Last month I fished the Manentico Sand Ponds in the Millville area. We had a good day and got some decent bass and pickerel. A friend recently told me that these ponds are tidal and that you have to be carefull not to get stuck. When I fished it I did not observe any fluctuation of the water levels in any of the ponds. Are they tidal ponds or not? Thanks in advance for your response.
They are tidal, did you go through a small, fast moving creek to get to the back where the islands are at?? If you did, you would have noticed the water going in a certain direction pretty fast (unless you caught the slack tide). The ponds are fed by the maurice river through menantico creek. You can't really get stuck unless you are going under the rail road tressle in the creek..in that case the water gets ripping through there pretty quick and I saw a boat get pinned against the pilings and sink within a matter of about a minute 2 years ago.
If you were to follow the large creek you would have run into it, but by that time, the current is so strong you may not have made it back. Gotta be careful...did you see the rope swing???
We did not go very far up the creek, about 50 yards. I do not remember a rope swing. I remember fishing a downed tree on the left bank. Are all of the ponds affected by the tide, even at the ramp? Is it worth fishing in the creek? We did well in the ponds but nothing in the creek.
If you're just interested in bass and pickerel you can stick to the ponds. I've gone down the creek past the Trestle a few times. It gets hairy at the wrong tide and has never really been worth the trouble.
Adam, it's worth it if you can navigate it safely..I've had some awesome days back there...but again. it all depends on tide. Personally, menantico is just not worth the trouble any more. Too many cars getting vandalized and too many shady characters for my liking.
Adam, it's worth it if you can navigate it safely..I've had some awesome days back there...but again. it all depends on tide. Personally, menantico is just not worth the trouble any more. Too many cars getting vandalized and too many shady characters for my liking.
I hardly go back there anymore. Not worth all the idiots back there swimming, drinking, doing God knows what, and then you got a lot of shady people back there. I only fished there once or twice there this past summer. It's ashame. It's such a beautiful place..
Thanks everyone for your responses. Just to clarify. If I spend 8 hours there is there a chance that I could get stuck or not be able to get out of any of the ponds or can they all be fished all day long by boat?
You can stay there all day and all night, you won't get stuck...just when going through the small canal to the back ponds the current will either be with you or against you....but you should not have any problems.
You should be OK. A big glass boat 18'-20' might have a problem when crossing the middle to the main lake. A few years back during a winter league bass tournament a glass boat got stuck on the sandbar during low tide. They had to get in the water and push the boat. By the way this was in JANUARY!!!
The entrance to Menantico creek from the maurice river is a haven for white perch. Bloods and grass shrimp will kill them there. If you catch a smaller one, live line that sucker for a striper and hold on!
My neighbor went back there earlier this year to go kayaking and he said there were a couple trucks parked out there and all the windows were smashed in them so he left. I fished the place once this year and I stayed in the front pond so I could keep an eye on things.
It is not a venue, but if you fresh water boys want to call it that, go ahead.
It is state land and alot of it. A great area or hunting, fishing, trapping, kayaking, Hiking, Horseback riding and mountain biking. It is Patrolled by the game wardens but noone ever seems to see anything.
Sorry,
I have had alot of discussions with local police, state troopers and game wardens and nothing ever gets done except more reports of vandalized vehicles.
If you have 4 wheel drive and want the back way in, shoot me an email
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