Banking on South Jersey Bass
The Backyard State is birdshot-pocked from Sussex to Cape Might counties with publicly owned small lakes and ponds the place bass are plentiful and angling strain, save for stocked trout is nil. Nevertheless, largemouths are there for the taking. “You’d be stunned on the high quality of the bass fishing down right here on the small waters the place you possibly can’t use a ship,” mentioned Carmen Bersani, the occasion coordinator for the South Jersey Bass Membership Affiliation and president of the Comfortable Hooker Bass Membership based mostly in North Wildwood. He is aware of whereof he speaks: respectable largemouths could be caught from shoreline swims subsequent to closely trafficked roads, in metropolis and county parks and, when permission is granted, in and round housing/rental developments. Lou Rodia, long-time out of doors columnist for the Philadelphia Every day Information, Ocean Metropolis Sentinel and Cape Might Star & Wave, agrees. Says Rodia: “It’s a matter of familiarity breeding indifference. When you drive by a lake or pond typically sufficient and by no means see anybody fishing, you work that there’s nothing in there value casting to. Large mistake, however I’m not complaining as a result of I typically have the spot to myself. Among the nicest bass, and I’m speaking over 4 kilos, I’ve caught from strolling round lakes and ponds all by South Jersey. No boat. And no hassles coping with one. In, round and out. Simply how I prefer it.”
Listed below are a half-dozen constant bass-from-the-bank waters the place you don’t want a ship, or they aren’t allowed, and there may be an considerable quantity of shoreline entry:
Birch Grove Park Ponds (Atlantic County)
This sequence of 13 small ponds in numerous configurations, thick with shoreline brush conceal largemouths properly over 5 kilos; however be warned – plenty of lure and line consuming snags make the fish robust to get to. That is maybe the hardest shoreline method in south Jersey, however the high quality fish are well worth the inevitable lack of deal with.
Riverview Seaside Pond (Salem County)
Measurement: 5 acres
Bordering the pulsing Delaware, this park swim will open your eyes with the bass inside. Fish is not going to be huge, with 2 to three kilos being the excessive finish of what you possibly can anticipate, however massive numbers are there. Now that it has been faraway from the spring trout-stocking schedule, strain will likely be scant at greatest.
Mullica Hill Pond (Gloucester County)
Measurement: 10 acres
Oh boy, what a bassin’ secret Mullica Hill Pond is! Although this water is pounded through the April and late November trout stockings, strain nearly ceases through the in-between months, except the locals within the know. Regardless of the variety of bass saved by “bucket fishermen,” there are nonetheless some keen, decent-sized largemouth hidden inside this pond.
Giampietro Park Pond (Cumberland County)
Measurement: 11 acres
Filled with trout throughout April, angler curiosity wanes dramatically properly earlier than the Memorial Day weekend. However there are good bass in there for individuals who care!
Laurel Acres Pond (Burlington County)
Measurement: 2½ acres
A mere dot, however it holds quite a lot of bass! Stocked with 790 trout throughout April, this beautiful lil’ place is, for all intents and functions, vacant, angler-wise, after early June till October.
Swedesboro Lake (Gloucester County)
Measurement: 20 acres
One other recipient of April trout, the comb and timber alongside the shoreline makes for some robust going, however there are sufficient bankside openings for an underhand or side-cast presentation. Good bass grasp amongst the pads and weeds, alongside the laydowns and beneath the overhangs.
