Sunset Lake near Bridgeton: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Sunset Lake is one of the Cumberland County listings for New Jersey. The water sits 3 feet up. With some 86 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The bank runs about 2.3 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. Size puts it in the front rank of our Cumberland County list. The town to know is Bridgeton, 1.6 miles out. Philadelphia sits 35 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Sunset Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Fish documented in Cumberland County include largemouth bass, bluegill, pumpkinseed and chain pickerel. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. At Sunset Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 76°F and January at 32°F. The swings are modest, so patterns change slowly. Cover comes and goes, so treat it with suspicion rather than trust. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. Time your trip to Sunset Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. There is a launch about half a mile from the bank. Public data has parking about half a mile from the shore. There are picnic tables half a mile away. Mapping records toilets within half a mile. The water borders Mary Elmer Woods, so reserve rules are likely to apply. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Should this one be busy, Mary Elmer Lake is 0.6 miles off. Treat access at Sunset Lake as something to verify.