Does the Moon effect the fish bite ?

FM2 · 08-30-2001, 04:06 PM

I have heard that fish bite better during certain moon periods (1/4, 1/2, full), but I don't know the answer to this. Can someone shed some moonlight on this ?

Threemuch · 08-30-2001, 04:21 PM

Blue water fish like tuna are harder to catch during the full moon if the sky is clear. The theory is that if they can feed by the moonlight, then they don't need to feed as much during the day. I think that this affects inshore fish less because the visibility of the water is reduced.

FEAR NO FISH! · 08-30-2001, 07:05 PM

Gimme a full moon when night fishing for steelhead and salmon. We always have our best nights around that time frame above the dams! [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

Mr. Fisherman · 08-30-2001, 07:41 PM

While I haven't been able to confirm or deny toe whole solunar theory I think there is something to it.

Here is a great place to get the whole scoop:

Solunar.com

Hope this helps,

Mr. F.

boater · 08-30-2001, 07:50 PM

i realy believe the moon greatly affects fishing, i would much rather fish after a low moon lit night. i know alot of people that fish all night durring the full moon period and catch alot of fish, kokanee and bass are an example, they look forward to it. also after a full moon if your putting your line in the salt before day light, there is a greater phosphorus glow, you can see your line cutting thru the water.

Snapset · 08-30-2001, 07:53 PM

I believe that the relative brightness of the moon at night has a significant effect on the Day time fish bite but I have never and will never let it keep me from fishing.

Deer hunting is similar. There is no better time to get a nice blacktail buck than during a new moon (No Moon) the first week of November, especially if there is intermittent showers.

BIG HINT HERE: Fish in October. I mean almost anywhere, trout, salmon, late Summers, Whatever, (Except Kokanee) they are all biting well in October, and leave the guns in the safe until November. Your Freezer will love you for it.

bigshark · 08-30-2001, 07:59 PM

FishinMishin2
Hi
This may not be what your looking for but the moon creates the tides. Some areas have fish moving in on an incoming tide etc. Other fisheries like Cooks Inlet show the best halibut fishing on tides that have the smallest swings...not because the halibut are looking at the moon but because the smaller tidal swings allow slower water movement and hence the fisher can have more time when he can keep the bait on the bottom.
On big tide action you can't keep bait on the bottom with 20lbs od sinker. Check out what the folks are chating about on Chinook
Landing.....the tide action best for to fishing this part of the columbia. It has to do with the MOON.

scott98541 · 08-31-2001, 08:17 AM

here is a very interesting website that might answer your question.http://co-ops.nos.noaa.gov/about2.html good luck.scott

FM2 · 08-31-2001, 08:34 AM

Great info [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] this goes to show the diverse opinions on how the moon effects fish.

Mr F, what a cool site, I read the article which was very detailed and being left brained really absorbed the theory [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

I would encourage everyone to check out the site Mr F provided !

Thanks all [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]