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3 km of the Manasquan River navigation corridor, with channel depths from USACE hydrographic survey. The river tops out around 33 ft. The depth chart is built from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the humps, channels and drop-offs you see are measured, not guessed. The season-by-season read for each species follows, from the map's own numbers.
Drawn out, this is 360 acres of water rimmed by 5.1 miles of bank. Index 1.9 on the shoreline: a few honest points and pockets, nothing labyrinthine. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 96% of this chart. Call it 2.1 mi long by 0.7 mi wide at the broadest reach. For a second option, Sylvan Lake lies 7 mi north.
In spring, smallmouth bass run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 10 to 30 ft before dropping to 10 to 33 ft for winter. Summer smallmouth bass concentrate at Channel current seam (mile 1.8), a prime-rated current seam around 15 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Channel current seam (mile 1.8) (15 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Channel current seam (mile 1.8) (15 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Channel current seam (mile 1.8) (15 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 10 to 33 ft | midday | Channel current seam (mile 1.8) (15 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Spring puts largemouth bass in skinny water — 2 to 10 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 8 to 20 ft; cold water stacks them in 10 to 33 ft. Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) is the standout, a creek channel at roughly 7 ft, rated prime for fall largemouth bass. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Channel current seam (mile 1.8) (15 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (7 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 10 to 33 ft | midday | Channel current seam (mile 1.8) (15 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Spring puts channel catfish in skinny water — 3 to 12 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 8 to 25 ft; cold water stacks them in 10 to 33 ft. Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) is the standout, a creek channel at roughly 7 ft, rated prime for summer channel catfish. Plan around after dark and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (7 ft) | |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (7 ft) | |
| Fall | 10 to 30 ft | dusk | Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (7 ft) | |
| Winter | 10 to 33 ft | midday | Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (7 ft) |
Start shallow in spring: rainbow trout sit in 5 to 20 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 8 to 30 ft, and winter fish settle into 7 to 33 ft. The spot to know is Channel current seam (mile 1.8), a current seam in about 15 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in spring. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Channel current seam (mile 1.8) (15 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Channel current seam (mile 1.8) (15 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 9 to 33 ft | dawn & dusk | Channel current seam (mile 1.8) (15 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 7 to 33 ft | dawn | Channel current seam (mile 1.8) (15 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Start shallow in spring: common carp sit in 2 to 10 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 3 to 15 ft, and winter fish settle into 10 to 30 ft. The spot to know is Main-channel hole (mile 0.1), a creek channel in about 7 ft of water that rates prime for common carp in fall. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | open water | |
| Summer | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | |
| Fall | 5 to 18 ft | midday | Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (7 ft) | |
| Winter | 10 to 30 ft | midday | Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (7 ft) |
Count 2 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Channel current seam (mile 1.8), sits near 15 ft.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for New Jersey waters are set by the New Jersey Fish & Wildlife — and special regulations can apply to Manasquan River specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official New Jersey fishing regulations →
Manasquan River is about 33 ft (10 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the contours reflect measured depths.
Anglers target smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, channel catfish, rainbow trout, common carp on Manasquan River. This isn't a survey of the water — none is published for it — but an informed estimate from the species common to the region, narrowed by this water's depth, size and each species' range.
Channel current seam (mile 1.8) is the top-rated area: a current seam in about 15 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in spring. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For smallmouth bass, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Manasquan River is regulated by the New Jersey Fish & Wildlife. Check the official New Jersey regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Sylvan Lake 7 mi · Deal Lake 10 mi · Lake Topanemus 17 mi · Barnegat Bay 23 mi · False Hook Channel 25 mi, NY · Etra Lake 26 mi · Duhernal Lake 27 mi · Big Pine Lake 29 mi · South River 29 mi · Lower Bay 30 mi, NY · East Brunswick Community Park Lake 30 mi · Rockaway Inlet 32 mi, NY
See how Manasquan River stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in New Jersey · best smallmouth bass lakes in New Jersey · best channel catfish lakes in New Jersey · best rainbow trout lakes in New Jersey
Browse all New Jersey fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.