Fullmoon

[stratoscaster]

What do you guys think about fish biting better (also a couple of days up to and beyond)during a fullmoon and why?   The obvious answer is they can see better.  That may be part of it but there must be more.  Anyone have any scientific answers?  I read somewhere that the earths surface rises up to two feet due to the moons gravitational pull.

[nwgabassmaster]

2-3 ft.  Are we talking about the ground, or the water?  I don't think that either would happen, or someone would have noticed that during the full moon, they have an island of land sitting in there front yard.   ;D

The moon controls the tides, or, has a help in manipulating them, so, I would just say that something happens in the fish, and it gears them up to eat.

Of course, I have fished in the summer around a full moon, during the day and night, and haven't had much luck either way!   8)

[stratoscaster]

Yea the two foot things sounds far fetched to me as well but if the earths surface rose as a whole it would be relative and in turn not noticable.  I've never noticed a better bite during a fullmon either.

[Raul]

What I like about the full moon and a clear ski at night:

Well, I can see where I 'm casting and see where my bait lands instead of trying to imagine it.  ;D

Being said that, don 't pay attention to the Solunar tables, be more aware on how the weather is and how it 's going to be in the next couple of days.

[nwgabassmaster]

Also, it has been said that bluegills spawn multiple times during the spring and summer, always around the full moon.  Well, someone needs to tell that to the gills in the pond that I fish.

It's a relatively clear pond, and you can see gills on the beds a lot of the time.  The strongest spawn does happen around the time that the bass stop spawning, but I have seen these gills spawn 5 times.  In fact, there are about 5 gills that are on beds, as of yesterday!

No wonder the bass aren't biting well!  They have all sorts of gills to eat on!

[Muddpuppy]

We have a family friend or more like an adopted member who is an older lady that is now in her 90's even though she doesn't act or look anywhere close to it.  She just recently decided she might should consider to sell her boats, in case she had a problem.  She has always loved to fish and knows her stuff, she also is a big believer when it comes to the moon phase and quick to pull out the alminac anytime a reason arises.  She believes the moon effects the production of garden plants and even the amount of dirt dug out of a post hole, so far I can't disprove her predictions, many times anyway.  But, when it comes to fishing she's always been - Let's go!  

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

I'm a huge believer in fishing 3 days before and after the full moon.  I'm a major night-fisherman so that might have somthing to do with it.  Like Raul said, If I get a full moon AND a clear night, you know where I'll be!

HOWEVER----last night,full moon,5 fish  all dinks except for a 2.4lbr

I'll be back tonight because that full moon bite WILL happen, I just hope I'm there for it.

[jivey]

We had a full moon and clear skies last night.  The bite was defenitely on.  Had about six 4lb+ fish in the boat and a handful of smaller ones.  That moon is defenitely  like a big old flashlight in the sky.

[Jeff_NHBA]

The tides during a full and new moon are called Spring tides.  This occurs when the sun earth and moon are more in line with each other.  This causes a greater gravitional pull on the earth's oceans thus creating higher tides.  Conversely, there are Neap tides.  This occurs when the sun, earth and moon are at a right angle (i.e 1st quarter and last quarter).  The tides, although present do not have the same gravitiational influence so the tides then are not as great.  

 All that said, I would think that if there is a full moon and high tide, the fishing would be a bit tougher since the fish have even more volume of water to roam about.

[Muddpuppy]

If the 2 -3' increase is based on the diameter of the planet, that wouln't effect the area or volume as much as the shape, which still would be minute but could cause tides.  I've never really studied it, since the moon was made of cheese when I went to school.

[DDbasser]

I've been deer hunting for 30yrs, and there is quite a bit of science that proves mammals and fish feed when the moon is overhead (major time) or underfoot (minor time).

If you'll think about it, when is the full moon overhead? at night. Then 12 hrs later it's underfoot.

I don't have the logs to substantiate this when it comes to fish, but those of you that do check and see when you catch your fish during the new moon. I'll bet it's in the middle of the day.

Thats when the new moon is overhead.    

[George Welcome]

Tidal fishing: Yes, the moon affects the tides, but the tides relate to salt water access-egress.

Lakes don't have tides.

You can out-science yourself quite easily with this bass fishing thing.

[fireandice]

I tried several things last night at my local haunt and came up skunked.  Full moon, storm on the horizon...looked like it would be really hot fishing.  I tried black/blue 3/8 jig, green pumpkin Brush Hog, my favorite culprit worm, then I even tried a makeshift carolina rig with a floating Strike King Plum worm.  I also had a channel cat rig in the water...nothing there either.  I was actually starting to be a believer in the Solunar tables, but after last night I'm not real sure.  Maybe I was just off of my game or I was fishing where there were no fish, but I usually do well in that spot for all kinds of fish.

[kevthebassman]

i read an article, i think on the BASS page, that has 2 guys who have opposite point of views, 1 saying they are real, the other saying they are a bunch of crap.  both of their arguments were pretty convincing, so im still not sure.

[Gatorbassman]

kevthebassman,

Welcome to this site.

