Fishing Moon Phases

[Bonefish]

We all know seasonal and weather changes affect the behavior of fish, but the effect of moon phases on fishing we all need to keep in mind as well. Most of us don’t look at the moon phase when we go fishing. We just go fishing when we can and let the chips fall as they may. But there are times when fish react to natural forces in their surroundings. By knowing when these forces are occurring, we may increase our catch. For example, if we observe the times when sunrise and sunset and moonrise and moonset coincide with new or full moon phases, one may find the best times to fish. Often fish are most active an hour or so during each of these four daily events. Everyone would agree that during dusk and dawn is a great time to be fishing, but don’t forget the other two stronger periods, the moonrise and moonset. The trick is to find out when the sun and moon will rise and set regardless of the fact the rise and set of the new moon is invisible, or an overcast weather pattern may be hiding the moon. Studies have proven moon phases greatly affect larger fish, so a lot of trophy fish are caught during new or full moon phases. Maybe this simplifies fishing moon phases a bit.

[Moveon]

We all know seasonal and weather changes affect the behavior of fish, but the effect of moon phases on fishing we all need to keep in mind as well. Most of us don’t look at the moon phase when we go fishing. We just go fishing when we can and let the chips fall as they may. But there are times when fish react to natural forces in their surroundings. By knowing when these forces are occurring, we may increase our catch. For example, if we observe the times when sunrise and sunset and moonrise and moonset coincide with new or full moon phases, one may find the best times to fish. Often fish are most active an hour or so during each of these four daily events. Everyone would agree that during dusk and dawn is a great time to be fishing, but don’t forget the other two stronger periods, the moonrise and moonset. The trick is to find out when the sun and moon will rise and set regardless of the fact the rise and set of the new moon is invisible, or an overcast weather pattern may be hiding the moon. Studies have proven moon phases greatly affect larger fish, so a lot of trophy fish are caught during new or full moon phases. Maybe this simplifies fishing moon phases a bit.

I use my Montana 650 T to tell me when to hunt and fish. It will tell me the best time and the good times to fish. I go fishing when I can but I like to compare my results to the solunar tables after I catch some fish.

I have more confidence while fishing during what the solunar tables predicts to be excellent times. Often they fall in the middle of the night though. Some times they fall in the early morning hours.

I can also see where the sun and moon are located in the sky on any particular day I choose. The other day when the solunar tables predicted the fishing to be excellent I noticed that the sun and moon were both in the same part of the sky and chasing each other for a entire day. I can project the solar positions and hour at a time into the future or back into the past as far as I want to go. It's fun to play with the solunar tables when they are computerized.

[peter]

Everyone would agree that during dusk and dawn is a great time to be fishing, but don’t forget the other two stronger periods, the moonrise and moonset

Moveon
Were you saying that moon rise and moon set in general have more affect on fish than sunrise and sun set or were you referring to when they occur together?

Thanks

[Bonefish]

Times of moon rise or moonset during a new or full moon will be excellent but if sunrise or sunset are close to moonrise or moonset on a new or full moon it is even better.

[peter]

Times of moon rise or moonset during a new or full moon will be excellent but if sunrise or sunset are close to moonrise or moonset on a new or full moon it is even better.

Thanks Bonefish. As you figured out, I meant to address my previous post to you.

[Bonefish]

Astro Tables are more effective than "moon tables" because they take into account critical solar energies as well as lunar. Prime Time data are based on solar/lunar research at a leading college of astrophysics and our own research pond/wildlife area. Annual data is supplied by the U.S. Naval Observatory. All lunar times are adjusted to the center of your time zone and for Daylight Saving Time.

[peter]

Astro Tables are more effective than "moon tables" because ....

Do you know of a site that has the astro tables?

[stripernut1]

First things first....bonefish, very insightful, extremely valuable information, thanks. I have kept very detailed records for several years, the records include everything from date, time, location, temp, barometric pressure, sunny, cloudy, wind direction, how hard was it to obtain live bait, graph details, o2 charts and lunar phases. Forum member KR , bassmaster and hurricane bob can attest to my obsessive compulsive sickness as i even have a diagram of the trolling set up with depths and speeds to file at the end of the trip.....its my hobby....ok its a sickness lol. The hardest thing ive tried to interpret and pin down is the moon...and i think i know why. When you look at tothe overwhelming amount of variables that are thrown into the mix it would take a pretty strong data processor to pick the repeaters. I find the more i look at the lunar thing the more confusing it gets...i get hugely polar results from a moon phase this month to the exact moon phase the next month. This data keeping is starting to dilute and give dimiinishing returns on moon phase. But i love watching it anyway. Thanks for the great post

[Bonefish]

Thanks, Stripernut. I was hoping someone would have done some long term records on this subject. The only way to know how effective this research is is to do it. From the resources I have been reading, the guys who have kept long records say the solar and lunar phases do have an affect on fish behavior. Being you have kept such long and accurate records such as you have, should give a less confusing insite as to the validity and actual affects on fish. If you could share any conclusions you may have on your research, I am sure they would be interesting. As you can tell, I like to question things and write about different subjects to try to stimulate conversation. Thanks again.

[Bonefish]

Peter, here is the site.

http://www.bassmaster.com/astro-tables

[bassmaster]

I can attest to stripernut being a fanatic!! I must say though that he is honestly the best true fisherman I know. He knows his stuff. I only kept a log a few years back in the early to mid 90's (man I'm getting old). From those days, I just couldn't pin down much on the moon phases. One thing I do know that from several years of seining and fishing with crawdads is that craws do "molt" around that full moon. Not to say that you can't catch "soft craws" at any time but a higher percentage molt around that moon. I believe that fish feed heavily on them (easier to catch and easier to digest) during this time. Also, it is well documented that fish species do spawn in relation to moon phases. This could explain that after early bluegill spawns (around full moon) then the hatch, bass seem to feed on them. Great discussion and I would like to read stripernut's logs sometime!! Bassmaster

[stripernut1]

Lol, thanks tim, now if you would please tell the fish what you just said.....theyre not buyin it ! On that note , i know you remember the 80s when we use to say "the only thing better than the full moon in may .....is the full moon in june"! We, along with the dozen or so other guys we fished with waited all yeat for that full moon, how many "GOLIATH bass did turpin catch at night during those 2 months? And now?? Now i curse the foul moon (full) in june, Bonefish, i wish i could process ,compress, calculate and interpret years of notes and come up with something that simply said " fish always bite best during the first crescent moon , during the rise, until it gets overhead. This would be very close to being accurate for example if we were talking about spring topwater fishing for stripes and walleyes....you dont need records to know this....however , if you didnt keep detailed records you might not catch the little , mostly unnoticeable variable of the 8mph breeze coming out of the northeast. The variables are just too huge to control, but if patterns depicting spikes in fish feeding activity that would allow you to more deliberately plan a trip are what a person is looking for, then yes they are present. If i thought i caught 1 more fish during a specific moom phase i would certainly key on factor, i just cant prove it is the problem LOL !