The salt...

[martalus]

I asked chat GPT for where to find white perch in January in Monmouth county-it does say if these locations are too general, ask local baitshops for more intel

Fishing FleaMarket Bait & Tackle – Another Keyport choice with tackle and bait.

Keyport Bait and Tackle – Small tackle shop near the waterfront.

Giglios Bait & Tackle (Sea Bright) – Great stop if you’re fishing the Navesink/Shrewsbury/Sea Bright shoreline.
Angelfire

Atlantic Bait and Tackle (Middletown) – Full‑service shop on Route 36.
Fishbox

Tackle Box Fishing Co. (Hazlet) – Highly rated tackle shop with gear and bait.
Fishbox

JCP Bait & Tackle (Belford) – Convenient for the Bayshore / Sandy Hook side.

Here's a practical list of white perch access points in Monmouth County, NJ, with emphasis on shore access, parking, and winter suitability for January fishing:

1. Navesink River

Locations:

Sea Bright Waterfront & Boardwalk – Parking nearby, fish along bulkheads and piers.

Rumson Shoreline (around Oceanic Bridge) – Access near Rumson Road and small public parks.

Hartshorne Woods Park (western river edge) – Limited shore access, but good for quiet winter fishing.

Notes: Best near bridge abutments, docks, and seawalls. Winter perch often hold in deeper pockets along edges.

2. Shrewsbury River

Locations:

Highlands Waterfront Park / Bay Avenue Docks – Small public lot, docks, and piers.

Swimming River area in Middletown – Shore fishing along creeks, parking near marina areas.

Sea Bright end (confluence with Sandy Hook Bay) – Access along roadside parking and small pull-offs.

Notes: Focus on marina edges and creek mouths, especially during outgoing tide in cold months.

3. Matawan Creek / Keyport Harbor

Locations:

Keyport Waterfront & Veterans Park – Pier and dock access, street parking.

Broad Street Boat Ramp / Dock areas – Easy shore access, ideal for bloodworm rigs.

Small tributary in Cliffwood Beach area – Less crowded, tidal influence keeps water open in January.

Notes: Perch often school near docks and shallow edges; use light rigs with small baits.

4. Raritan Bay Shorelines

Locations:

Keansburg Waterfront / Fishing Pier – Street parking, piers and jetty edges.

Port Monmouth / Belford Waterfront – Limited public access, good for winter perch.

Highlands – Bay Avenue & Sandy Hook Bay shoreline – Shore fishing with tide influence.

Notes: Winter perch often hold along drop-offs, tidal flats, and near dock structures.

5. Backwater / Tidal Creeks

Locations:

Fox Hollow Creek (Matawan/Cliffwood Beach area) – Small access points, quieter in winter.

Other small tidal creeks feeding Raritan Bay – Look for roadside pull-offs, boat ramps, and creek mouths.

Notes: These are less pressured spots; schools of perch gather here in cold months.

Winter Tips

Fish mid-tide to outgoing tide for best activity.

Bait: Bloodworms, grass shrimp, or small minnows on light rigs (#6–#8 hooks).

Technique: Bobber or high-low rig near bottom, along structure.

Focus on sunny afternoons; perch will feed more actively then.

[robtf]

I don’t seem to get nearly the detailed response from chatGPT in Atlantic county, but I pretty much know where and how I’d try in the winter. Will give it a go if life ever slows down here enough.

[46er]

You have 7 bridges road, all you need, and also behind Stewarts and the Borough parking on water street.