Panfish Fishing In New Jersey
Guide to fishing for panfish, sunfish, perch and bluegill in lakes and ponds.
Throughout the state of New Jersey you can find waters with populations of panfish, including bluegill, pumpkinseed sunfish, rock bass, white perch and yellow perch.
Pan Fish Fishing Options
Bluegill Fishing Basics Video
The core principles shown in this video will work for most sunfish, perch and other panfish.
Fishing For Panfish
Sunish are eager feeders, making them an excellent target for youth fishing outings. Enjoy fishing for panfish in most waters in Jew Jersey.
Common Sunfish Species In New Jersey
Bluegill
One of the easiest fish to catch, bluegill are eager bite. Fishing for bluegill is fun and easy.
Pumpkinseed Sunfish
Shaped like a pumpkin seed, it often has coloring similar to a pumpkin. Learn to fish for pumpkinseed sunfish.
Rock Bass
The rock bass is good eating and fun to catch. Rock bass prefer clear water with rocky bottom and vegetation.
White Perch
Fishing for white perch is a popular way to teach kids about fishing in slightly deeper water.
Yellow Perch
Many New Jersey anglers fish for yellow perch because they make for a great fish fry.
Best Panfish, Bluegill, Sunfish & Perch Lakes
Major lakes like Greenwood Lake, Lake Hopatcong, Manasquan Reservoir, Merrill Creek Reservoir, Monksville Reservoir, Oak Ridge Reservoir, Rainbow Lake, Round Valley Reservoir, Ryker Lake, Spruce Run Reservoir, Swartswood Lake, Union Lake and Wanaque Reservoir all have one or more species of sunfish.
New Jersey State Fish Records
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
Click the images and links above for species details.
New Jersey State Record Sunfish
The state record bluegill was caught from a farm pond.
The state record pumpkinseed sunfish came out of a private pond.
The state record rockbass was caught in the Saddle River.
The state record white perch was caught out of Forest Hill Park Lake.
The state record yellow perch was caught from Holiday Lake.
Sunfish fishing information in other states.
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