Time of the Day

The best time of the day to fish really depends on the fish you are targeting. For example if you are fishing for Barracudas and Bonitos, the time where they’ll be the most active will be early in the morning like 5 P.M., whereas for predatory species like sharks and rays, they generally feed at night under the cover of darkness. But as for general fishing, the fish will be the most active at dawn and sunset. These two times are also good for anglers where they don’t have to face the high temperature and the glazing sun.

Wind

When you are fishing, the best wind condition is when there is no wind at all. That way you can make the smoothest cast without wind interfering. It also provides better bite detection since you can keep your line straight with the wind blowing it. In some cases, it also allows you to detect whether your lures have reached the bottom by feeling the slack of the line. In strong wind conditions, your lure might get blown away from where you intend to cast or if you are using a super light lure it gets blown right where you’re standing. Strong winds also create choppy water that is not ideal for boating anglers, and the waves created by the wind can bring up the cements from the bottom which reduces the water clarity and might make the fish less active. This is why when you are fishing by the seaside like on a jetty or pier it is best to choose a day that has wind less than 10 knots. If you are surf fishing with longer rods and heavier lure the condition will get worse and winds under 15 knots will be ideal. As for boating anglers, try to pick a day that has wind less than 8 knots to get the most comfortable fishing experience.

Tide

Tide is probably the most important factor out of all. Both high tide and low tide can be good for fishing if you pick the right spot. During high tides, it pulls fish closer to the shoreline making high tide ideal for fishing on a pier or inside a harbor. And during low tide, shorelines expand as the water level lowers, making you able to stand on them and reach further places, which is perfect for places like river mouth and the drops on the beach. Fishing during incoming tides can be as equally productive as during the highs and the lows. During the incoming high tide the fish are moving into the harbour or shallower waters and for incoming low tide the fish are leaving. By fishing right on the entrance of the harbor or the rivermouth, you can “intercept” them when the tide is changing.

Moon Phase

Moon Phases connect directly with tides. When the illumination is closer to 0% or 100%, it will produce greater tide swing, meaning there will be higher high tide and lower low tide. The amount of moon illumination determines the concentration of fish during the time of day. When the moon is full, it brightens the water, making the fish easier to feed at night which makes higher illumination perfect for night fishing. But that doesn’t mean the new moon is inferior, because since there will be no moonlight at night, all the fish have to come out to feed during daytime, so there will be more fish activities during the day, so in conclusion Full moon for fishing in sunset and beyond and new moon for fishing during day time.