Fishing at Lake Matawan, Monmouth County, New Jersey

• Overview

  Lake Matawan is listed under Monmouth County, New Jersey. It sits at 52 feet above sea level. It covers about 17 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Matawan at 0.2 miles is the nearest place to stop. The big place round here is Staten Island, 11 miles distant. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Lake Matawan

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Survey and observation records for Monmouth County include bluegill, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed, yellow perch and white perch. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Anyone new to Lake Matawan should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 74°F for July and 30°F for January. The season stretches long at both ends here. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. On Lake Matawan the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. A made slipway is half a mile from here, which settles the boat question. A car park lies half a mile away, so the walk in is short. A pier or jetty stands half a mile away, which helps on a crowded bank. A picnic spot sits half a mile from the bank. Mapping records toilets within half a mile. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Ask locally about Lake Matawan if anything is unclear.