When you go saltwater fishing, do you choose a full moon or a moonless night? High tide or low tide? Before the storm or after the storm? Low barometric pressure or high barometric pressure?Morning or evening? Read below for the best times to fish in saltwater.
Moon phase
The moon phase is the moon's position in correlation to the Earth, and there are four main phases: new moon, first quarter, last quarter, and full moon. Fish do not respond to the moon phase itself, but fish respond to the heavy tidal movements the moon influence. During a full or new moon, the saltwater tides are stronger due to the pull of gravity. Stronger currents will mean more active baitfish and other prey making for optimal fishing tide times. And a full or new moon sheds more light on the water at night, which can affect the feeding patterns of fish since it’s easier for them to see and feed. However, the first and last quarter moon offers medium light conditions and low tides, so it can be seen as the worst phase for fishing.
In summary, when fishing in saltwater, if you consider the phases of the moon, a full or new moon is probably best.
Tide
Tides are caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and Earth’s centrifugal force while spinning on its axis. A slack tide means that the tide is neither incoming nor outgoing and that the water is not moving much. When there is little to no water movement, the level of bait activity drops off dramatically and fish don't actively feed. Outgoing tides will often carry the bait out into creeks and channels. If you're fishing inshore at the outgoing tide, you need to focus on the mouth of the estuary. Because game fish will usually wait in the mouth of the estuary, feeding on any baitfish or crustaceans that are washed away with the outflow. The incoming tide is considered one of the best fishing tide times. Because ocean currents bring baitfish, crustaceans, and other prey to land. The best way to find out when the best fishing tide times will be is by checking a daily tide chart or by asking for a chart at your local tackle shop.
Overall, tidal changes are good for saltwater fishing (including offshore).
Storm
Storms are characterized by large changes in barometric pressure and light conditions. When a storm comes in, the barometric pressure falls. The dropping barometric pressure stimulates fish to feed aggressively. During the storm, the pressure will be at its lowest value and fish are going to be very slow. And when the storm passes, the pressure rises again. Fishing before a storm is a lot better than after it.
However, if you are going to use storms as a fishing advantage, think about personal safety and lightning hazard.
Barometric pressure
Barometric pressure is one factor that is easy to forget. Barometric pressure can be explained as the weight of air in the atmosphere which is exerted on the earth's surface. Barometric pressure is related to weather fronts. The arrival of a front that brings either cooler or warmer air temperatures will affect fishing. Most fish species become more active and feed aggressively just before a cold front. Cold front, when it arrives, will increase the pressure and it will affect the fish in a negative way. After a front passes the skies are normally clear and the fish need time to re-adjust to the change in conditions before they will actively feed again. If you are looking for the best time to go saltwater fishing, a good period is just before a front comes through, when the barometric pressure is dropping, and when there is some cloud cover. Barometric pressure is also connected to storms. Storms, especially tropical ones, are characterized by a drop in pressure.
From this, we can conclude that fishing during changes in barometric pressure is the best, especially if the pressure is dropping.
Time of day
If the weather and tidal movements are favorable, fishing during the night, and during sunset and sunrise may be very effective, but not for all fish species. However, there are some species that are very active during the night and should be fished after sunset. Congers, squids, snappers, and much more species are more likely to bite at night than during the daytime.
Post time: Dec-20-2022