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Wish I was on the water instead of sitting at home with a cast on...
With the new moon approaching on January 15, 07:11, I decided to post an article regarding fishing and moon phases. Enjoy.
Many anglers overlook the phases of the moon and the way that these phases affect the behavior of the fish. It's free and easy to pay a little bit of attention to the phases of the moon and then use this information to your advantage. In this article I'm going to discuss a little about this subject, so you have a better understanding of how you can use the moon to your advantage when it comes to fishing.
Understanding how fish adapt to changes in their environment allows an angler to better predict a fishes' movement and feeding. Finding out when a fish is feeding is what we're interested in, because that's when you have the best chance of catching said fish. You may know that almost all saltwater fishermen check the tides before they head out fishing. And it’s a great strategy because the tides do impact fishing, especially saltwater fishing. You do realize what causes the tides to change, don't you? That's right, the moon. The gravitational pull of the moon not only impacts the changing tides but is also pushing against some part of the earth at all times. Since water is more easily moved than the ground, water is lifted up towards the moon causing the tides to change. How high the high tide will rise, and how low the low tide may go is largely determined by the position of the moon.
The actual period of this entire cycle is 29.5 days. The cause of the phases below relate to the positions of the Sun, Earth, and Moon. The problem with many of the moon phase charts, which can be found in any hunting and fishing magazine, is the fact that they overcomplicate all of this stuff and make you feel as if you have to have an engineering degree from Harvard to use them! Most anglers rarely find any consistent correlation to their success in these magazines. I'm going to show you how simple all of this information can really be, once you understand it.
The 2 phases of the moon that we as anglers really need to concern ourselves with is the New Moon and the Full Moon. The New Moon phase is when the moon isn't actually visible, and the Full Moon is well a full moon (when the moon is entirely visible). The most important times are the three to four day period that coincides with either the Full or New Moon. That is, the three to four day period around which these two phases of the Moon occur. These are the 2 times during the month when the fish will be most active.
This article gives you a very basic understanding of the phases of the moon and how those phases affect fishing, although it's definitely enough information to get you started. Not only started, but catching more fish as well. Simply focusing your fishing efforts on the three or four days around which either a full or new moon occur will have a dramatic effect on your catch rates.
When angling for bottom fish, grouper fishing is the most popular sport fishing in the western hemisphere. Because there are so many different types of grouper, fishing for them can be good all the way from the New England states, through the Gulf of Mexico, and down to Brazil. You'll find red, yellowfin, black, gag, and Warsaw grouper to choose from along many coastal regions, and it's rare that there is no abundance of the species. However, beware of the strength and cunning of these fish.
First, you must know a little about bottom fishing, and then plentiful grouper fishing opportunities will follow. Start with a fifty-pound test monofilament line. This will handle just about any grouper that you can possibly encounter. Anything larger becomes a hassle and is also a bit too visible to your target fish. Use a terminal tackle - a sinker, leader, and hook configured with a bank sinker on the end of the leader and a 12-inch-long loop tied abut 18 inches up from there onto which the hook is tied.
When grouper fishing, it is also wise to understand the habits of the grouper. These fish are commonly found around bottom structures of almost any kind, though they do have preferences, especially in certain areas. For example, in southern Florida, grouper fishing will be most productive around the tropical coral reefs. In the northern shores of the state, you'll find grouper in and around bottom ledges, as well as in artificial reefs and wreckage. The like shelter and a place to hide, and though you might think differently because of their name, grouper are very solitary fish, especially the larger ones.
Though you might find that grouper fishing can be accomplished through waiting for the fish to chase the bait, this is most often not the best tactic. Grouper prefer to ambush their prey as it passes over their hiding places. Because the grouper can change its coloration to match the hues of its surroundings, much like a chameleon, they blend in easily and have an advantage over unsuspecting prey. However, their tendency to rush the bait makes grouper fishing a simple task in terms of hooking a fish, though a bit difficult in terms of actually landing the catch.
Grouper fishing is best accomplished by using bait that is natural to the grouper's feeding habits. In open waters, grouper feed on other smaller fish, crabs, crawfish, other small crustaceans, and squid. Most of the time, you will find grouper waiting in a hole or under a ledge until an easy catch comes by, at which time they will attack, eat quickly, and return to the shelter. Free-lining live bait, straight bottom fishing, and slow trolling are the most successful approaches to grouper fishing, with trolling being the best option for the Gulf of Mexico.
Dan Eggertsen is a fishing researcher and enthusiast who is committed to providing the best saltwater fishing information possible. Get more information on grouper fishing here: http://www.asksaltwaterfishing.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daniel_Eggertsen
When you embark on any kind of trip or
excursion, you'll need some sort of expert information in order to
prepare yourself for the trials and tribulations you may experience
along the way. Of all the various things you can do, leaving for a trip
without saltwater fishing tips could be devastating, leaving you
without any knowledge of the best techniques and locations so that your
trip is fruitless. However, if you equip yourself with tips prior to
setting sail out to sea, you'll have a great time and return home with
an incredible catch.
Start by choosing the type of fish you wish to target. For example,
let's say that you are looking for redfish. These are found readily
along the Gulf Coast in the Gulf of Mexico. These beasts enjoy the
shallows, so you won't need to target deep waters. In fact, before
going out, you may want to find an extremely shallow bottom boat so that
you can float the marshy areas close to the shore, looking for redfish
lying near the surface of these waters
Other tips refer specifically to striped bass. If you are targeting these popular saltwater fish, you may want to plan a trip to
Chesapeake Bay in Virginia in the early or mid spring. They tend to
gather here after a long winter further south, near Florida, to spawn
and then head north as far as Maine, making the New England states another great location to
fish for striped bass.
Some tips reflect mainly on technique for catching a specific type of
fish. For example, consider for a moment the flounder. These flat fish
like to stay close to the bottom of the sea or ocean in which they are
residing and park themselves usually near underwater structures such as
reefs and sunken wreckages. Flounder also prefer cooler temperatures,
so you'll find that most saltwater tips for catching flounder will
direct you away from warmer climates like Florida and further north
where the waters stay cooler. Most tips found on flounder will also
recommend mullet as bait, with mud minnows and live shrimp being the best backup.
You may find tips on the best locations to produce fish in general
without targeting a specific species. For example, in the winter, when
fishing is not as easy or productive, most tips will point anglers to
warmer areas, such as the Gulf of Mexico or the Atlantic Ocean south
down near Florida for the best catch available. This is because many
saltwater species migrate down to the warmer waters to wait out the cold
prior to returning to their natural habitats for spawning in the
spring.
About the Author
Dan Eggertsen is a fishing researcher and enthusiast who is commited to providing the best saltwater fishing information possible. Get more information on saltwater fishing tips here: http://www.asksaltwaterfishing.com
(ArticlesBase SC #228078)
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Sure-Fire Saltwater Fishing Tips For Ocean Anglers
Tags: fishing boating moon fishing advice catching grouper fishing tactics fishing saltwater tips shrimp redfish flounder
