Astro Tables

[TBO]

How many people actully fish by the fishing calendars/astro tables? It says 10% fishing effecincy for today. Would you stay home or go out anyways?

[gramps50]

I personally don't pay attention to them. Have proven to me to be correct. I say go fishing, taking into account for weather & water temp and fix accordingly.

 

Good luck

[F14A-B]

Agree with gramps50, Gotta go when you get a break from work.. Adjust on the water, depending

[TBO]

Ok thanks! I personaly never buy into them much but my fishing buddy goes bye them. My opinion the fish every day just not as agressive as other days.

[Team9nine]

The "what" tables??? Astro? LOL - Went today and caught 54 bass in 5 hours. Imagine how many I would have caught on a good day with, like, 80% efficiency or better

 

-T9

[WRB]

Astro tables are an aid to help plan future fishing trips. Bass are easier to catch when they are actively feeding, the Astro table predicts those times. You can ague the merits but it's hard to argue fact that the moon phase influences animal behavior in general.

I have planned my pre spawn bass fishing around the full and new moon phases, 2 days before to 2 days after. Astro table times are just another factor to keep in mind. You can't catch bass without fishing for them, go fishing when you can.

Tom

[Raul]

Astro tables are excellent tools for planning your fishing trips, the astro table says it's going to be lousy and you got time to go then by all means go, the astro table says its's going to be great and you can go, then by all means go, cuz, you ain't gonna catch nothing if you ain't there ya know. Simple and effective, BE THERE.

[tomustang]

From what I've seen, it's another tool that holds back some fishermen from going out and catching fish. Too many follow that system and believe it works.

Key is to go out and fish whenever you can.

[Catch and Grease]

Well you ain't gonna catch a bass sitting on your couch!

[BassnChris]

I'm not sure if they accurate........i just go fishing regardless of what the solunar tables indicate.

[Bassun]

I acutally just posted this in a different thread, then saw this one.  While I agree with going when you can, I absolutely plan a May trip on the new moon(s).  Does it work?  Well over a 32 day span (April 30-June 1) 5 state records were set on new moons and one on a full moon.  so 6 of 28 records set over 2 days.  Statistically I think that would indicate the lunar phase does have an impact.

 

Now do I pay attention to the "peak times"...nope.  Not at all.  Peak days, and most specifically New and Full moons, yup!

 

 

 

** Info on moon phase fishing in VA (circa 2011)

Some reseach I did a few years ago found that of the 28 state records, 14 were caught within 3 days of a new of full moon in May (or April 30th, and June 1st for two records so technically 12). Note half of the records set in Va come within a 32 day span from (April 30-June1)

 

Specifically in May (including April 30 and June 1):

New Moon Record Fish:  5
Full Moon Record Fish:  1

Fish caught within the +/- 3 days of full / new moon:  14

Days (1,2,3,-1,-2,-3) of new moon:  4

Days (1,2,3,-1,-2,-3) of full moon:  4

[F14A-B]

I prefer fishing the new moon. The fish will spawn on both new and full, but skewed toward the full. Fishing is good on both, but tends to be best on the days leading up to the full moon and on the days just after the new moon. To simplify it, it seems the fishing is best when the moon is getting bigger, not smaller, with each succeeding day. Doug Hannon

[lectricbassman]

I have heard that fish spawn on certain moon phases and also crawdads hatch on a full moon. Is there any scientific evidence to this or just anecdotes that we stubornly hang on to?

[MO_LMB]

I acutally just posted this in a different thread, then saw this one.  While I agree with going when you can, I absolutely plan a May trip on the new moon(s).  Does it work?  Well over a 32 day span (April 30-June 1) 5 state records were set on new moons and one on a full moon.  so 6 of 28 records set over 2 days.  Statistically I think that would indicate the lunar phase does have an impact.

 

Now do I pay attention to the "peak times"...nope.  Not at all.  Peak days, and most specifically New and Full moons, yup!

 

 

 

** Info on moon phase fishing in VA (circa 2011)

Some reseach I did a few years ago found that of the 28 state records, 14 were caught within 3 days of a new of full moon in May (or April 30th, and June 1st for two records so technically 12). Note half of the records set in Va come within a 32 day span from (April 30-June1)

 

Specifically in May (including April 30 and June 1):

New Moon Record Fish:  5

Full Moon Record Fish:  1

Fish caught within the +/- 3 days of full / new moon:  14

Days (1,2,3,-1,-2,-3) of new moon:  4

Days (1,2,3,-1,-2,-3) of full moon:  4

 

I mean I get what you are trying to say here, BUT... 

 

2 moons in a month ... - 2 days

+/- 3 days on each moon ... - 12 days 

14/32 = 44%

 

This is basically half the month when you add in +\- 3 days on each new/full moon. So half the fish were caught in the "moon" periods and half were caught in the rest of the month.

