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Rating depth structure for largemouth bass.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
7 km of the South River navigation corridor, with channel depths from USACE hydrographic survey. The river tops out around 18 ft. The depth chart comes from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
On the chart, South River draws 2,684 acres inside 21.9 miles of shoreline. The 3 development index tells the story — a convoluted bank whose fishable edge far outruns the acreage. All of it is shallow-zone water — under ~15 ft across the entire basin, so the food chain has the run of the place. Figure 4.9 mi of water from one end to the other, 1.6 mi at the beam. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Duhernal Lake, 3 mi south of here.
In spring, smallmouth bass run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 5 to 18 ft before dropping to 5 to 18 ft for winter. Winter smallmouth bass concentrate at Outside-bend hole (mile 0.4), a good-rated creek channel around 6 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.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 5 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.4) (6 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 5 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.4) (6 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 5 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 45 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.4) (6 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 5 to 18 ft; cold water stacks them in 5 to 18 ft. Outside-bend hole (mile 0.4) is the standout, a creek channel at roughly 6 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.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 5 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.4) (6 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 5 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.4) (6 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 5 to 18 ft; cold water stacks them in 5 to 18 ft. Outside-bend hole (mile 0.4) is the standout, a creek channel at roughly 6 ft, rated prime for summer channel catfish. Plan around after dark and the evening in the warm months.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.4) (6 ft) | |
| Summer | 5 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.4) (6 ft) | |
| Fall | 5 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.4) (6 ft) | |
| Winter | 5 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.4) (6 ft) |
Start shallow in spring: rainbow trout sit in 5 to 18 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 5 to 18 ft covers summer, 4 to 18 ft covers winter. The spot to know is Outside-bend hole (mile 0.4), a creek channel in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in summer. 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.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 5 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.4) (6 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 5 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.4) (6 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 4 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.4) (6 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 5 to 18 ft. The spot to know is Outside-bend hole (mile 0.4), a creek channel in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for common carp in fall. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| 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 | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.4) (6 ft) | |
| Winter | 5 to 18 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.4) (6 ft) |
3 pieces of structure are mapped here — Outside-bend hole (mile 2.8), around 12 ft, is the deepest of them.
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 South River specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official New Jersey fishing regulations →
South River is about 18 ft (5 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, channel catfish, rainbow trout, common carp on South 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.
Outside-bend hole (mile 0.4) is the top-rated area: a creek channel in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for channel catfish in summer. 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 South 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.
Duhernal Lake 3 mi · East Brunswick Community Park Lake 4 mi · Raritan River 12 mi · Lake Topanemus 12 mi · Etra Lake 15 mi · Echo Lake 16 mi · Lower Bay 18 mi, NY · Mercer County Park Lake 19 mi · Weequahic Lake 20 mi · False Hook Channel 20 mi, NY · Coney Island Channel 21 mi, NY · Gravesend Bay 21 mi, NY
See how South 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. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 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.