A Fishing Guide For Moonlight Fishermen

A great fishing guide is to fish by the light of the moon, but what is it about the moon that we fishermen need to understand?

Ancient civilisation lived the influence of the moon on natural rhythms, and understood that the behaviour of animals and fish is influenced by the phase and the position of the moon. They even organised the planting and harvesting of their crops around such important cycles.

The prime lunar factor relating to specifically to fishing, is that the moon applies a gravitational force on the Earth and this force causes tidal fluctuations. The moon also affects feeding patterns, and hence lunar fishing calendars all identify two main feeding periods within every twenty four hour cycle. These feeding periods occur when the moon is directly overhead and directly underfoot, lasting from just 20 minutes to over an hour.

Those without a bite times calendar can calculate the two feeding periods by consulting the NZ Herald weather section for moon rise and moon set times. The halfway point between these two times is when the moon is directly overhead and 12 hours later it is directly underfoot on the other side of the planet. These times will then advance by about one hour each day so can be calculated in advance.

Furthemore, the actual phase of the moon also affects the best/worst days of the lunar fishing calendar. Typically, its great fishing for the two weeks of each month bracketing the new moon. Conversely, the slowest fishing will be in the two weeks bracketing the full moon. The Maori fishing calendar is published by Oceanfun Publishing (in Blenheim) along with the Tide Times Calendar and suggests that the four days falling either side of the new moon provide the best fishing of the month.

So what would your New Zealand fishing guide suggest to be the worst times to attempt to fish? If you enjoy fishing for the space out of a hectic lifestyle to be enjoyed as a peace and relaxation session during which time you would prefer to remain disturbed by no one not even a fish, then cast your rod into the water during the week either side of the full moon as the it either rises or sets. Looking to capture a trophy? Bait your rod three days either side of the new moon, when it has risen to perch directly overhead. Either way, some fishing is far better than no fishing at all so at any point in the lunar calendar that you have the opportunity.....go fishing!


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