Every fisherman dreams of a bigger catch! Is it possible to know in advance when you should plan a trip to enjoy fishing, fish more than usual and go home 100% satisfied? Based on my own personal research on the best fishing times, I think it is.
When I started fishing, the best time to fish for me was the time that suited me. I tried different lures, baits, and techniques until I 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 he had read sounded too complicated. She had to check all sorts of factors and the determined angler had to be at the water’s edge at the exact moment, EVERY MINUTE, to improve his average catch. Was he really willing to take my hobby so seriously? Let’s just say curiosity got the best of me.
To help me determine if there was any truth to the moon’s effect on the best fishing times, I kept a record of every trip I took over an 18-month period. All the information related to the phases of the moon, the weather conditions and the captures that I took were carefully recorded. What I discovered convinced me that moon phase fishing works. BUT, I also discovered that it is not as complicated as many would have us believe.
How does moon phase fishing work?
Every angler knows that the best times to fish are when the fish are feeding. This tends to be during sunrise and sunset, but what often goes unnoticed are the two periods in other parts of the day: moonrise and moonset. Because the moon has an effect on a variety of factors surrounding the fish, including the live forage they hunt, these periods, combined with the phase of the moon, are what trigger feeding.
By understanding this and choosing times when sunrise/sunset and moonrise/set coincide with the new moon or full moon phases, you will increase your chances of catching a good fish. Assuming there are fish in the area, of course.
Choosing the best fishing times
There’s really nothing complicated about this at all; it’s just a matter of knowing in advance exactly when the sun and moon will rise and set. Fish are most active during the 90-minute windows surrounding each of these four daily events; that is 45 minutes before and after these four daily points.
Fishing during these four periods will help increase your catch, but if you plan wisely to ensure you’re at the water’s edge on new or full moon days, you can use these ‘windows’ to fish like you’ve never done before. If you have to choose between moonrise/set and moonrise/set, always choose the moon, as the moon is the strongest influence.
Hunters have always known that fish and game are most active at dawn and dusk (sunrise and sunset), but their activity around moonrise and moonset is less noticeable because these events are likely to occur without affecting no change in perceived light. The rising and setting of a new moon is invisible anyway, and cloudy weather often hides the moon. Without prior knowledge of set and rise times, you will miss out on two of the best fishing times every day!
Other considerations
When planning your fishing by moon phase, there are other factors that need to be considered as well.
Weather – Severe weather changes have an impact on how fish feed. When a storm is coming, or just after it has passed, is a good time. If this happens while you’re at the location, you’re in for a treat! However, if a cold front is approaching, the fish are likely to move further 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 times to fish.
Now that you know that moon phase fishing really works, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t use this knowledge to increase your own fishing catch by being ready with your rod during the best fishing times available. It’s easy and it works!
Good luck!
