Newbie
 

Good Morning everyone,

I just recently took up fishing after taking my son on a little excursion to Molder's Preserve in Old Bridge NJ (Where I live). I really enjoyed my day there, even though my son didn't. Since that day, I went out and bought some cheap fishing gear and a fishing license. I've been using Google Maps and the NJ state website to try to find some good spots to fish. Some have been ok, but some have been dreadful with either no access to the lake, total vegetation/sludge on top of the water or no fish. I have caught some fish at various spots. A couple of catfish, a few sunnies and one or two that I have no idea what they were. I unfortunately also landed a few turtles which were no fun at all. I don't care what I catch, I just enjoy the action and throw back whatever I might land.

Brings me to my questions;
Could anyone recommend some good rivers, stream, ponds or lakes in the Middlesex or Monmouth county areas? Im fishing from the shore, so please nothing that I need a boat.


Secondly, what is the best bait to use when fishing in these areas. I have had the most success with shrimp so far. I've tried worms and hot dogs and they've worked a bit, but the shrimp has been best by far.

Any other tips that you might have would certainly be welcome.

Thanks
Matt

Re: Newbie
 

I'm not that familiar with fresh water that far south, but in general, summer time is tough with over growing and such. Unless someone shares some specific info, your best bet is to note some bodies of water on google maps along a path that is convenient to you and just take a few hours and make a trip of it checking some of them out. fishing will get better soon with the cooling water and plants will start dying off giving you better shore access. if you find a bait shop by you, you can try minnows but they're much more work to transport and keep alive plus worms and shrimp are great too.

Re: Newbie
 

check the f&w sites

https://www.njfishandwildlife.com/fishplc.htm


https://www.njfishandwildlife.com/fishstrm.htm

Re: Newbie
 

your pretty close to farrington, westons mill and dallenback(north and east brunswicks), brainerd(cranbury) manalapan(monroe). you can fish all from the banks. Good luck fishing, its better than working.
the D&R canal is also close to you.

Re: Newbie
 

You can also try Duhernal Lake, it's in Old Bridge. We used to catch some large pickerel just above the dam, and some nice perch below the falls. Not sure how the fishing is there now, haven't been there in like 40 years, but it's close and should still have fish. Try stick baits, Gary Yamamoto worms hooked once in the middle, cast with no weight and watch your line, when a fish picks it up you'll see your line start moving. Live bait always works (minnows), above the dam fish them right on the bottom, good luck. In the early 70's I used to duck hunt in the back, it was fantastic for wood ducks, there were lots of guys who hunted it

Re: Newbie
 

I usually hit lake lefferts when im down there, but there's always someone fishing there at the fishing spots. Maybe try and rent one of those boats and hit some hard to reach spots. Or maybe check out the spillway of the lake.