Moon Phases

[CAOS]

Hey guys, looking to get some information on how each of you believe the moon affects offshore fishing. I have different types of weather and water I like to see in planning a trip but have never really been able to pattern the effects of different moon phases.
Maybe some of you guys with more detailed fishing logs or more expierence can chime in and discuss your thoughts on this. I know there are certain times like the full moon in August out of OI when the "big blues" usually show, but I am actually more interested in basic observations on how fishing is on a full moon or new moon etc. Maybe it changes from season to season? Perhaps it is different in various parts of the world? I am fishing the NC coast and have a vague idea of the moon's impact, but want to get other's opinions.
Discuss amongst yourselves.

[robbiedon]

I think it might depend on the species. I read in SWS last year that the prime Wahoo bite was during the full moon. I have planned 2 trips to catch wahoo around the full moon and neither was productive. I was told by the mate on one of the trips that that the full moon is the least productive time for yellow fins because they have such good sight that they tend to feed at night during a full moon. I look forward to a spirited discussion on this thread!!!

[capt crunch]

I tried makin moon phaces at the fish but alls i did was get my butt wet and fall off the swim platform

[prockvoan]

Yes,yellowfin love to feed at night with a full moon.Another thing,tides rip at full moon.That can be good or bad,it all depends on what is the target fish.Reef fishing,it sucks,blue water fishing,it helps keep the bait fish tight together in the eddies off rip tides,easyer hookups.

[Dan in Alaska]

I look forward to a spirited discussion on this thread!!!

Me too! Here are my two cents.......maybe less.


Two obvious things change when the moon goes through its phases - available light (after sunset) and tidal action. Which one has a greater effect on fishing? Personally, I would think tidal action affects fishing more than the available light in the night sky. When its cloudy, do the fish act differently than on a clear night? I don't fish at night, so I really don't know.

We can go even further by noting that clouds are associated with certain weather fronts and barometric pressures. So, if fish behave differently on cloudy nights, is it because of the reduced lighting conditions caused by the clouds, or is it because of the weather/barometric conditions that caused the clouds? Again, I have no idea, but I tend to think weather and barometric pressure are more influential on fish behavior than the relative brightness of the night sky.

[STRIPERMAN]

I have found solunar tables to be VERY useful.
Best days each month are the four to five days
around full AND new moon phases, but my experience is inshore.

[Bullshipper]

Any time the tide starts to move is a good time to have your liner in the water.

New and full moons produce more tide movement than 1/4 through 3/4.

If you bottom fish in an rough water area with normal tides over 5 feet, a strong tide is going to make it hard to get your bait down and you will be better off avoiding strong tidal periods as you wi9ll only be able to fish the slack time periods.

If you fish where tides are under 5 feet and like to top water fish, then a lot of tide and rip will bring more fish to the surface and that is prime time.

I fish structure where a strong tide in this slack tidal area will lift the bait from the deep up to the feeding zones and produce the best fishing. I prefer to fish around new moon periods in this area when given the chance.

[tprice]

I am sure the moon affects fishing one way or another but to me the best time to put lines in the water is anytime you get a chance. However I try and plan vacation time away from a full moon if possible but not sure it makes much difference. I think you also have to look at time of year, weather and other variables.


I think some of us could get a grant from the US Govt and study this for a few years so we could do something productive with our lives .

How much do we need to ask for in the Grant , I was thinking 5-10 mill so we could get a new boat to do the study with, just think of how this would benefit mankind