Fishing in Central Jersey & Shore

1. Raritan Bay (Striped Bass, Bluefish, Fluke, Weakfish, Blackfish, Winter Flounder, Tautog, Porgy)

Raritan Bay, Middlesex/Monmouth counties

Raritan Bay offers excellent estuarine fishing with striped bass, fluke, and bluefish from shoreline access at Perth Amboy, South Amboy, Keyport, and Union Beach along the southern edge of the bay.

2. Sandy Hook (Striped Bass, Bluefish, Fluke, Weakfish, Black Drum, Porgy, Winter Flounder, Tautog)

Sandy Hook, Monmouth County

Sandy Hook is a 6-mile barrier peninsula at the northern tip of the Jersey Shore offering world-class surf casting from ocean beaches and protected bay waters within Gateway National Recreation Area.

3. Manasquan Reservoir (Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Walleye, Crappie, Channel Catfish, Bluegill)

Manasquan Reservoir, Monmouth County

Manasquan Reservoir is a 770-acre reservoir in Howell Township offering excellent freshwater fishing with a 5-mile perimeter trail, public boat launch, and diverse fish populations.

4. Navesink River (Striped Bass, Bluefish, Fluke, Weakfish, Winter Flounder, White Perch, Tautog)

Navesink River, Monmouth County

The Navesink River is a 7-mile tidal estuary offering excellent striped bass and fluke fishing with boat launches in Red Bank, Middletown, and Fair Haven.

5. Shrewsbury River (Striped Bass, Bluefish, Fluke, Weakfish, Blackfish, White Perch, Winter Flounder)

Shrewsbury River, Monmouth County

The Shrewsbury River offers excellent saltwater fishing in the tidal waters between Red Bank, Sea Bright, and the Sandy Hook Bay.

6. Swimming River Reservoir (Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Crappie, Bluegill, Chain Pickerel, Yellow Perch)

Swimming River Reservoir, Monmouth County

Swimming River Reservoir is a 450-acre reservoir in Tinton Falls and Colts Neck offering good freshwater fishing in the Navesink River watershed.

7. Lake Assumpink (Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Chain Pickerel, Yellow Perch)

Lake Assumpink, Monmouth County

Lake Assumpink offers good warmwater fishing in the Monmouth County park system near Lincroft.

8. Deal Lake (Largemouth Bass, Chain Pickerel, Crappie, Bluegill, Yellow Perch, White Perch)

Deal Lake, Monmouth County

Deal Lake is a 120-acre coastal lake in Asbury Park and Deal offering good freshwater fishing steps from the Atlantic Ocean.

9. Sunset Lake (Asbury Park) (Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Crappie, Channel Catfish, Chain Pickerel)

Sunset Lake, Monmouth County

Sunset Lake in Asbury Park's Sunset Park offers urban fishing opportunities in a historic park setting.

10. Wesley Lake (Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Crappie, White Perch)

Wesley Lake, Monmouth County

Wesley Lake is a 30-acre lake between Ocean Grove and Asbury Park offering good urban fishing.

11. Fletcher Lake (Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Chain Pickerel)

Fletcher Lake, Monmouth County

Fletcher Lake in Middletown's Poricy Park offers good warmwater fishing in a county park setting.

12. Poricy Brook (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout)

Poricy Brook, Monmouth County

Poricy Brook offers good trout fishing in the Navesink River watershed at Poricy Park in Middletown.

13. Matawan Creek (Striped Bass, White Perch, Bluefish, Fluke, Winter Flounder)

Matawan Creek, Monmouth County

Matawan Creek is a tidal tributary of Raritan Bay offering good striped bass and white perch fishing.

14. Ware Creek (Striped Bass, White Perch, Bluefish, Winter Flounder)

Ware Creek, Monmouth County

Ware Creek offers tidal fishing in the Raritan Bay watershed near Matawan.

15. Pews Creek (Striped Bass, White Perch, Bluefish, Winter Flounder, Tautog)

Pews Creek, Monmouth County

Pews Creek is a tidal creek in the Laurence Harbor area offering good saltwater fishing.

16. Cheesequake Creek (Striped Bass, White Perch, Bluefish, Winter Flounder, Crappie, Largemouth Bass)

Cheesequake Creek, Middlesex County

Cheesequake Creek in Cheesequake State Park offers both fresh and saltwater species in a unique coastal marsh environment.

17. South River (Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Crappie, White Perch, Striped Bass, Carp)

South River, Middlesex County

The South River is a 20-mile tributary of the Raritan River offering good warmwater and tidal fishing in Middlesex County.

18. Raritan River (Lower) (Striped Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, White Perch, Crappie, Carp)

Raritan River, Middlesex County

The lower Raritan River flows through New Brunswick and Perth Amboy offering excellent striped bass and catfish fishing with urban and park access points.

19. Lawrence Brook (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Chain Pickerel, Crappie)

Lawrence Brook, Middlesex County

Lawrence Brook in East Brunswick offers good trout and bass fishing in the Raritan River watershed.

