Fishing by Moon Phase: Can You Increase Your Catch? Solunar Theory!

Please Note: This article has been updated and revised several times. During the pandemic, I did very little fishing. However, I intend to continue updating it to reflect new findings and give it a better structure. There's a huge range of new tools and information I'd like to include, so check back regularly for updates.

Solunar Theory

Every angler dreams of a bigger catch! But is it possible to know in advance when you should plan a fishing trip to improve your chances of success and come home feeling completely satisfied?

Based on my own personal research into the best fishing times, I believe it is.

Welcome to Solunar Theory!

When I first started fishing, the best time to go was simply whenever it suited me. I tried different lures, baits and techniques, spending a small fortune in my quest to improve my catches.

When I eventually heard about Solunar Theory, or fishing by moon phase, I was sceptical, as I imagine most anglers would be.

What I'd read sounded terribly complicated. There seemed to be all sorts of factors to consider, and apparently, you needed to be at the water's edge at exactly the right time, TO THE MINUTE, to improve your chances of catching fish.

Was I really willing to commit to all that?

Well, let's just say curiosity got the better of me!

To find out whether there was any truth in the moon's effect on fishing, I kept a record of every trip I made over a period of 18 months.

I carefully logged the moon phases, weather conditions and catches from each outing.

What I discovered convinced me that fishing by moon phase works.

BUT, I also discovered that it's nowhere near as complicated as some would have us believe.

How Does Fishing by Moon Phase Work?

Every angler knows that the best time to fish is when the fish are feeding.

This often happens around dawn and dusk, but what frequently goes unnoticed are two other periods during the day: moonrise and moonset.

The moon influences various factors affecting fish, including the behaviour of the prey they hunt. According to Solunar Theory, these periods, combined with the moon's phase, can trigger increased feeding activity.

By understanding this and choosing times when sunrise, sunset, moonrise or moonset coincide with new or full moon phases, you may significantly increase your chances of a good catch.

Assuming there are actually fish in the area, of course!

Choosing the Best Fishing Times

There's really nothing terribly complicated about this. It's simply a matter of knowing in advance when the sun and moon will rise and set.

According to Solunar Theory, fish are most active during 90-minute windows surrounding these four daily events.

That's 45 minutes before and 45 minutes after:

• Sunrise

• Sunset

• Moonrise

• Moonset

Fishing during these periods should help improve your catches.

However, if you plan your trips around the new or full moon, you can potentially make even better use of these feeding windows.

And if you have to choose between sunrise/sunset and moonrise/moonset, Solunar Theory suggests giving priority to the moon, as it's considered the stronger influence.

Hunters and anglers have long recognised that fish and game are particularly active around dawn and dusk.

However, activity surrounding moonrise and moonset is often less noticeable because these events don't necessarily cause an obvious change in daylight.

A new moon, for example, is practically invisible, while cloud cover can easily hide the moon at other times.

Without knowing the moonrise and moonset times in advance, you could be missing two of the best fishing periods every day!

Other Considerations

When planning your fishing around moon phases, there are a few other important factors worth considering.

Weather

Significant changes in weather can have a major impact on how fish feed.

I've always found that the period before a storm, or shortly after one has passed, can be particularly productive.

If you're lucky enough to be fishing when these conditions line up with a favourable moon phase, you could be in for a treat!

On the other hand, an approaching cold front can sometimes cause fish to move into deeper water and become less active.

Season

Seasonal changes can also influence feeding behaviour.

Fish often become more active during transitions between seasons, particularly as winter gives way to spring and summer moves into autumn.

These changes, combined with suitable weather and favourable moon phases, can create some excellent fishing opportunities.

So, if there's something to Solunar Theory, why not use it to your advantage when planning your next trip?

Putting Solunar Theory into Practice

Here's where things get particularly interesting.

I downloaded an app called Tides Near Me, which provides useful information such as tide times, moonrise, moonset and other details.

While browsing through it, I came across a particular date and time that caught my attention.

Now, have a look at the information and see if you notice what I noticed.

• Full moon: 100%

• Moonrise: 9:19 pm

• High tide: 9:35 pm

That's just 16 minutes between moonrise and high tide!

These two events can occur remarkably close together, and I've noticed some particularly interesting alignments around full and new moons.

Coincidence? Perhaps. But it's certainly something that caught my attention when I started looking more closely at Solunar Theory.

Using Solunar Fishing Apps

Another useful tool I've explored is an app called Solunar Clock.

As you can see from the image above, the app displays predicted major and minor fishing periods, along with an overall rating for the day.

The rating reflects the moon phase, with full and new moons generally receiving higher scores.

It's a handy way to identify potentially favourable fishing periods without having to work out all the times yourself.

Of course, the moon isn't the only thing worth watching.

Combining Moon Phases with Barometric Pressure

Now, this is where my own fishing theories become particularly interesting!

If you've read my other article on Barometric Pressure: Fishy Myth or Untapped Resource?, you'll already know that I pay close attention to changes in atmospheric pressure when planning a fishing trip.

So imagine combining the following:

• A four-star Solunar day around a full or new moon.

• A favourable high tide.

• A rapidly falling barometer.

Let's just say I hope you've brought plenty of bait, because you could be busy!

These are the sorts of conditions I particularly like to look out for.

While there's always more to learn about how different factors influence fish behaviour, I believe that understanding how they interact can give anglers a useful advantage.

Another Useful Tool: Windfinder

One other website I find particularly useful is Windfinder.

I believe it was originally aimed primarily at windsurfers and other water sports enthusiasts, but it offers some excellent information for anglers too.

In my experience, its weather forecasts have been impressively accurate.

It provides useful details such as wind speed, wind direction, wave height and wave conditions, along with other information that can help when planning a trip.

It's also customisable, which makes it particularly handy for checking the locations you fish most often.

When you're trying to combine weather, tides and Solunar predictions, having this information readily available can make planning much easier.

Final Thoughts: Does Fishing by Moon Phase Really Work?

After spending 18 months recording fishing trips, moon phases, weather conditions and catches, I became convinced that there's something to Solunar Theory.

I also discovered that you don't need to make it terribly complicated.

You don't have to spend hours studying charts or work out every astronomical detail.

Simply becoming more aware of moon phases, moonrise and moonset times, tides and changing weather conditions can help you make more informed decisions about when to fish.

For me, it's another useful tool in the angler's toolbox.

It certainly doesn't mean you'll catch fish every time you head out, but I believe it can improve your chances of being in the right place at the right time.

And let's face it, anything that might give us an advantage is worth investigating!

I hope you've enjoyed the read.

I'd love to hear your own experiences. Do you plan your fishing around moon phases? Have you noticed better catches during full or new moons, or do you think it's all coincidence?

Leave a comment below and let us know what you think.