Magnolia Lake Fishing in Cape May County, New Jersey

• Overview

  Out in Cape May County, New Jersey, sits Magnolia Lake. The coast is 3.1 miles away. The water covers some 28 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Ground here is low by New Jersey standards. The nearest town is Sea Isle City, 2.9 miles away. Philadelphia sits 58 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Magnolia Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Survey and observation records for Cape May County include alewife, striped bass, American eel, pumpkinseed and bluegill. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Fish Magnolia Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 34°F to 75°F. Seasons here are moderate, and the fishing runs most of the year. It is not guaranteed even in a cold spell, so check yourself. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. At Magnolia Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. Parking is mapped about half a mile from the bank. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Should this one be busy, Clint Millpond is 4.3 miles off. For Magnolia Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.