (Black/White)55-70°F
White Perch55-75°F
TIPS
Seasonal Tips
Target warming shallows. Bass moving to spawn beds.
Structure: Fallen trees, docks, weed edges, and drop-offs hold fish.
Freshwater Gear
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Filter by County:
Showing 26 locations across 4 counties
Lakes and Ponds
16 spotsDeal Lake
lake - Monmouth County
1 Active
Target Species
Largemouth Bass★Chain PickerelChannel CatfishCommon Carp
Water Temp
40°F (Seasonal Est.)
Best Time
moving
Timing:Fish structure and docks early morning
How to Fish Here
Techniques:
Cast to structureTopwater at dawnFlip/pitch docks
Baits/Lures:
Pro Tips
- •Fish shallow early, go deep midday
- •Target shade and cover
- •Access from Asbury Park or Allenhurst
🅿️ Parking:Street parking, boat ramps available
Lake Takanassee
lake - Monmouth County
1 Active
Target Species
Largemouth Bass★Chain PickerelSunfish (Bluegill/Pumpkinseed)
Water Temp
40°F (Seasonal Est.)
Best Time
moving
How to Fish Here
Techniques:
Cast to structureTopwater at dawnFlip/pitch docks
Baits/Lures:
Pro Tips
- •Fish shallow early, go deep midday
- •Target shade and cover
- •Small lake but productive
🅿️ Parking:Limited street parking
Lake Shenandoah
lake - Ocean County
1 Active
Target Species
Largemouth Bass★Chain PickerelChannel CatfishSunfish (Bluegill/Pumpkinseed)
Water Temp
40°F (Seasonal Est.)
Best Time
moving
How to Fish Here
Techniques:
Cast to structureTopwater at dawnFlip/pitch docks
Baits/Lures:
Pro Tips
- •Fish shallow early, go deep midday
- •Target shade and cover
- •Lakewood township lake
🅿️ Parking:Park lots
Prospertown Lake
lake - Ocean County
2 Active
Target Species
Largemouth Bass★Chain PickerelChannel Catfish★Trout (Rainbow/Brown/Brook)
Water Temp
40°F (Seasonal Est.)
Best Time
moving
How to Fish Here
Techniques:
Cast to structureTopwater at dawnFlip/pitch docks
Baits/Lures:
Pro Tips
- •Fish shallow early, go deep midday
- •Target shade and cover
- •Stocked with trout in spring
🅿️ Parking:County park access
Poricy Pond
lake - Monmouth County
Target Species
Largemouth BassSunfish (Bluegill/Pumpkinseed)Channel Catfish
Water Temp
40°F (Seasonal Est.)
Best Time
moving
How to Fish Here
Techniques:
Cast to structureTopwater at dawnFlip/pitch docks
Baits/Lures:
Pro Tips
- •Fish shallow early, go deep midday
- •Target shade and cover
- •Small but productive pond
🅿️ Parking:Park lot
Colliers Mills WMA Lakes
lake - Ocean County
1 Active
Target Species
Largemouth Bass★Chain PickerelChannel CatfishSunfish (Bluegill/Pumpkinseed)Crappie (Black/White)
Water Temp
40°F (Seasonal Est.)
Best Time
moving
How to Fish Here
Techniques:
Cast to structureTopwater at dawnFlip/pitch docks
Baits/Lures:
Pro Tips
- •Fish shallow early, go deep midday
- •Target shade and cover
- •Multiple lakes in WMA
🅿️ Parking:WMA lots - free
Lake Lenape
lake - Atlantic County
1 Active
Target Species
Largemouth Bass★Chain PickerelChannel CatfishSunfish (Bluegill/Pumpkinseed)Crappie (Black/White)
Water Temp
40°F (Seasonal Est.)
Best Time
moving
How to Fish Here
Techniques:
Cast to structureTopwater at dawnFlip/pitch docks
Baits/Lures:
Pro Tips
- •Fish shallow early, go deep midday
- •Target shade and cover
- •Mays Landing area lake
🅿️ Parking:Park lots
Makepeace Lake WMA
lake - Atlantic County
1 Active
Target Species
Largemouth Bass★Chain PickerelChannel CatfishSunfish (Bluegill/Pumpkinseed)
Water Temp
40°F (Seasonal Est.)
