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24K views 21 replies 10 participants last post by  HeadsOrTails 
#1 ·
Hello all. I am to say the least a novice when it comes to striper fishing. I have 24 years of deer hunting experience but very little in bass fishing (My first month). In deer hunting I keep close tabs on the moons phase as it affects when deer feed and also breed. Could someone shed some light on how the moon affects striped bass activity. I realize that tides come into play but I just don't know how. Moon phase combined with tides I'm sure creates many scenarios. Which is best? Full moon or new moon. When deer hunting, having the moon overhead or underfoot,regardless of the phase results in feeding periods regardless of the time of day. Is this the same for fish?

Thanks to anyone who can answer me.
 
#2 ·
Tides are higher and currents are stronger around the full and new moons.

As those stronger currents sweep along structure they disorient and take the baitfish along with them. This provides easy pickins for the bass who hide along the current edges and breaks and with those big broomlike tails have no problems dealing with the stronger flow.

I've always preferred the new moon over the full moon. I've had very few really good nights when the moon is so bright it's like a giant spotlight into the water. Full moon with heavy cloud cover is a different story, love that.
 
#3 ·
i like fishing structures like pilings and bridges in the daytime moons. these fish take up residence behind them in currents more often then on regular tides. as they are protected from current behind them. they will actually stay there till the water stops moving and get another spot. in places where bait is always available i have more times than not culled a fish from there. night time is altogether different. if i've told anyone one thing, it is not to leave out that one aspect of fishing a moon. ideally a fly moving with the longshore current into the zone but a jig or a sinking plug as well as bait in and around that zone. otherwise the high moon in the evening mostly puts em down imo. but there are exceptions to this and that is hunger. but who the hell knows what these fish are up to cuz they will show you a different look you didn't expect for any situation. it's just beautiful to be wrong imo..



 
#4 ·
As a surfcaster I like the new moon and blackness for the stealth aspect. Bigger fish will patrol the surf zone under cover. And for what has been said already, stonger currents and higher and lower tides.
I wouldnt think it mattered to the boat fishermen nearly as much as they can fish deeper and be very very quiet.
 
#5 ·
Although I fish from a boat, I fish shallower than most surf casters... full moon requires longer lines, smalller baits and different tactics, the bright moon does not spook the fish as some may think..passing clouds and moving shadows do....fish feed under the bright sun, sometimes in mere inches of water. bright moon light is no different...This past week although cloudless most nights ,saw the best fishing of the 2009 season...I hope everyone stops fishing on the full moon.. all the better for me..

Just my .02
 
#6 ·
you catch fish in a puddle... what else is new...it's just beautiful to be wrong imo..
i'd call you but we know how long that call will last...
if ya fished here for 3 days you would shoot yourself. the bluefish are in the 12-15# range and are on the warpath... i brought the axe with me tonight but they got a reprieve as i left and had salmon/pineapple chutney + potato's and string beans for dinner. wife knows how to get me to come home early. sometimes food is more important than bluefish. frankly - everything is more important than bluefish,
and all i had to say is axe and opened a can of worms i'm sure.



 
#7 ·
Last two weeks saw the best fishing of the entire season..all under that beautiful bright moon.. no monsters just fish in the low twenties to low thirties.. but lots of them...and not a boo fish in sight..

when we get to the new moon... I dont want to see one complaint about the fire in the water..
 
#8 ·
Last two weeks saw the best fishing of the entire season..all under that beautiful bright moon.. no monsters just fish in the low twenties to low thirties.. but lots of them...and not a boo fish in sight..

when we get to the new moon... I dont want to see one complaint about the fire in the water..
Wow, wish it could be like that around here, I'm extremely jealous!
We've had a few schoolies taken here and there but nothing like that! (From the beach)

Sept, new moon = Fire in the water :smiliedoh: I hadn't even thought about that. Nothing worse then taking "the Death March" at the Hook only to have the water light up all around you when you step in.
Got my beotchin out of the way early :whistle:
 
#10 ·
here are a few pictures from last thursday.. numbnuts here didnt set the date right on the camera after i charged the battery...all these fish were released.. even the double which were caught on eels.. there were so many fish I switched to plugs, being alone, I could only use one rod at a time.....the blitz lasted for 5 hours and ended with the last of the incoming tide...
 

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#11 ·
I know it's been a long time threat, but one of these seasons I'm going to get up there and fish with ya.
 
#13 ·
all hail the Peter North of fish porn:notworthy:
i can catch a fish on the moon....
just not that productive down here is all..
and numbnuts here can't take a good pic to save his life so don't feel so camera numb..
your pics are way better than mine as jim and i were in montauk when we were suppose to be up with you) and i took some lousy pics. sudsy will remember this pic. (skinny fish!)