 

Sounds to me that you should just fish in May in VA, bc this is basically just spawning time? Maybe a little heightened around the moons but sounds like you have just as good of a chance the rest of the month. 

 

There are only to facts when it comes to fishing. 

1. Anytime, anywhere you fish you have a chance to catch something.

2. You can't catch something unless you fish. 

 

Go when you can.

[Raul]

I have heard that fish spawn on certain moon phases and also crawdads hatch on a full moon. Is there any scientific evidence to this or just anecdotes that we stubornly hang on to?

 

There is scientific evidence that many species do actually synchronize their reproductive activities to match certain lunar phases because the conditions they require only happen during a particular point in the lunar phase, this specially true with sea species like turtles, corals and many fish, the moon phase dictates the tide which also generates currents, so the timing is vital for those species. For example, sea turtles lay their eggs on the beaches during the full moon nights when the tide is the highest, they dig their nests above the highest level of the tide. So for a reproductive point of view yes, the moon phase is vital, as for other aspects like moon phases dictating all the activity ..... you´ll have to provide me with absolutely undeniable scientific evidence for I to believe it.

 

For me it´s simple:

 

1.- You have to be there, fishing in order to catch fish, BE THERE

2.- Go whenever you can.

 

Tom, for what I´ve read since I´m a member looks like a firm believer of the Astro Tables, I on the contrary, I´m a firm non-believer of the Astro Tables.

[Bassun]

I mean I get what you are trying to say here, BUT... 

 

2 moons in a month ... - 2 days

+/- 3 days on each moon ... - 12 days 

14/32 = 44%

 

This is basically half the month when you add in +\- 3 days on each new/full moon. So half the fish were caught in the "moon" periods and half were caught in the rest of the month.

 

Sounds to me that you should just fish in May in VA, bc this is basically just spawning time? Maybe a little heightened around the moons but sounds like you have just as good of a chance the rest of the month. 

 

There are only to facts when it comes to fishing. 

1. Anytime, anywhere you fish you have a chance to catch something.

2. You can't catch something unless you fish. 

 

Go when you can.

 

So - first off, Absolutely -- Go when you can!  Can't catch a fish if your aren't fishing...

 

Secondly, sure if you look at the full span you are seeing a bigger chunk of time.  But even then, think about what you just said.  14 of the 28 state records come from those 14 days in May.  Two weeks in May holds as many records as the remaining 351 days of the year.  So yeah, May is the time for lunkers in VA

 

The bigger point wasnt the span of time, rather the number of records set on a new moon specifically.  5 records of 28 on one particular day.  Even if we do the math based on a 28 day lunar cycle, we should see roughly 1 fish per day of the cycle.  2 or 3 make sense as they are with in a couple standard deviations but to have 500% the number of records set on one partuclar day of the lunar cycle seems statistically important.

 

BUT --- again having said all that.  If someone can go fish, go fish!  But, I will continue take a day off to fish the new moon of May, just in case...

[Team9nine]

I have heard that fish spawn on certain moon phases and also crawdads hatch on a full moon. Is there any scientific evidence to this or just anecdotes that we stubornly hang on to?

 

Interesting study out of Florida that says this lunar thing is mostly in our minds, as water temps and trends (including cold fronts) drive bass spawning regardless of moon phase.

 

http://sfrc.ufl.edu/allenlab/Popular%20Articles/Rogers&Allen_BassTimes.pdf

 

 

I'd also argue that (Bassun's) data set is too limited to be statistically significant. For example, I pulled the data for the 47 Kentucky State records and found that 23 were caught during the "spawning" months of April, May and June, while 24 were caught the rest of the year. Not a big surprise that you might get a crack at the largest fish in the system when they have to come shallow to spawn, exposing them to increased angler pressure. But when you look at the lunar phase they were caught on, 11 (23.5%) came within +/- 3 days of the full moon, another 11 (23.5%) came within +/- 3 of the new moon, and the other 25 (53%) came on some other lunar phase day. Since the new+full plus +/- 3 days of each = 14 days, (~49%) of all possible moon phase days, Kentucky's records basically distribute nearly perfectly with available phases and show no lunar trending whatsoever. Even if you strictly look at just records set during spring spawning months, only 11 of 23 (48%) fell +/- 3 days of a full or new moon.

 

You'd need to pull all state record data for all species to probably have a chance at detecting statistically significant trends, which I believe In-Fisherman did many years back in a big two part lunar story. Might be worth digging back up if you can find it, but I seem to recall they couldn't come up with anything overly favoring lunar trends either for the majority of species examined. 

 

 

-T9

[Bassun]

Cool T9 -- did you happen to notice any relation to being directly on the New or Full moons?  That was the biggest outlier I saw.

 

I absolutly feel that spring is going to be you biggest "record" time given the added weight of heavy females, angler pressure, and location.  It all makes perfect sense.

[Team9nine]

Cool T9 -- did you happen to notice any relation to being directly on the New or Full moons?  That was the biggest outlier I saw.

