Fish

While Union County is one of the most densely populated counties in the Northeast, the County maintains a number of parks that include freshwater fishing. Two parks, Echo Lake and Bloodgood’s Pond, also have areas designed to enable access for those with disabilities.

The state Division of Fish & Wildlife stocks a number of locations in the Union County Parks system. As a result of these stocking efforts, it has made it possible to enable anyone with a rod & reel to fish close to home. While a state fishing license is required for all adults fishing in these waters, as a way of encouraging those who’ve never tried fishing, or have been away from the sport, the Division of Fish & Wildlife schedules two Free Fishing Days in June allow fishing without a license or trout stamp, and a license is never required for saltwater fishing.

Fishing Access Locations on Trout Waters in Union County

The waters listed below are stocked with trout by the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife. Waters are grouped by county; where multiple listings for a stream or river are given they are listed from upstream to downstream. This list is also available with waters listed alphabetically.

Please note that this list is only a partial list of major fishing access sites. Other locations and waterbodies are stocked as well.

For more information on trout fishing in New Jersey see the Trout Informationpage.  The Division would also like to evaluate angler use of this fishing access list. Please e-mail the Lebanon Fisheries Office at njfwfish@earthlink.net to let them know how helpful or if you find any errors.

Green Brook
Watchung Boro
New Providence Rd.
Rt. 22 to New Providence Rd., many pull-offs along road, parking lot available at Seely’s Pond.

Green Brook
Watchung
New Providence Rd.
Rt. 78 E to Berkeley Heights exit 41. Make left at intersection. Cross over highway. At light, turn right on Plainfield Ave. At light cross over Valley Rd. onto Bonnie Burn Rd. At light, make left on New Providence Rd. Pass quarry – 2 pull off areas.

Lower Echo Park Pond
Mountainside
Echo Lake Park – Lower
Rt. 22 (Springfield Ave) in Mountainside. Park entrance on right.

Milton Lake
Rahway
Milton Lake
Rt. 275 for approx. 1 mile, turn right on Maple Ave. Cross Madison onto Midwood Drive.

Nomahegan Park Pond
Cranford
Nomahegan Park
From Route 22 take S. Springfield Ave./CR-577. Keep straight onto Springfield Ave./CR-509. Keep right to stay on Springfield Ave./CR-615. Arrive at Union County’s Nomahegan Park on left.

Rahway River
Springfield
Springfield Park
Rt. 78 W to exit 49A (Springfield Ave), make a left at light onto Morris Ave. Turn left into Springfield Park. – parking lot.

Rahway River
Clark
Nomahegan Park
Rt. 22 to Springfield Ave.(S) [CR. 509 spur], bear right at intersection to stay on Springfield Ave. Make left on Park Dr., just past park entrance, parking on Park Dr.

Rahway River
Cranford
Riverside Dr.
Rt. 22 to Springfield Ave.(S) [CR. 509 spur]. bear right at intersection to stay on Springfield Ave., turn left on Normandie PL., then left on Riverside Dr. – street parking.

Rahway River
Cranford
Droescher’s Mill
Rt. 28 to Centennial Ave., quick right on Lincoln Park East. Access behind mill at end of Lincoln Park East. – street parking.

Rahway River
Cranford
Crane Parkway footbridge
Rt. 28 to Centennial Ave., cross R.R. tracks, make right on Hillside Ave., to Crane Pkwy. – street parking.

Rahway River
Clark
Rahway River Park
Garden State Parkway exit 136, go south on Stiles St., make right onto Valley Rd., Park entrance approx. 1/4 mile on right & left. Union Co. Pkwy / Parkway Dr. parallels river. – parking lots & street parking.

Rahway River – West Branch
Millburn
Below Campbell’s Pond to the Glen Avenue bridge
From Interstate 78E, merge onto Route 124/Springfield Avenue via the Route 82/Route 124W exit 49A to Springfield/Union. Turn right at Main Street. Turn right on Brookside Drive/Paper Mill Way. The West Branch of the Rahway River will be on your left as you drive north on Brookside Drive.

Rahway River
Rahway
Rahway River Park
River Road: street parking from St. Georges Ave. downstream to Whittier Street

Rahway River
Rahway
Rahway River Park-Wheatena Park
Street parking near the intersection of Linden Ave., Price St., and Elizabeth Ave.

Seeleys Pond
Scotch Plains
Seeleys Pond
Rt. 78 exit 41. Make left at intersection, cross over highway. At light turn right on Plainfield Ave. At light cross over Valley Rd. onto Bonnie Burn. At light make left on New Providence Rd. Pond located approx. 3/4 mile on right. Dirt pull off at dam.

Warinanco Park Pond
Roselle
Warinanco Park
Rt. 27 (St. Georges Ave.) – park entrance on left between Thompton Ave., and Watson Ave.

Passaic River
Chatham Boro
Sheppard Kollock Park.
Main St. to Parrott Mill Rd. to Henderson Rd., enter Sheppard Kollock Park., large parking lot.

Passaic River
Summit
Stanley Avenue  Park
Mt. Vernon Ave., to Stanley Ave. Or ( in Chatham Boro) Watchung Ave. to River Rd. to Stanley Ave., large dirt lot.