New Jersey’s Top Ice Fishing Spots
A guide to several of the popular New Jersey ice fishing spots, the types of freshwater fish, and tips to catch them.
December 14, 2020
New Jersey doesn’t jump out when you think of ice-fishing destinations. When I tell coworkers and other non-fishing friends that I go ice fishing in New Jersey, most of them are surprised. But, make no mistake, aside from exceptionally warm winters, the Garden State offers quality ice fishing every year, with a variety of species that rivals anywhere else in the country.
Whether you’re a bait-and-wait/tip-up ice fisherman or a jigging junkie, New Jersey has something to offer. With all the public water, it’s sometimes difficult to pin down where to catch what and how. Lakes that offer consistent action with panfish may have a noticeable absence of flags throughout the day. Other lakes that produce pickerel, bass, and even pike almost never produce even a sunfish on a jig. If you’re looking to start ice