Great Fishing In New Jersey
Guide to fishing in the Garden State
Last updated on .
New Jersey offers a diverse range of fishing options, with a variety of species inhabiting its warm-water fisheries, cold-water fisheries, ponds, lakes, and rivers. Anglers can pursue a wide array of fish, making the state a popular destination for fishing enthusiasts of all levels. New Jersey plus many streams and rivers. In New Jersey, some lakes also allow ice fishing in winter.
Great Fishing Options
Warm-water lakes in New Jersey offer outstanding opportunities for anglers targeting largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, and hybrid striped bass. Many of the state’s larger, lower-elevation impoundments fall into this category, warming quickly in spring and providing long growing seasons. Well-known examples include Lake Hopatcong, Union Lake, Manasquan Reservoir, Deal Lake, and Assunpink Lake. These waters typically feature abundant vegetation, shoreline wood, and shallow flats that support strong forage bases. During summer, fish often relate to weed edges and deeper structure, while spring and fall bring excellent shallow-water action for both boat and bank anglers.
Cold-water lakes in the state are generally deeper, clearer, and often located in the northern highlands, where conditions favor trout and other salmonids. Many are stocked annually with rainbow, brown, and brook trout, with some also supporting lake trout in deeper basins. Prominent cold-water fisheries include Round Valley Reservoir, Merrill Creek Reservoir, Tilcon Lake, Shepherd Lake, and Swartswood Lake. These lakes often stratify in summer, concentrating trout in deeper, cooler water. Spring and fall provide prime shoreline access, while winter can offer productive ice fishing when conditions allow.
Major New Jersey Lakes & Species
Lake & Fish Chart
Major fishing waters, cross referenced with fishing found in each lake. For a detailed list of primary fish species in NJ, plus state fish records, see the list below.
Fishing lake sizes and locations in the state
Assunpink Lake is a 225-acre lake in the central part of the state, at Roosevelt.
Clinton Reservoir is a 424-acre lake in the northern part of the state, 2 miles north of Newfoundland.
Farrington Lake is a 290-acre lake in the north-central part of the state, at Miltown.
Greenwood Lake is a 1,900-acre lake on the northern border of the state, at West Milford.
Lake Carnegie is a 237-acre lake in the central part of the state, at Princeton.
Lake Hopatcong is a 2,700-acre lake in the north-central part of the state, at Hopatcong.
Manasquan Reservoir is a 700-acre lake in the east-central part of the state, at Howell.
Mercer Lake is a 276-acre lake in central NJ, 5 miles northeast of Trenton.
Merrill Creek Reservoir is a 650-acre lake in the northwest part of the state, at Harmony.
Monksville Reservoir is a 500-acre lake in the northeast part of the state, at Hewitt.
Lake Musconetcong is a 329-acre lake in the northern part of the state, at Netcong.
Oak Ridge Reservoir is a 480-acre lake in the northeast part of the state, at Oak Ridge.
Round Valley Reservoir is a 2,300-acre lake in the northwest part of the state, at Lebanon.
Spruce Run Reservoir is a 1,300-acre lake in the northwest part of the state, at Clinton.
Swartswood Lake is a 500-acre lake in the north-central part of the state at Swartswood.
Union Lake is a 900-acre lake in the south-central part of the state, at Millville.
Wanaque Reservoir is a 2,300-acre lake in the northeast part of the state, at Wanaque.
Fish Species & State Records in New Jersey
Largemouth bass
world record: 22 lbs 4 oz
state record: 10 lbs 14 oz
Smallmouth bass
world record: 11 lbs 15 oz
state record: 7 lbs 2 oz
Channel catfish
world record: 58 lbs 0 oz
state record: 33 lbs 3 oz
White catfish
world record: 19 lbs 4 oz
state record: 14 lbs 4 oz
Black crappie
world record: 6 lbs 0 oz
state record: 4 lbs 8 oz
White crappie
world record: 5 lbs 3 oz
state record: 3 lbs 11 oz
Walleye
world record: 25 lbs 0 oz
state record: 13 lbs 9 oz
Bluegill
world record: 4 lbs 12 oz
state record: 3 lbs 0 oz
Pumpkinseed sunfish
world record: 2 lbs 4 oz
state record: 1 lbs 8 oz
Rock bass
world record: 3.0 lbs
state record: 1 lbs 5 oz
White perch
world record: 4.6 lbs
state record: 3 lbs 1 oz
Yellow perch
world record: 4 lbs 3 oz
state record: 2 lbs 6 oz
Rainbow trout
world record: 42 lbs 2 oz
state record: 13 lbs 0 oz
Brook trout
world record: 14 lbs 8 oz
state record: 7 lbs 3 oz
Brown trout
world record: 40 lbs 4 oz
state record: 21 lbs 6 oz
Lake trout
world record: 72 lbs 0 oz
state record: 32 lbs 8 oz
Atlantic salmon
world record: 79 lbs 2 oz
state record: 8 lbs 5 oz
Striped Bass
Inland world record: 64 lbs 8 oz
state record: 51 lbs 0 oz
Hybrid Striper
world record: 27 lbs 5 oz
state record: 17 lbs 12 oz
Chain pickerel
world record: 9 lbs 6 oz
state record: 9 lbs 3 oz
Muskie (Muskellunge)
world record: 69 lbs 9 oz
state record: 42 lbs 13 oz
Northern pike
world record: 55 lbs 1 oz
state record: 30 lbs 8.5 oz
Tiger muskie
world record: 51 lbs 2 oz
state record: 29 lbs 0 oz
Click the images and links above for species details.
Acquire a New Jersey fishing license.
State of NJ Fishing Information
New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife regulations and information about fishing in New Jersey.
Fishing in all states
022026
NEW JERSEY
