Popular Fishing Lakes In New Jersey
Guide to fishing in the Garden State
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.
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
Bass
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
Catfish
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
Crappie
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
Walleye
World record: 25 lbs 0 oz
State Record: 13 lbs 9 oz
Panfish
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
Trout
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
Salmon
Atlantic salmon
World record: 79 lbs 2 oz
State Record: 8 lbs 5 oz
Striped bass
Stripers
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
Other species
Bowfin
World record: 21 lbs 8 oz
State Record: 11 lbs 8.5 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
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