20. Millstone River (Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Chain Pickerel, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish)

Millstone River, Somerset/Mercer counties

The Millstone River offers good warmwater fishing flowing from Princeton to the Raritan River at Manville.

21. Carnegie Lake (Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Chain Pickerel, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Yellow Perch)

Carnegie Lake, Mercer County

Carnegie Lake is a 250-acre man-made lake in Princeton created by Andrew Carnegie, offering good warmwater fishing adjacent to Princeton University.

22. Lake Topanemus (Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Chain Pickerel, Yellow Perch)

Lake Topanemus, Monmouth County

Lake Topanemus in Freehold's Lake Topanemus Park offers good family fishing in a 40-acre park lake.

23. Manasquan River (Tidal) (Striped Bass, Bluefish, Fluke, Weakfish, White Perch, Winter Flounder, Tautog)

Manasquan River, Monmouth County

The tidal Manasquan River offers excellent saltwater fishing from the Route 70 bridge to the inlet at Brielle with multiple boat ramps.

24. Metedeconk River (Striped Bass, Bluefish, Fluke, Weakfish, White Perch, Tautog, Winter Flounder)

Metedeconk River, Ocean County

The Metedeconk River is a tidal river in Brick and Point Pleasant offering excellent striped bass and fluke fishing with public access at multiple parks.

25. Toms River (Striped Bass, Bluefish, Fluke, Weakfish, White Perch, Winter Flounder, Largemouth Bass)

Toms River, Ocean County

The Toms River offers excellent saltwater and freshwater fishing in the heart of Ocean County with public access in Toms River Township.

26. Barnegat Bay (northern) (Striped Bass, Bluefish, Fluke, Weakfish, Winter Flounder, Crabs, White Perch)

Barnegat Bay, Ocean County

The northern Barnegat Bay from Point Pleasant to Seaside Heights offers excellent striped bass and fluke fishing with multiple public boat launches.

27. Lake Shenandoah (Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Chain Pickerel, Channel Catfish, Yellow Perch)

Lake Shenandoah, Ocean County

Lake Shenandoah is a 350-acre lake in Lakewood offering good warmwater fishing with a county park.

28. Horicon Lake (Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Chain Pickerel, Yellow Perch, White Perch)

Horicon Lake, Ocean County

Horicon Lake in Lakewood offers good freshwater fishing in a 200-acre lake setting.

29. Lake Carasaljo (Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Chain Pickerel, Channel Catfish, Sunfish)

Lake Carasaljo, Ocean County

Lake Carasaljo is a 230-acre man-made lake in Lakewood offering good warmwater fishing with park access.

30. Mountain Lake (Ocean Co.) (Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Chain Pickerel, Yellow Perch)

Mountain Lake, Ocean County

Mountain Lake in Lakewood offers good freshwater fishing in a quiet lake setting.

31. Colliers Mills Lake (Largemouth Bass, Chain Pickerel, Crappie, Bluegill, Yellow Perch, Sunfish)

Colliers Mills Lake, Ocean County

Colliers Mills Lake in Jackson's Colliers Mills Wildlife Management Area offers good warmwater fishing in a natural setting.

32. Prospertown Lake (Largemouth Bass, Chain Pickerel, Crappie, Bluegill, Yellow Perch, Sunfish)

Prospertown Lake, Ocean County

Prospertown Lake in Jackson offers good freshwater fishing in a wildlife management area setting.

33. Pine Lake (Ocean Co.) (Largemouth Bass, Chain Pickerel, Crappie, Bluegill)

Pine Lake, Ocean County

Pine Lake in Jackson offers good warmwater fishing in the Pine Barrens region of Ocean County.

34. Assunpink Lake (Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Chain Pickerel, Channel Catfish, Northern Pike)

Assunpink Lake, Monmouth County

Assunpink Lake in the Assunpink Wildlife Management Area offers good warmwater fishing in a large WMA setting.

35. Stone Tavern Lake (Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Chain Pickerel, Channel Catfish)

Stone Tavern Lake, Monmouth County

Stone Tavern Lake in the Assunpink WMA offers good freshwater fishing in a secluded setting.

36. Rising Sun Lake (Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Chain Pickerel, Channel Catfish)

Rising Sun Lake, Monmouth County

Rising Sun Lake in the Assunpink Wildlife Management Area offers good warmwater fishing.

37. Maple Lake (Monmouth Co.) (Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Chain Pickerel)

Maple Lake, Monmouth County

Maple Lake offers good fishing in the Assunpink Creek watershed of western Monmouth County.

38. Lake Lefferts (Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Chain Pickerel)

Lake Lefferts, Monmouth County

Lake Lefferts in the Manasquan River watershed offers good warmwater fishing in Monmouth County.

39. Lake Matawan (Largemouth Bass, Chain Pickerel, Crappie, Bluegill, Yellow Perch)

Lake Matawan, Monmouth County

Lake Matawan in Matawan offers good freshwater fishing in a borough park setting.

40. Lake Natco (Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Chain Pickerel, Sunfish)

Lake Natco, Monmouth County

Lake Natco in Aberdeen offers good warmwater fishing in a small community lake setting.