Region guide · NJ
Central New Jersey
Raritan and Sandy Hook bays, the Bayshore piers and the Monmouth County inlets from Shark River to Manasquan, plus Hunterdon's big reservoirs, the Raritan's trout branches, the Delaware River at Lambertville and lakes like Mercer and Deal. Round Valley is New Jersey's premier trout lake.
16 places in this region
Where to go
Places to fish
RiverNorth Branch Raritan RiverThe North Branch of the Raritan River runs rocky from its source in Mendham down to where it meets the South Branch at t…LakeLake MercerLake Mercer is a 275-acre lake in Mercer County Park, just 15 to 20 minutes from the State House in Trenton. It was dug…RiverSouth Branch Raritan River and Ken Lockwood GorgeThe South Branch of the Raritan River flows 51 miles from Budd Lake to its meeting with the North Branch where Hillsboro…BayRaritan BayRaritan Bay is the shallow, mud-bottomed bay tucked between Staten Island and the Monmouth County shore at the mouth of…ReservoirRound Valley ReservoirRound Valley Reservoir is New Jersey's premier trophy trout water: 2,350 acres of crystal-clear water in Hunterdon Count…Fishing AreaShark River InletShark River Inlet is the narrow gap in Monmouth County where the Shark River meets the ocean, between Avon-by-the-Sea on…Pier/Access PointKeyport Fishing PierThe Keyport Fishing Pier runs 300 feet out into Raritan Bay from the waterfront in lower Keyport, reaching deeper water…LakeDeal LakeDeal Lake is a shallow, many-armed 158-acre lake that winds through seven Monmouth County towns, from Ocean Township dow…RiverDelaware River (Trenton to Belvidere)Below the Delaware Water Gap, the non-tidal Delaware River flows past Belvidere, Phillipsburg, Frenchtown and Lambertvil…Pier/Access PointKeansburg Fishing PierThe Keansburg Fishing Pier stretches nearly 2,400 feet into Raritan Bay, giving anglers on foot a reach into water they…RiverManasquan RiverThe Manasquan River runs 26½ miles from Freehold Township to the ocean at Manasquan Inlet, but most of the saltwater fis…Fishing AreaPoint Pleasant CanalThe Point Pleasant Canal is a two-mile cut through Point Pleasant that links the Manasquan River with the top of Barnega…Fishing AreaSouth Amboy FlatsAt the back of Raritan Bay, where the Raritan River spills out past the Driscoll Bridge, the shallow flats off Perth Amb…ReservoirSpruce Run ReservoirSpruce Run Reservoir is a 1,290-acre reservoir in the hills of Hunterdon County, the third-largest in New Jersey, surrou…Fishing AreaSandy HookSandy Hook is the last stretch of sandy ocean beach at the northern end of the Jersey Shore, a barrier spit inside Gatew…Fishing AreaManasquan InletManasquan Inlet connects the Manasquan River to the Atlantic between Manasquan in Monmouth County and Point Pleasant Bea…
From the water
Latest reports
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Field guide
Species in this region
Plate 01Freshwater
American Shad
Plate 02Saltwater
Atlantic Croaker
Plate 03Freshwater
Black Crappie
Plate 04Saltwater
Black Sea Bass
Plate 05Freshwater
Brook Trout
Plate 06Freshwater
Brown Trout
Plate 07Freshwater
Chain Pickerel
Plate 08Freshwater
Channel Catfish
Plate 09Freshwater
Common Carp
Plate 10Saltwater
False Albacore (Little Tunny)
Plate 11Freshwater
Flathead Catfish
Plate 12Saltwater
Gray Triggerfish
Plate 13Freshwater
Hybrid Striped Bass
Plate 14Freshwater
Lake Trout
Plate 15Freshwater
Muskellunge
Plate 16Saltwater
Northern Kingfish
Plate 17Freshwater
Northern Pike
Plate 18Saltwater
Northern Puffer (Blowfish)
Plate 19Saltwater
Scup (Porgy)
Plate 20Saltwater
Sheepshead
Plate 21Freshwater
Smallmouth Bass
Plate 22Saltwater
Spot
Plate 23Saltwater
Tautog (Blackfish)
Plate 24Freshwater
Walleye
Plate 25Saltwater
White Perch
Plate 26Saltwater
Winter Flounder
Plate 27Freshwater
Yellow Perch
Plate 28Saltwater
Striped Bass
Plate 29Saltwater
Bluefish
Plate 30Saltwater
Fluke (Summer Flounder)
Plate 31Saltwater
Weakfish
Plate 32Freshwater
Largemouth Bass
Plate 33Freshwater