Mary Elmer Lake, New Jersey: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  You will find Mary Elmer Lake in Cumberland County, New Jersey. Salt water lies 8.3 miles off. At roughly 21 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. Ground here is low by New Jersey standards. The town to know is Bridgeton, 1.6 miles out. Further out sit Seabrook Farms (4.1 miles) and Fairton (4.8 miles). The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Mary Elmer Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Reported across Cumberland County: largemouth bass, bluegill, pumpkinseed, chain pickerel and yellow perch. The county list is broader than any single water. Work Mary Elmer Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 76°F and January reads 32°F. Temperature moves within a narrow band, and so does the fishing. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. On Mary Elmer Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. A slipway half a mile out gives trailer access. There is recorded parking some half a mile off. Somewhere to sit and eat is half a mile out. Toilets are half a mile away, which matters on a long session. Mary Elmer Woods takes in this water; protected-area rules will apply. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Should this one be busy, Sunset Lake is 0.6 miles off. Where Mary Elmer Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.