Had a discussion with an old school angler today.....he swears that when the moon is full the night fishing bite is slow at best. I've caught a few in summer on a full moon, but remember it being slow.

How much does the moon affect the night bite this time of year?

I'm headed out Friday night.... Regardless.

A week before and after are the best times. Spend a lot of time around rocks as the crayfish are out now.

I have caught hundreds of bass while night fishing. My uncle fished at night in North Florida for about 40 years. He does not even know how many over ten pounds, hundreds. He always used top water on dark moon and worms on full moon.
I have found the same in Texas. Once on Lake Conroe in the early 80's I caught over 100 in one night on the full moon.

I prefer a full moon. Anywhere from 3 days before to 3 days after. It's really a timing thing. Seems like most bites come in burst around 10:00 PM & again around 4:00 AM.

Ralph Manns and Ron Gardner agree that the BIGGER fish come in the dark of the moon, or w/in a week of it, either way. I have had the good luck and pleasure of fishing with both of them. Once, at night, with both at the same time. There was LOTS of talk between the two and I learned a TON of info from that time on the water. Hope this helps. Tight lines, keep safe and good luck.


Thad Rains

For me, fishing is slower on a full moon.

A buddy and I whacked em on texas rigged power worms, from 5PM to dark yesterday 10/4/2017

From the research I did to write this article; the darker the better.

http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/12439405/Into_The_Darkness

Back in the late 80's my summer fishing at Fork was all done at night. New Moon yielded bigger fish but fewer numbers. Full moon was more numbers but smaller fish.

I know I cant get them to touch a topwater after a full moon, proved that to myself 3x this summer!!! And when we used to fish for flounder a lot, would not even leave til 10 or so and fish mid to late afternoon bite, no sense in dawn patrols then. Most people coming out at that time to so less crowded.

I don't think it matters. It might but it'll get in my head too much and I won't catch much as if I didn't pay attention to it.

I bow hunted for 20 years in Kansas , spent all of November in a tree stand , I kept a journal of my hunts , 9 out of 10 times , deer movement would decrease , or routes would change during the full moon . I started keeping a journal of my fishing , and I have found that numbers and size decrease during the full moon , a few days before , and a few days after the full moon , it can be really good . Night fishing during the full moon , is a lot easier than night fishing in the dark moon . Best time to go fishing , is anytime you can !

Darker the better. Fouz I remember Fork back in the 80s that's when we started carrying firearms in our boats.