Salem Canal Information
Location: Carney's Point, NJ. Salem County
Size: 250 acres. (Approximately 4+ miles long)
Depth: Mostly shallow, 1 - 5 feet
Ramp and Parking: New ramp opened in late 2011.
Concrete single-wide ramp. Parking for about 15 tow vehicles. Floating dock next to ramp. (There is also a separate launch area
for canoes and kayaks.) Old ramp on westbound Rt 40 -- Dirt
ramp. During periods of drought, the water level can be too low to launch boats. Parking space is limited. Entry into and exit from the parking area is very dangerous due to high speed traffic in the fast lane of Rt 40.
Motor Limits: Unlimited horsepower outboard motors.
Rules & Regulations: Although the Canal itself is not a NJ Wildlife Management Area, the new ramp is considered one. Therefore a WMA tournament permit is required to hold a tournament with more than four boats or more than nine
fishermen.
Comments: Known for high quantities of small bass (11 - 14 inches), but a few good ones are present. Due to its length, has a lot of different potentially productive areas. When leaving the new boat ramp, you can travel upstream (right/east) towards the Salem County Sportsmen's club or downstream (left/west) towards the Delaware River. Local etiquette dictates slowing to idle speed when passing by a stopped boat. There is no access to the Delaware River and the canal is blocked off shortly after you pass under Rt 130. Because of the blockage, the canal is not tidal. The
water level is subject to change due to drought conditions and Dupont & local farmers drawing water from the canal.
Need for Morning Quiet? : No
Directions: NEW RAMP -- From the intersection of Rt 40 and Rt 540, go south on Rt 540 (Hawks Bridge Road). Cross the bridge that goes over the Canal (Hawks Bridge). The ramp area is on the left a couple hundred yards past the bridge. OLD RAMP --From the east: Follow Route 40 west through Woodstown & Cowtown. The highway eventually becomes
divided (where Rt 48 splits off to the right). Proceed on Rt 40 for a couple more miles. The ramp is on the lefthand side of the road immediately after you cross a small bridge over a creek. It can only be accessed from the passing lane of westbound Rt 40. Use caution when pulling into the ramp area as that area is small, vehicles may be pulling out and traffic on Rt 40 may be traveling at high speeds. Not a good combination. The plan is to block access to this ramp at some point.
Club Record: 17" Largemouth Bass 8-5-2012 Joey Snedeker
Size: 250 acres. (Approximately 4+ miles long)
Depth: Mostly shallow, 1 - 5 feet
Ramp and Parking: New ramp opened in late 2011.
Concrete single-wide ramp. Parking for about 15 tow vehicles. Floating dock next to ramp. (There is also a separate launch area
for canoes and kayaks.) Old ramp on westbound Rt 40 -- Dirt
ramp. During periods of drought, the water level can be too low to launch boats. Parking space is limited. Entry into and exit from the parking area is very dangerous due to high speed traffic in the fast lane of Rt 40.
Motor Limits: Unlimited horsepower outboard motors.
Rules & Regulations: Although the Canal itself is not a NJ Wildlife Management Area, the new ramp is considered one. Therefore a WMA tournament permit is required to hold a tournament with more than four boats or more than nine
fishermen.
Comments: Known for high quantities of small bass (11 - 14 inches), but a few good ones are present. Due to its length, has a lot of different potentially productive areas. When leaving the new boat ramp, you can travel upstream (right/east) towards the Salem County Sportsmen's club or downstream (left/west) towards the Delaware River. Local etiquette dictates slowing to idle speed when passing by a stopped boat. There is no access to the Delaware River and the canal is blocked off shortly after you pass under Rt 130. Because of the blockage, the canal is not tidal. The
water level is subject to change due to drought conditions and Dupont & local farmers drawing water from the canal.
Need for Morning Quiet? : No
Directions: NEW RAMP -- From the intersection of Rt 40 and Rt 540, go south on Rt 540 (Hawks Bridge Road). Cross the bridge that goes over the Canal (Hawks Bridge). The ramp area is on the left a couple hundred yards past the bridge. OLD RAMP --From the east: Follow Route 40 west through Woodstown & Cowtown. The highway eventually becomes
divided (where Rt 48 splits off to the right). Proceed on Rt 40 for a couple more miles. The ramp is on the lefthand side of the road immediately after you cross a small bridge over a creek. It can only be accessed from the passing lane of westbound Rt 40. Use caution when pulling into the ramp area as that area is small, vehicles may be pulling out and traffic on Rt 40 may be traveling at high speeds. Not a good combination. The plan is to block access to this ramp at some point.
Club Record: 17" Largemouth Bass 8-5-2012 Joey Snedeker
