MOON PHASE THEORIES

[sushi42]

Well here we are, middle of winter and I figured I would brush on a topic that is a lot like a UFO. Everyone has heard stories, but no-one really knows for sure.

The science on this topic is wide and varied but every fisherman has his or her own theory. Moon phases are a known element in our everyday life, but what does it mean to us fisherman? I can tell you that if I go through my 20 plus years of logs I will find that I have caught more fish on and around a new moon cycle vs. a full moon cycle although the full moon cycle has brought larger fish to the deck for me over the years. Is this science? Do larger fish feed more aggressively on a full moon or does this just fall into the pure luck category? I prefer to fish on new moon cycles vs. full moon cycles because it seems that more fish are caught during and around this time but again, is this just the fact that I may fish more during this time? Many fisherman believe that fish feed much more aggressively when the current is weak or slow. This would suggest that the best time to really put forth an all out effort is during the 1st quarter or the last quarter moon phase. On the opposite side of this argument, comm. offshore fisherman tend to believe that fish feed more during and around the full moon phase. Thats a lot of info right there but I'm curious to hear everyone elses theories and views. What do you think?

[Col. Kurtz]

I have gone by the maxim that the new moon is most productive and to forget fishing for BFT on a full moon. However, I have also heard that the week before and after a full moon can be crazy good.

Unfortunately for me, I don't have your track record and I didn't even start notating moon phases in my logs until this past season. With that said, in 2009 the week before the new moon was hands-down the most productive time period for me...

[amarshall]

Never had a good day on a full moon.

[fin-chaser]

Try this on for size.......there is another one out there also if I can find it again.

http://www.predictweather.co.nz/asse...le_fishing.php

Fin-

[Parapapam]

Not that I have 20 plus years of experience.... so take this from whence it came.

A. I assume we are talking about tuna here. Stripers seem to eat well for me on a full moon.

B. I have never done well... virtually no BFT's on a full moon. I never paid as much attention on new moons so I can't compare and contrast.

C. I have done well on YFT on a full moon though...

My theory to explain the difference has to due with fast moving tides. Everyone knows prime time for BFT is dawn and slack tides. So when the tide is ripping like on a full moon, the tuna bite least. But why do I do ok around (a day or two before or after) the full moon.... they have to eat some time. They don't want to go a week without a meal so the bulk up before and after.

But why do I do ok with YFT on a full moon. I think it is location. The tides south of the Cape are much smaller. Falmouth Harbor has something like an 18 inch tide. So therefore the tides never really rip like they do further north in BFT land.

I don't have decades of logs to back up my theories, so I am interested in other people's ideas.

Mike

[backman]

my theory is simple - if my schedule and weather allows me to fish then i fish.

i catch more fish fishing regardless of moon phase than I do looking for the perfect phase to fish on and not fishing.

My biggest bass ever came 6 PM in August, full moon, high tide, no flow at all in 8' of water.

Last year's big tuna was a day or so in front of the full moon.

[Capt Fred]

Also consider that on a big bright Full Moon the Tuna (surface feeders) find plenty of bait to eat 24 hr a day. Black nights may be more difficult causing less feeding and heavy feeds during the day

[stew]

Some of my best days, both in size and numbers have come the day before the full moon. Full moon days and the day after... not so much. Capt. Eric

[seacoast]

I'm with Backman

You don't know,
if you don't go

2 years ago we had some crazy pogie ball action-
fish had them balled so tight I think they were planning on eating every last one-
that is til some dick weed in an ocean master ran them over
then went the extra mile and backed over them

Plus the after fish party is waay better on a full moon

[Deep C]

My log books show different things for different species in different places... At Bimini I do best near the new moon. On sails pretty much the same here. Inshore snappers at my place in the keys are on opposite tides in the same spot on new or full moon.
Locally I do best on swords a few days before or a couple days after but not right on the full.
Chub Cay goes off on the rise of the moon. Bites are far more numerous and agrressive, but a couple days after and you are a long time between bites... I see a pattern of the fish entering the pocket at one part of the phase and slowly work their way around over the next few days until the shut off. St. Thomas when I fished there was pretty much the week before and maybe two days after also.
Full moon Makos off Jersey make me nuts. They get inquisitive and cautious and will hang around without eating for a long time. They also get on my nerves by eating my balloons. Males eating the reds and the she fish eating the greens...