Here's my 2 bits worth. I think that the solunar tables are a bunch of speculative nonsense. I fish and hunt and have put these tables to the test several times. I have an extensive fishing log that covers the last two years and a hunting log that covers the last 16 years. I have found no evidence that the moon has any substantial effect on wildlife. The amount of light has more effect than anything. Living things with eyes not adapted to the night find it more difficult to find food when they can't see it.

[bassackwards]

I have to agree, tides only apply to the ocean.

I donno about the bass, but I would much rather fish in the full moon, than any other time at night. if there is any science to it.

[Rattlinrogue]

Don't know if it's true or not.I've always been told by some pretty fair bass anglers that fishing is best 3 days before a full moon to 3 days after a full moon.I do know that I like fishing under a full moon.I went last night and am about to leave to go again tonight.

[kevthebassman]

clip from this link (about halfway down)http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/bassmaster/news/story?page=b_fea_bt_0309_inside_bass_behavior_faq

Question: Do Solunar tables work?

Answer: No scientific experiments have been done to evaluate the effects of moon phase on bass behavior. A statistical analysis of angler catch records I once saw indicated that major and minor "peaks" may not accurately reflect fish activity. Activity periods were longer than advertised and minor periods were sometimes more productive than majors. Activity peaks were actually shifted up to two hours earlier or later than those published.

Fluke thanks for the welcome, actually been reading this board for a long time but posting other places.(BASS site has too much whining about all the crap espn/BASS is trying to shove down people's throats)

[nwgabassmaster]

I would tend to disagree with you about the effect that it has on wildlife, especially whitetail deer.

I know that over the last 16 years that I have been fishing and hunting, that I have, for a fact, seen more deer moving at night, when a full moon was out.  I know, cause I have had to change my brakes, and my shorts, when they would run out in front of me.

I do believe that whitetails will move when a full moon is out, and will even move when the moon is visible, as compared to a cloudy night.

As for bass, I do not believe that they feed any more or any less around a full or new moon.  A bass is going to eat when they want to eat, and it doesn't matter what the moon is doing.  The only difference that it would make are on the tidal rivers of the NE.

On the Potomac, for example, I have had friends say that they could only catch bass on an out-going tide.  Now, for what reason, I don't know, but I speculate that it's the same for when a body of water begins to drain, or lose water.  Bass will congregate when the water levels fall, so, it's my thought that the bait fish were gathered together on the out-going tide, and it would cause the bass to turn on, thus, allowing the anglers to catch more bass.

The same can be said for the opposite..........the bass will seperate and scatter when the water levels rise.  Most anglers will fish the newly flooded areas, and will fish the most substantial pieces of cover.  Thus, my thinking is that on an incoming tide, the bait scatters, cause there are more hiding places, thus, this causes the bass to shut down, or to become less active.  This causes the anglers to have a tougher time finding the bass, and having them chase something down.

Just my thoughts on this.  

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Well if it is true, then I really suk lately!  Last night, 7 fish, no size.  My partner went for an earlier shift (3:30p-8:30p) and smoked 'em with a 5 in the mix.  I think I'm just off my game a bit.  Confidence is there but after being red hot for the last few weeks, I may just be getting greedy  :-/

[nwgabassmaster]

You will get out of it, bud.  I am going through the same thing, but I know the main reason for my slump.  Fishing from the bank.

Two of the ponds that I fish, that I mentioned in the "Cemetary Ponds" thread under fishing locations, I can almost cast across them, using most any bait.  I fish them slowly, but, I am not catching much of anything.

I know that there are fish in there, but since I know that there are others fishing the two ponds, it is possible that they are keeping the fish from there.  I don't.  I CPR.

Maybe you are thinking too MUCH about it.  Instead of enjoying the time out there, and trying to relax, maybe you are trying too hard.  I know it sounds crazy, but, I honestly believe that it is something that will cause an angler to go into a slump.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

yea but believe me,...as I get closer to the lake my "bad" stress level slips away and my "Good:)" stress level rises as I anticipate the hunt!  So relaxing really isn't it,it's just off.  Sometimes it is what it is but I'll be back later this afternoon to reclaim my position !

[nwgabassmaster]

Could it be that you are using the wrong lures?  Are the memories of past successes clouding your mind, and you aren't stepping back to fully realize what is going on?

I know that I do that more times than I care to admit, but, when I start to realize that something isn't right, I will literally take a step back, and start taking in what has been going on.  More times than not, I will realize that I should be doing something different, I will change, and then, the fish will start biting for me.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

my buddy is catchin on the same stuff, but better fish >

[Gatorbassman]

nwgabassmaster,

I'm sorry I wasn't very clear. I totally agree with you. I was talking about going strictly by the solunar tables was crap. They say the best time is when the moon is directly overhead and directly underneath you. This is to suggest that the gravitational change in the atmosphere effects the movement of wildlife. The only effect I have seen, like you said is caused by the amount of light available. If it is a very cloudy night during a full moon they won't be as active as if there were no clouds at all. I have always said the best time to go fishing or hunting is always when you can.

Example: If there is a full moon out all night but in the last few hours of night a storm or heavy clouds move in. I make sure I am in my stand extra early that morning because the deer are stuck in their feeding areas or can't move as fast back to their bedding areas due to the lack of light. I will have a better chance of seeing that big buck moving during shooting hours.