New Jersey Fishing Spots?

[Tyson1]

Hi guys. I just started fishing recently. Does anyone know, or reccomend any good fishing spots in northern jersey ?? Thanks in advanced

[AK-Jax86]

Hi guys. I just started fishing recently. Does anyone know, or reccomend any good fishing spots in northern jersey ?? Thanks in advanced

How far north are you? I use to go to Kean University up in Union I know some spots around that area. I am originally from the Jersey Shore, Belmar Spring Lake area, I know a bunch of good spots over there. If you ever want to take a trip check out te Manasquan Resivour. They have basically every type of freshwater fish native to NJ, they even have hybrid striped bass and Muskie. You can rent Jon boats out of there and they sell live bait as well.

[Tyson1]

I'm in Passaic county, I wouldn't mind taking an occasional trip to manasquan. But I'd also like to find a place to could go fish regularly.

[Dylcook91]

I don't know of any spots in north jersey, but I do know of the places AK-NJ1986 refers to as I live in Manasquan(and he suggested them to me lol). However most of these spots were destroyed in hurricane Sandy, I lost a good number of fishng holes as a result. Manasquan res. is very good fishing grounds, but its quite a large place to fish from shore, so you would definitely want to rent/bring a boat of some kind(no gas motors). If you look on youtube search "Keep Reeling" he fishes the Brunswick area in north jersey, and gets some very decent fish.

[ArthurW]

Silver Lake off Silver Grove Rd. in Stockholm. Monster crappie in there. Good bass fishing as well. I once caught a 11" rainbow while fishing for crappie. Park in lot, walk over to the concrete dam, and cast a senko, 7" worm,  or a live minnow under a bobber. Look around, you'll know where to cast when you see it.

 

I've heard Split Rock in Rockaway is good, but have never fished it.

 

Best bass fishing in Sussex County is High Point Country Club ( Holiday Lake), but ya gotta know somebody.

 

Swartswood lake is also very good.

Edited August 17, 2013 by ArthurW

[BrianSnat]

You don't say whether you have a boat available, or what kind of fish you are interested in.  Anyway I started to type a long response and realized I was basically duplicating something the state already provides.  This is a very good resource   http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/2003/plcpnds03.pdf

 

Print it out and use it to explore.

[Tyson1]

You don't say whether you have a boat available, or what kind of fish you are interested in.  Anyway I started to type a long response and realized I was basically duplicating something the state already provides.  This is a very good resource   http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/2003/plcpnds03.pdf  Print it out and use it to explore.

Sorry , I guess I should have been more specific. I don't have a boat. And any species will do, preferably large or smallmouth bass.. I've looked at similar lists, but I was looking more for firsthand accounts. Those list all say they have fish, but then ppl say the fishing is terrible here or there. And there a bunch of places I've been told about that aren't mentioned in those list. So find myself back at square one constantly. Thanks ill try it out though.

[BrianSnat]

OK if you want first hand experience.   Green Turtle Pond in Hewitt is pretty good.  You can fish from shore there.  Trout and bass fishing is good at GTP.

 

Pompton Lake has limited shore fishing but if you can find a legal spot, it can be good for bass and pike

 

I never fished Budd Lake but I know a few people who say it's good.

 

The Newark Watershed reservoirs require a special permit (available at their office on Echo Lake Rd in Newfoundland), but have some good shore fishing for  walleye, small and largemouth bass and trout.  They are Echo Lake, Cannistear Reservoir, Oak Ridge Reservoir, Clinton Reservoir and Charlotteburg Reservoir

 

I've never done well at Monksville Reservoir, but there are a lot of big fish in it.  Just a matter of convincing them to hit your line.

 

Round Valley and Spruce Run Reservoirs further south are very good.

 

Split Rock Reservoir is excellent if you can borrow or buy yourself a canoe or kayak, but unfortunately shore fishing there is illegal.

 

Most of the area rivers are trout stocked but trout die off by summer.  In the spring and early summer try the Pequannock, Pompton, Rockaway and Ramapo rivers. The Pequannock holds trout year round in the northern section. Going  further west and The Muscnetcong, Pequest, Flat Brook and Wallkill rivers hold trout all year, but it's best to leave them alone when water temps are high.

 

While I don't like it due to the insane weekend and weeknight boat traffic and all the weeds, Lake Hopatcong has good fishing for quite a few species and plenty of spots to fish from shore.

 

The Passaic River has a good rep for Northern Pike, particularly the stretch through Fairfield, Pine Brook, West Caldwell and Little Falls but you can catch them right into Paterson (I wouldn't eat them though).  Also some huge carp in it.

[Tyson1]

OK if you want first hand experience.   Green Turtle Pond in Hewitt is pretty good.  You can fish from shore there.  Trout and bass fishing is good at GTP. Pompton Lake has limited shore fishing but if you can find a legal spot, it can be good for bass and pike I never fished Budd Lake but I know a few people who say it's good. The Newark Watershed reservoirs require a special permit (available at their office on Echo Lake Rd in Newfoundland), but have some good shore fishing for  walleye, small and largemouth bass and trout.  They are Echo Lake, Cannistear Reservoir, Oak Ridge Reservoir, Clinton Reservoir and Charlotteburg Reservoir I've never done well at Monksville Reservoir, but there are a lot of big fish in it.  Just a matter of convincing them to hit your line. Round Valley and Spruce Run Reservoirs further south are very good. Split Rock Reservoir is excellent if you can borrow or buy yourself a canoe or kayak, but unfortunately shore fishing there is illegal. Most of the area rivers are trout stocked but trout die off by summer.  In the spring and early summer try the Pequannock, Pompton, Rockaway and Ramapo rivers. The Pequannock holds trout year round in the northern section. Going  further west and The Muscnetcong, Pequest, Flat Brook and Wallkill rivers hold trout all year, but it's best to leave them alone when water temps are high. While I don't like it due to the insane weekend and weeknight boat traffic and all the weeds, Lake Hopatcong has good fishing for quite a few species and plenty of spots to fish from shore. The Passaic River has a good rep for Northern Pike, particularly the stretch through Fairfield, Pine Brook, West Caldwell and Little Falls but you can catch them right into Paterson (I wouldn't eat them though).  Also some huge carp in it.

Whoa. You gave me more information in that one post than I was expecting to receive in the entire thread. Thank you very much !!!

[einscodek]

Some of those lakes and reservoir listed are good but they are big and without a boat, you'd really need to know where to go along the shore and when..

[tjc76]

Tyson- welcome to the site.  I live about 15 minutes from ya.  If you are looking for nearby fishing spots, look no further than your backyard.  The Passaic River, especially for smallmouth and northern pike.  Here is  my personal best smallmouth, 20 and a 1/4, caught right out of the Passaic in Little Falls.