Position
40°16.1′N 74°38.7′W
Lake Mercer is a 275-acre lake in Mercer County Park, just 15 to 20 minutes from the State House in Trenton. It was dug out as a gravel pit in the 1970s, and careful stocking and management have turned it into one of the most productive lakes in central New Jersey, with pure-strain muskies, big largemouth, channel catfish and some of the best black crappie fishing in the region.
When to fish
- Late spring through fall: channel catfish, with double-digit fish not unusual.
- Spring and early fall: catfish move up into the shallower water.
- All season: muskies (40-inch fish are normal, and 50 inches is possible) and largemouth.
Where to fish
- Toward the dam: the larger catfish.
- Scattered stumps, lily pads, phragmites, weed patches and laydowns: the lake has very little cover, so any structure counts. The bass tend to roam rather than hold, which makes them a challenge to pin down.
- The whole lake is shallow: it averages only about 6 feet and reaches 20.
How to fish it
The main forage is gizzard shad, golden shiners and white suckers, so think big baits for muskies. Largemouth are strong across all sizes, with state surveys finding a number of fish over 5 pounds and plenty in the 3½- to 4-pound range. Black crappie are abundant and big, some over 3 pounds, and the lake also holds the state-record white crappie.
Getting there
Mercer County Park is at 1638 Old Trenton Road in West Windsor, easy to reach from I-195, Route 130, Route 1 and the Turnpike. The park has a boat house with rentals and a free launch for electric-motor boats. Muskies have special regulations; check the current Freshwater Fishing Digest.
From the water
Latest reports
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No fishing reports have been published for Lake Mercer yet.
Field guide
What you can catch
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