 

I absolutly feel that spring is going to be you biggest "record" time given the added weight of heavy females, angler pressure, and location.  It all makes perfect sense.

 

Only 5 of the 47 KY records fell exactly on those moon days, 4 on the full and 1 on the new. If you just look at the 3 "spawning" months (Apr.-Jun), 3 fell during (2 full, 1 new). The two that fell outside those months were both on full moons.

 

-T9

[Bassun]

Yeah, I agree that your numbers would tend to be within tolerances for just being weighted by the number of people fishing on said days / periods.  I will have to dig though my old issues of IF and see if I can find their article, as I don't remember reading it.  Course it may have been at a time when I wasn't getting it too...

[WRB]

The 2 days before and after plus the 1 day full moon = 5 days (nights) X 2= 10 days out of 28 days, approx 1/3rd of the month.

Record bass are caught during the pre spawn @ maximum weight or spawn (bed fish). The full moon affects nearly all spawning fish. The new moon isn't a big factor regarding the spawn cycle, however it does affect day time fishing success due to the bass not feeding during the night full moon, the fish are more catchable for anglers. If you are night fishing, the full moon cycle is good because the fish like bass that are sight feeders take advantage of the increased light.

Tom

[Bassun]

WRB - I agree with your logic - hence my research - but T9's data does convey a different picture than what I found in VA.  I agree a larger sample of trophy catches is really needed if we were to make a confident claim one way or the other. 

 

I found it interesting that in VA we had more Records set on the New Moon while KY was exactly the opposite.  Either way, I still plan on taking off time around the New moon every year

[WRB]

I put together the Cosmic Clock sand Bass Calendar back in 1974 based of observations and personal experiences prior to that time. The moon phase was a critical element as is the solar or sun position.

The 5 day full moon phase is predominate during spawning cycle, pre and initial spawn. Bass continue to spawn up to 3 times for big females following their initial egg laying, they stay up around nesting sites until they are finished egg laying. There will be bass spawning throughout the month during the spawn cycle.

The majority of the big bass spawn first.

The full moon cycle is also predominate during the summer period at night, the new moon phase predominate during the summer during the day. The post spawn, fall and winter moon phase has little affect.

Giant bass can be caught year around, I haven't been able to do that! 100% of my bass over 15 lbs were caught during the pre spawn to post spawn period, the vast majority during pre spawn around the 5 day full moon phase, during the morning hours. That has been my experience

Tom

PS, the Texas Share a Lunker program may have good data regarding catches during the moon phases?

[Team9nine]

I put together the Cosmic Clock sand Bass Calendar back in 1974 based of observations and personal experiences prior to that time. The moon phase was a critical element as is the solar or sun position.

The 5 day full moon phase is predominate during spawning cycle, pre and initial spawn. Bass continue to spawn up to 3 times for big females following their initial egg laying, they stay up around nesting sites until they are finished egg laying. There will be bass spawning throughout the month during the spawn cycle.

The majority of the big bass spawn first.

The full moon cycle is also predominate during the summer period at night, the new moon phase predominate during the summer during the day. The post spawn, fall and winter moon phase has little affect.

Giant bass can be caught year around, I haven't been able to do that! 100% of my bass over 15 lbs were caught during the pre spawn to post spawn period, the vast majority during pre spawn around the 5 day full moon phase, during the morning hours. That has been my experience

Tom

PS, the Texas Share a Lunker program may have good data regarding catches during the moon phases?

 

I pulled all the ShareLunker data from their database and analyzed it. Using your 5 day metric of F +/- 2 days plus N +/- 2 days = 10 days. A lunar cycle is 29.5 days long. Therefore, those 10 lunar days account for 34% of all lunar days.

 

When you sort out the ShareLunker data by moon phase, you find 100 of the 557 ShareLunkers were caught during the 5 day full moon period, and 91 were caught during the 5 day new moon period. That's 191 total ShareLunkers caught during that 10 day metric, out of the 557 ShareLunkers caught, which again gives you 34%, a perfect 1:1 correlation, meaning no full moon/new moon lunar trend whatsoever.

 

The last quarter 5 day period actually has 102 ShareLunkers, just slightly more than the new and full moon periods. The first quarter period only has 76 ShareLunkers. 

 

-T9

[WRB]

What seasonal period, in Texas the pre spawn starts about March, the spawn ends around end of May on average.

When I wrote my first In-Fisherman article A Rare Chance at a World Record, Jan 1986, listed the top 10 LMB caught to date. 9 out of 10 bass were reported to be caught during the 1st qtr of the year; Jan to April.

The 1 exception was the Perry world record bass. Since all the top 10 bass didn't have days, just the month and year, couldn't determine moon phase. Maybe the current top 25 have days, month and year data.

Thank you for posting the Share a Lunker data, interesting that no day is any better than any other in Texas.

Tom