Wanted to get some opinions on whether the bass fishing in northern NJ has ripened to the point where bass are starting to move into the shallows to feed? It's been a little cold the last week or so but this week has things warming up a bit.

i am about an hour north of you. yesterday, 4/20 i caught 9 bass along the banks of a local pond.tried spinner baits to no avail so i went to a wacky rigged senko and slow fished the bottom just at the drop off .water is still cold. the fish were on the small side.water needs to warm up a tad and then you will see improvement. mark

I also live in northern NJ, and have been fishing quite a bit in southern NY over the last month, in lakes of varied depths.    
 

In the lake ranging from 2-10 feet, I’ve have great success in water 4-7 feet when it’s windy (5-15 mph), fishing around structure (laydowns, beaver dams) with jerkbaits.  Caught 30-40 bass total over four trips.  Starting to see some fish around beds, but they are definitely still pre-spawn ( 3-lb in pic below) and more interested in structure.   In calm-to-no-wind situations, the fish have almost no interest (no finesse stuff, no jerkbaits, no crankbaits, no nothing).   
 

In lakes with more depth range (4-20+ feet) I’m not seeing any fish bedding in the shallows yet.    
 

Water temps have been 44-50 degrees.  Grass beds haven’t grown yet, so there is much less cover - thus the reason for the crowding close to structure.   
 

 

 

I also live in Northern NJ. Bergen county to be exact, we haven't been able to go anywhere since the parks are still closed but usually the water doesn't warm up until may. Fished a local spot the other day that's not an official park and the water is still pretty cold. I don't expect to catch any bass until Mid may to be honest.