 

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#16 ·
please elaborate on what you were using ie: bait/plugs/jigs/etc. can't answer you correctly if at all with how you ask questions. when you type a question please look at it and make sure your asking it the right way. and.... as for the bluefish? never ever ever let a bluefish get away!!!axekill.gif



 
#18 ·
zimno1 said:
as for the bluefish? never ever ever let a bluefish get away!!!axekill.gif
because Zim will catch it....

there is much more in play than just the moon and tides... picking one lure and standing on a jetty casting blindly does not make for good odds.. fish need a reason to be there.. bombers are good when the fish are in close feeding on baits such as sand eels.. have you tried live lining an eel.. fishing a pogie head on the bottom... fishing an exact structure like a rock pile or mussel shoal... moon and tides put you in favorable conditions to have better sucess.... fish when you can..make your presentation to an area you feel confident holds fish at that time... and your odds will change... no one but zim can catch fish sitting at a computer .. LMAO ( private joke)
 
#19 ·
flattery will get you nowhere..
i still won't kiss your arse like the minions do.
however, the NEW MOON bass on the fly made me wanna "well, this is a family oriented site so i will refrain"
when i catch your fish sitting here i feel the same way....
hey roc? you could prolly catch a bigger one if ya just troll that eel along the bank on the left side of the river this time..:icon_cool2: okay, now these three you got were mine so go and get your own fish as i'm not that greedy... lmfao.....:lff3: that night on the phone was funny. the kayaker, the fish on while talking, the whole conversation. nuttin like interactive fishing.. if i had the bread i would have a live feed off the beach or yer boat and have video conference with others online as well. it's something i have been dying to do but zim's champagne taste and beer pocket just don't cut it.



 
#20 ·
Regarding some of what you said, "Moon phase combined with tides I'm sure creates many scenarios"

If you go to the "same" location to fish regularly and you were to go during the same moon phase every time, the tide will always be the same there since the moon phase controls the tide. So for example if you go there and its high tide at say 10:00pm it will always be high tide at 10:00Pm regardless of the date.
 
#21 ·
Regarding some of what you said, "Moon phase combined with tides I'm sure creates many scenarios"

If you go to the "same" location to fish regularly and you were to go during the same moon phase every time, the tide will always be the same there since the moon phase controls the tide. So for example if you go there and its high tide at say 10:00pm it will always be high tide at 10:00Pm regardless of the date.
Sorry bro, but this is just false.... look at any reputable tide chart.

For example @ my location:
October 5th,2017 full moon = 8:04am high tide
November 4th,2017 full moon = 8:24am high tide
December 3rd,2017 full moon = 7:05am high tide (Daylight savings time change)
January 2nd, 2018 full moon = 7:42am high tide
January 31st, 2018 full moon = 7:29am high tide
March 2nd, 2018 full moon = 8:01am high tide
March 31st, 2018 full moon = 8:41am high tide
April 30th, 2018 full moon = 9:03am high tide
May 30th, 2018 full moon = 9:22am high tide

etc., etc.
 
#22 ·
You post was a while back so thanks for the interest, I didn't know if you would see my reply. I am new to this site. (75 yrs old) You are correct in a way, its not always 'exactly' the same time each time however its close enough to plan a trip if you want to fish a certain tide say hi tide etc. What I am saying is that you can count on that if you go there on full moon it won't be low tide. In you example the range is 3/4 hours each way off center. When I plan trips that will last a week or so I always go to a few spots that all generally in the same area so in advance I can pick dates that get me into the ball park for say high tide around 7pm, 8pm, 9pm etc without having to check tide charts, I just check what the moon is during that time. Different strokes I guess. If I really need to know 'exactly' what the time is to the minute on any given night I could check the tide chart at that time. My buddy always second guesses me. My main point is that what is not generally known is that the moon controls the tide at any given spot and on full moons for example it never be high tide one time, 1/2 down another time, 1/3 up another time or low tide at another time. The only chance of seeing weird things in that regard is severe winds.The differences you show in your example, ie 1 1/2 hours spread are due to the fact that from month to month there may not be an 'exact' full moon sometimes since every full moon is not directly overhead at the exact same time. This is due to every changing lineup of moons cycle around the earth in combination with earth rotation. Each has there own cycle. If you check some moon phase chart web sites that show pictorials for a moon phase you will see that on certain months there is no exact full moon. Check out this web site.

http://www.moonconnection.com/moon_phases_calendar.phtml

For Oct 2017 its hard to tell which day is actually full moon. The 5th and the 6th look about the same, so real full moon is somewhere between those two days. For Sep however its easier to see that full moon falls on the 6th.

Cap

My buddy says I obsess with the moon, just get your line in the water.
 
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