Best Time
moving
How to Fish Here
Techniques:
Cast to structureTopwater at dawnFlip/pitch docks
Baits/Lures:
Pro Tips
- •Fish shallow early, go deep midday
- •Target shade and cover
- •Secluded WMA lake
🅿️ Parking:WMA lot
Atsion Lake
lake - Atlantic County
1 Active
Target Species
Largemouth Bass★Chain PickerelChannel CatfishSunfish (Bluegill/Pumpkinseed)Crappie (Black/White)
Water Temp
40°F (Seasonal Est.)
Best Time
moving
How to Fish Here
Techniques:
Cast to structureTopwater at dawnFlip/pitch docks
Baits/Lures:
Pro Tips
- •Fish shallow early, go deep midday
- •Target shade and cover
- •Wharton State Forest lake
🅿️ Parking:State forest lot
Batsto Lake
lake - Atlantic County
1 Active
Target Species
Largemouth Bass★Chain PickerelChannel CatfishSunfish (Bluegill/Pumpkinseed)
Water Temp
40°F (Seasonal Est.)
Best Time
moving
How to Fish Here
Techniques:
Cast to structureTopwater at dawnFlip/pitch docks
Baits/Lures:
Pro Tips
- •Fish shallow early, go deep midday
- •Target shade and cover
- •Historic Batsto Village area
🅿️ Parking:Village parking
Menantico Ponds (Millville WMA)
lake - Cape May County
1 Active
Target Species
Largemouth Bass★Chain PickerelChannel CatfishSunfish (Bluegill/Pumpkinseed)Crappie (Black/White)
Water Temp
40°F (Seasonal Est.)
Best Time
moving
How to Fish Here
Techniques:
Cast to structureTopwater at dawnFlip/pitch docks
Baits/Lures:
Pro Tips
- •Fish shallow early, go deep midday
- •Target shade and cover
- •WMA pond system
🅿️ Parking:WMA lots
Sawmill Lake
lake - Cape May County
1 Active
Target Species
Largemouth Bass★Chain PickerelSunfish (Bluegill/Pumpkinseed)Channel Catfish
Water Temp
40°F (Seasonal Est.)
Best Time
moving
How to Fish Here
Techniques:
Cast to structureTopwater at dawnFlip/pitch docks
Baits/Lures:
Pro Tips
- •Fish shallow early, go deep midday
- •Target shade and cover
- •Near Woodbine area
🅿️ Parking:Limited access
Birch Grove Park Lake
lake - Atlantic County
1 Active
Target Species
Largemouth BassChannel CatfishSunfish (Bluegill/Pumpkinseed)★Chain Pickerel
Water Temp
40°F (Seasonal Est.)
Best Time
moving
How to Fish Here
Techniques:
Cast to structureTopwater at dawnFlip/pitch docks
Baits/Lures:
Pro Tips
- •Fish shallow early, go deep midday
- •Target shade and cover
- •County park with good access
🅿️ Parking:Park lot - free
Hammonton Lake
lake - Atlantic County
1 Active
Target Species
Largemouth Bass★Chain PickerelChannel CatfishCrappie (Black/White)
Water Temp
40°F (Seasonal Est.)
Best Time
moving
How to Fish Here
Techniques:
Cast to structureTopwater at dawnFlip/pitch docks
Baits/Lures:
Pro Tips
- •Fish shallow early, go deep midday
- •Target shade and cover
- •Downtown Hammonton lake
🅿️ Parking:Street parking downtown
Lake Nummy (Belleplain SF)
lake - Cape May County
1 Active
Target Species
Largemouth Bass★Chain PickerelSunfish (Bluegill/Pumpkinseed)Channel Catfish
Water Temp
40°F (Seasonal Est.)
Best Time
moving
How to Fish Here
Techniques:
Cast to structureTopwater at dawnFlip/pitch docks
Baits/Lures:
Pro Tips
- •Fish shallow early, go deep midday
- •Target shade and cover
- •Belleplain State Forest centerpiece
🅿️ Parking:State forest parking $5
East Creek Pond
lake - Cape May County
1 Active
Target Species
Largemouth Bass★Chain PickerelChannel CatfishCrappie (Black/White)
Water Temp
40°F (Seasonal Est.)
Best Time
moving
How to Fish Here
Techniques:
Cast to structureTopwater at dawnFlip/pitch docks
Baits/Lures:
Pro Tips
- •Fish shallow early, go deep midday
- •Target shade and cover
- •Hidden gem in Cape May County
🅿️ Parking:Limited access
Rivers and Creeks
8 spotsUpper Manasquan River
river/creek - Monmouth County
LIVE2 Active
📡 USGS Live Data12m ago
Flow
71.1 cfs
→ Stable
Gauge
2.88 ft
Height
Water
40°F
Seasonal Est.
