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Lake Audrey Update

By Chris Smith
Principal Fisheries Biologist
February 16, 2010

The Division of Fish and Wildlife's Bureau of Land Management, in collaboration with the Bureau of Freshwater Fisheries, has been involved with a project to establish a smallmouth bass fishery in Lake Audrey. This Cumberland County "borrow pit" was acquired by the state in 2004 and incorporated into the Millville Wildlife Management Area. Unfortunately, the 120-acre lake's high acidity made it inhospitable to fish and other aquatic life.

To enhance water quality, members of the South Jersey Bass Club Association and NJ State Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, along with division staff and other volunteers, added 136 tons of lime to Lake Audrey to neutralize the acidity of the water.

In 2007, the division stocked the lake with smallmouth bass along with yellow perch, bluegill, pumpkinseed, creek chub sucker, brown bullhead and golden shiner. To protect the developing fishery, Lake Audrey was closed to fishing in July 2008. The lake was stocked again in 2008 and 2009 with adult smallmouth bass ranging from 1½ pounds to 3½ pounds plus 3,000 two to three-inch fingerlings raised at the Hackettstown Hatchery.

Two nice smallmouths
Sampling by biologists in 2008 revealed impressive growth.
Click to enlarge

Beginning in January, 2010, Lake Audrey opened to fishing. Catch and release fishing regulations for smallmouth and largemouth bass are in effect year round to protect the developing fishery. General statewide regulations apply to all other species. Artificial habitat structures have been added and distributed throughout the lake to provide cover. A map showing the locations of the structures will be available in the near future; a bathymetric map showing bottom depth contours is available now.

A concrete boat ramp, as well as a floating dock, are planned for 2010 by the Bureau of Land Management. Currently there is an unimproved boat ramp, however, a four-wheel drive vehicle is recommended. Only electric motors are permitted. Shoreline access is available around most of lake.

Lake Audrey is located south of Millville in Commercial Township, Cumberland County. Driving directions follow.

MAPS
Location and bathymetric maps are available in .jpg or .gif and printable PDF formats:

Lake Audrey Location Map (pdf, 127kb)
Lake Audrey Location Map (.jpg)
Lake Audrey Bathymetric Map (pdf, 413kb)
Lake Audrey Bathymetric Map (.gif)

Driving Directions from North and Central Jersey:
Take Route 55 south
Route 55 south - turns into Route 47 south
At the Wawa, turn right onto Rt. 670 (Mauricetown Rd.)
Cross Maurice River bridge through blinking light at the intersection with Buckshutem Rd. Mauricetown Rd. becomes Rt. 649. Continue straight on Rt. 649, Mauricetown Rd.
Approximately a ½ mile past Buckshutem Rd. make a right onto the Lake Audrey access road and through gate to parking area and boat launch.

Directions from Shore Points:
Take Garden State Parkway South
Take exit 17 ramp right toward Sea Isle City/ Dennis Twp/Woodbine
Turn Left onto Rt. 625 Sea Isle Blvd.
Turn left onto US-9 S.
Turn Right onto Rt.83 W.
Turn right onto Rt. 47 North/Delsea Rd.
Road will turn into Rt. 347/E Creek Mill Rd.
At the Wawa, turn Left onto Rt. 670 (Mauricetown Rd.)
Cross Maurice River bridge through blinking light at the intersection with Buckshutem Rd. Mauricetown Rd. becomes Rt. 649. Continue straight on Rt. 649, Mauricetown Rd.
Approximately a ½ mile past Buckshutem Rd. make a right onto the Lake Audrey access road and through gate to parking area and boat launch.

For more information, see the article on page 6 in the 2010 Freshwater Fishing DIGEST.

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Department of Environmental Protection
P. O. Box 402
Trenton, NJ 08625-0402

Last Updated: July 26, 2010