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[jeff]

Posted on another board but no responses yet....

Thought this topic had been discussed but couldn't find it doing a search...I think someone suggested fishing 2 or 3 days after a full moon?

How do y'all plan your fishing trips when the full moon is shining bright, in particular in the fall? Not sure what the tides will be doing?

Headed to Rockport/Port A to focus on the trout/reds/flounder (sorry not a shark fisherman) just after the full moon on Oct 28 and hope to get some direction from you pros. Fishing will primarily be in the bays and ICW.

Any direction would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance!
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Jeff

[GoinCoastal]

A couple of days before and a couple days after are when I prefer to fish the full moon. I like fishing the evenings into early night the days before the full moon. ANd the mornings after the full moon. I prefer to fish falling tides so I prefer to fish New Moons and a few days after a full moon.

A couple of things to remember about the moon phases and tides...

1. Major feeding periods occur when the moon is directly over head or directly under foot. On full moons, that is very near mid-night and mid-day.

2. Minor feeding periods occur when the moon is rising or setting. On full moons that means daybreak & sunset.

3. The moon pulls the earth's water behind it. IE, the high tide will peak a couple of hours after the moon has passed directly overhead. On full moons, that means you will have strong rising tides at night and falling tides during the days.

4. These are basically reversed for the NEW Moon.... Thats why I really like fishing new moons like this week & weekend. I like fishing that falling tide early in the morning after a moonless night. I have very good results under the new moon.

So....... when fishing full moons, I like fishing the natural sunset bite that is enhanced by a lunar minor feeding period that occur the days just before the full moon. The tide will be starting to rise. I like fishing into the evening as I have found that a really good bite occurs from sundown for about 2 hours into the night. Then again after midnight the bite turns on again. The AM will be ok before the full moon but not great. Then mid-day another bite will turn on when the moon is directly under foot. I like this bite a lot as this is when the tide is falling.

After the full moon has passed, the moon rises later in the night. SO the morning bite when the moon sets mid-morning is my favorite time to fish. The tides will be high into the day at this time. These are the mornings when I look for tails on the flats. The water has come up, the natural sunrise bite is occurring, the minor feeding period is occurring, and the fish will be shallow. If the tides are real high, the fish will scatter and it can be difficult to find them. However, if you find them, they will be actively feeding.

I do not like fishing the full moon itself. I believe the fish gorge themselves under the full moon and I have never caught squat during the day on a full moon except for mid-day.

As far as the fall season goes, just remember that spring and summer have the highest tides with the most water movement. VERY GOOD FOR FISHING!!! Winter and summer have lower tides and less water moving. Full moons add to the tidal movement too. SO, a full moon in the fall or spring have the HIGHEST tides with the most water movement.

I hope I haven't typed in circles here and this info is helpful.

later,
joe
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GoinCoastal aka Cap'nSherbet

[jeff]

GoinCoastal-
Sounds like you live at the coast instead of where your location says you are...years of experience I'm sure.

You have completely answered my question and then some. THANK YOU VERY MUCH! All of the info you provided will be very helpful. I may just have to print it out and put it my tackle box.
Thanks again!
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Jeff

[GoinCoastal]

I grew up in Victoria fishing POC and Rockport areas. I have been fishing the Texas coast since the early 70s. I now live in Leander but I travel to the coast as often as I can.

BTW -- We had a fun weekend catching fish on the falling tide after a moonless night. We caught tons of dinks & rats but also managed some keeper trout, a flounder, and a red.
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GoinCoastal aka Cap'nSherbet