Ideal flow - good water movement, fishable
Target Species
★Trout (Rainbow/Brown/Brook)Largemouth BassSmallmouth Bass★Chain Pickerel
Timing:Focus on flow levels, not tide
How to Fish Here
Techniques:
Cast to structureTopwater at dawnFlip/pitch docks
Baits/Lures:
Pro Tips
- •Fish shallow early, go deep midday
- •Target shade and cover
- •Stocked trout stream
🅿️ Parking:County park access
Toms River
river/creek - Ocean County
LIVE2 Active
📡 USGS Live Data42m ago
Flow
306 cfs
→ Stable
Gauge
5.3 ft
Height
Water
40°F
Seasonal Est.
Elevated flow - fishable but challenging
Target Species
★Trout (Rainbow/Brown/Brook)Largemouth Bass★Chain PickerelChannel Catfish
How to Fish Here
Techniques:
Cast to structureTopwater at dawnFlip/pitch docks
Baits/Lures:
Pro Tips
- •Fish shallow early, go deep midday
- •Target shade and cover
- •Upper stretches stocked
🅿️ Parking:Various access points
Metedeconk River
river/creek - Ocean County
LIVE2 Active
📡 USGS Live Data27m ago
Flow
55 cfs
→ Stable
Gauge
3.64 ft
Height
Water
40°F
Seasonal Est.
Ideal flow - good water movement, fishable
Target Species
★Trout (Rainbow/Brown/Brook)Largemouth Bass★Chain Pickerel
How to Fish Here
Techniques:
Cast to structureTopwater at dawnFlip/pitch docks
Baits/Lures:
Pro Tips
- •Fish shallow early, go deep midday
- •Target shade and cover
- •Stocked upstream
🅿️ Parking:Limited public access
Swimming River Reservoir
river/creek - Monmouth County
1 Active
Target Species
Largemouth Bass★Chain PickerelChannel CatfishCrappie (Black/White)Sunfish (Bluegill/Pumpkinseed)
Water Temp
40°F (Seasonal Est.)
Best Time
moving
How to Fish Here
Techniques:
Cast to structureTopwater at dawnFlip/pitch docks
Baits/Lures:
Pro Tips
- •Fish shallow early, go deep midday
- •Target shade and cover
- •Large reservoir with good fishing
🅿️ Parking:Park access points
Cedar Creek
river/creek - Ocean County
1 Active
Target Species
★Chain PickerelLargemouth BassChannel CatfishSunfish (Bluegill/Pumpkinseed)
Water Temp
40°F (Seasonal Est.)
Best Time
moving
How to Fish Here
Techniques:
Cast to structureTopwater at dawnFlip/pitch docks
Baits/Lures:
Pro Tips
- •Fish shallow early, go deep midday
- •Target shade and cover
- •Classic Pine Barrens stream
🅿️ Parking:State park lots
Great Egg Harbor River
river/creek - Atlantic County
1 Active
Target Species
Largemouth Bass★Chain PickerelChannel CatfishSunfish (Bluegill/Pumpkinseed)
Water Temp
40°F (Seasonal Est.)
Best Time
moving
How to Fish Here
Techniques:
Cast to structureTopwater at dawnFlip/pitch docks
Baits/Lures:
Pro Tips
- •Fish shallow early, go deep midday
- •Target shade and cover
- •Pine Barrens river - tea-colored water
🅿️ Parking:Various launch sites
East Creek Pond
lake - Cape May County
1 Active
Target Species
Largemouth Bass★Chain PickerelChannel CatfishCrappie (Black/White)
Water Temp
40°F (Seasonal Est.)
Best Time
moving
How to Fish Here
Techniques:
Cast to structureTopwater at dawnFlip/pitch docks
Baits/Lures:
Pro Tips
- •Fish shallow early, go deep midday
- •Target shade and cover
- •Hidden gem in Cape May County
🅿️ Parking:Limited access
Tuckahoe River
river/creek - Cape May County
1 Active
Target Species
Largemouth Bass★Chain PickerelChannel CatfishWhite Perch
Water Temp
40°F (Seasonal Est.)
Best Time
moving
How to Fish Here
Techniques:
Cast to structureTopwater at dawnFlip/pitch docks
Baits/Lures:
Pro Tips
- •Fish shallow early, go deep midday
- •Target shade and cover
- •Beautiful Pine Barrens river
🅿️ Parking:WMA access points