I'd say 3 days either side of full, generally pretty bright. any other opinions?

I look at the tide charts for that period and consider the moon related tides more than the actual full moon event.

I look at the tide charts for that period and consider the moon related tides more than the actual full moon event.

I'm not sure I understand what your saying. I was thinking more along the lines of if you don't like fishing full moon... what span of days around the full moon do you consider bad.

I look at the tide charts for that period and consider the moon related tides more than the actual full moon event.


Right. I don't think it's so much the glow of the moon, but the tide, and the pull of the water. And the affect the full moon has on the bite.

Right. I don't think it's so much the glow of the moon, but the tide, and the pull of the water. And the affect the full moon has on the bite.

Well then riddle me this... why is the new moon generally better than the full?

There was no night this weekend....the moon was so bright it was daytime. I didn't even need a head lamp.

Bring on the new moon baby! :lasso:

I'll vote for 4or 5 days before and after dead full. Never did really well during that period save for a few good bright nights in mid to late Fall or , of course, if it is over cast and stormy. My theory about good fishing on dark nights is simply that bass are more prone to hunt inshore during COMPLETE darkness -- the darker the better.

I don't think the new moon has the "pull" that the full has. I believe this pull affects how the fish react and feed.

I don't think the new moon has the "pull" that the full has. I believe this pull affects how the fish react and feed.


Sometimes less sometimes more. ie, June and Jully had greater pull during the new moon. August has greater pull during the full.

I agree Jimmy Z, but from my experience(s) over 35 years in the surf, bright moon lite nights are no where near as good as those moonless periods. I feel so strongly about this that I rarely go fishing when the moon is so bright that I don't need a neck light.

I don't think the new moon has the "pull" that the full has. I believe this pull affects how the fish react and feed.

It probably has more to do with the moon's distance from the earth (apogee and perigee) than where it is in relation to the sun. Two objects pulling in the same direction (new moon), or two objects pulling 180 degrees apart (full moon)--which pulls harder on the ocean surface? Seems to me that on a common sense basis, the new moon should have a stronger pull, all else being equal. But given that the moon's distance from the earth can vary by tens of thousands of miles during its orbit, I'd say the answer is that some months the full moon tides run harder, and some months the new moon tides run harder

Depends where your fishing and at what stage of the moons yearly cycle in it's orbit is in. At certain times of the year the moon is closer to the earth than at others. The closer the moon the more effect on tides (minus, double minus etc.)

Where you have dunes or high cliffs such as on the outer Cape at Wellfleet and Truro or the cliffs at Block Island you can fish the shadow lines where once the moon though full, drops in back and creates a lione of shadow and darkness where the fish will come into feed, less wary of the brightness and the long shadows cast into the water by surfcasters who stand to close in.

Also, on island beaches where the fish have no real fear of close proximity to the shore because humans do not frolic by day in the water or dwellings etc are not right on the shore, basically un-inhabited shores with tough access, the fish are not "shore shy".

The Elizabeth Islands come to mind or certain shore lines on Fisher's Island for example and alas, before seals, Monomoy Island. We had banner nights in the 70's under full moons on that island with white plugs like Gibbs large bottle plugs, light pink was a good second choice.

I fished a local beach under the growing moon every night last week, working the jettys as I went, white needles. As the moon got bigger and brighter each night the fishing got better. Thursday night the place was a 1/2 mile of bass and bait. The place is sparsly populated and if you don't have permission to park, your out of luck as to access. You hardly see anyone on these beaches between the jetties in the day and many times when in my skiff in the daytime it's not unusual to see a lone swimmer and fifty feet away a pod of bass.

Full moons can be productive but it's all depends on the right combination of shoreline structure and the relative remoteness of those shores.

The brightness of the moon when full works against us but the very high and low tides mean more current , etc and that is good for fishing. I think the new moon is better for stripers than the full moon because then you have darkness and the extra high and low tides.

Also remember that when its cloudy , you get the benefits of the full moon without the spotlight affect.

I guess 3 days before and after sounds about right for what I would call a full moon night, although in truth I don't count the days, and just note that I don't need a flashlight to bike to my spots at night.

I don't consider it at all.

If its shining I fish shadow lines and if its overcast I just fish.