Fishing at Ludlams Pond, Cape May County, New Jersey

• Overview

  You will find Ludlams Pond in Cape May County, New Jersey. The country round it is farm and woodlot from end to end. At about 57 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. The bank runs in an even curve, so features come from what lies under the surface. Ground here is low by New Jersey standards. Supplies mean a trip to Woodbine, 3.3 miles off. Then Cape May Court House, 8 miles, and Sea Isle City, 8.5 miles. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Ludlams Pond

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. County-wide records name alewife, striped bass and American eel. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. The shape of Ludlams Pond rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 76°F on average, January about 34°F. In milder years the surface never sets. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. On Ludlams Pond the same rules apply, with local timing. Spring fish sit shallower than most people expect.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Johnson Pond sits 0.8 miles off and takes the overflow. None of that is settled for Ludlams Pond in what we hold.