Lake Surprise, New Jersey: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  The Union County entry here is Lake Surprise, in New Jersey. The bank is 328 feet above sea level. Around 28 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. Some 1.5 miles away sits New Providence, the nearest settlement. It is 8.7 miles to Elizabeth, the nearest city. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Lake Surprise

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Reported across Union County: pumpkinseed, bluegill, largemouth bass and black crappie. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. At Lake Surprise light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 74°F at the top of summer and 29°F at the bottom of winter. Most months fish reasonably, given the right weather. Hard water here is never dependable, so check for yourself before stepping out. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. That is the shape of the year on Lake Surprise.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Launching is possible: a slipway lies half a mile off. There is somewhere to leave the car, half a mile off. A picnic site 80 yards off makes this workable with family in tow. Facilities run to toilets half a mile from the water. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. For a change of water, Echo Lake is 2 miles distant. Nothing here settles the position at Lake Surprise for certain.