Copy and Paste of something I enjoyed reading and I thought others would enjoy. A fishing journal can be worth its weight in gold. I'm finding this out as mine expands.


Fishing By Moon Phase: Increase Your Catch!

Every fisherman dreams of a bigger catch! Is it possible to know beforehand when you should plan a trip to enjoy some fishing, catch more than usual, and come home feeling 100% satisfied? Based on my own personal research around the best fishing times, I think it is.

When I first started fishing, the best fishing time for me was whatever time happened to suit me. I tried different lures, baits and techniques until I'd spent a small fortune in my quest to improve my fishing catch. When I finally heard about the "Solunar Theory"--or fishing by moon phase--like most anglers, I was skeptical.

What I'd read sounded too complicated. All sorts of factors needed to be checked and the determined angler needed to be at the water's edge at exactly the right time, TO THE MINUTE, in order to improve on his average catch. Was I really willing to take my hobby that seriously? Let's just say that curiosity got the better of me.

To help me determine whether there was any truth in the moon's effect on the best fishing times, I kept a record of every trip I made over a period of 18 months. All information related to the moon's phases, the weather conditions and the catches I made were carefully logged. What I discovered convinced me that moon phase fishing works. BUT, I also found that it isn't anywhere near as complicated as many would have us believe.

How Does Fishing By Moon Phase Work?

Every fisherman knows that the best fishing times are when the fish are feeding. This tends to be during dawn and dusk, but what often goes unnoticed are the two periods elsewhere in the day--moonrise and moonset. Because the moon has an effect on a variety of factors surrounding the fish--including the live fodder they hunt--these periods, combined with the moon's phase, are what trigger feeding.

By understanding this, and choosing times when sunrise/sunset and moonrise/moonset coincide with new or full moon phases, you'll increase you chance of a good fishing catch. Assuming there are fish in the area, of course.

Choosing The Best Fishing Times

There really is nothing complicated about this at all; it's just a matter of knowing ahead of time exactly when the sun and moon will rise and set. Fish are most active during 90-minute windows surrounding each of these four daily events; that's 45 minutes before and after these four daily points.

Fishing during these four periods will help increase your fishing catch, but if you plan wisely so as to ensure you're at the water's edge on the days of new or full moon, you can use these 'windows' to reel in a catch like you've never done before. If you have to choose between sunrise/set and moonrise/set, always go with the moon as the moon is the stronger influence.

Hunters have always known that fish and game are most active at dawn and dusk--sunrise and sunset--but their activity surrounding moonrise and moonset is less noticeable because these events are likely to occur without e�ffecting any change in the perceived light. The rise and set of a new moon is invisible anyway, and overcast weather often hides the moon. Without prior knowledge of setting and rising times, two of the best fishing times will be missed every day!

Other Considerations

When planning your fishing by moon phase, there are certain other factors that should also be considered.

Weather - Severe weather changes have an impact on the way fish feed. When a storm's brewing, or just after one has passed, is a good time. If this happens while you're in place, you'll be in for a treat! However, if there's a cold front approaching, the fish are likely to move deeper into the water and become inactive.

Season - Most fish are more likely to bite willingly during seasonal transitions with the transition from winter to spring and summer to fall being the two best fishing times.

Now that you know that moon phase fishing really works, there's no reason why you shouldn't utilize this knowledge to increase your own fishing catch by being at the ready with your rod during the best fishing times available. It's easy and it works!

interesting read, thanks for sharing!

Thanks for this one Tommy!!!

Tommy where do you find Fishing by the moon phase? Bill

Good post! Thanks for sharing.

A FB post. You should find me on there. Lots given up.

Tommy,
When I had my lower back surgery approx. 20 yrs ago, as I got able to go out in my boat, I crappie fished due to the lower impact and I was able to sit down. I had a subscription to the monthly publication Hunting & Fishing Texas which had Doug Hannon's, The Bass Professor, moon chart in it.
On Lake Cypress Springs, in Whipporwill Bay, there's a creek that heads into the bank and then turns back out to mid cove. There was some scattered brush on the sloping creek bank that held crappie.
I would go out 45 minutes before prime time. I was casting a small jig up shallow and bouncing, swimming it back very slowly to the middle of the channel. When I'd go out, I catch a fish every 5th to 6th cast, when the prime time hit, I was catching a fish (or missing one) almost every cast, then it slow back down and I'd go back to the house.
This went on like clock work till I was strong enough to bass fish again.......Yea, I know! Big mistake, If I'd of stuck with crappie, I'd probably be a lot better Slab Seeker by now

So I'll second what Tommy says about the fishing by the moon phase. There are 2 major and 2 minor moon related feeding cycles everyday

GREAT topic

Yep. Take a look at this "Fishing Times" web site. It shows all four periods each day, and seem to work for me. You can set your area.

http://www.fishingreminder.com/

THANK YOU!
I've searched for something similar, but everything I found wanted you to pay

I will definitely have to try this. In the past I just go wishing without checking anything including the weather..LOL

great read and thx!

I have seen this before when I was reading about B pressure, good read!

Good post. Thanks

Thanks. Gonna try and check before a trip and see results.