Barometric pressure and fishing

[Raven]

[thankyou for your kindness and consideration slapshot ]
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of info :when the barometric pressure is high, it pushes the plankton down. Baitfish then have to be deeper...... so you fish deeper and slower

[slapshot]

Some great info here. I have heard that the fish move deeper in a high pressure situation, I need to look into that. Keep em coming!

[Ed B]

I do not believe that fish in salt water coastal environment are sensitive to a barometric pressure change by itself. If you look at the amount of pressure fluctuation that accompanies a major frontal system, it is minimal compared to the amount of fluctuation in pressure that accompanies vertical movement of the fish in the water column, as well as pressure fluctuations due to waves and tide fluctuation.

What I do believe is that the fish, baitfish and plankton are sensitive to the changing ocean conditons that accompany atmospheric frontal systems (like wind, wave direction and height, temperature fluctuation, mixing of the water column wind driven currents etc). Barometric pressure is just one of the changing variables that are associated with these frontal systems but the other variables probably have a bigger impact on the response of the food chain.

I do believe what has been stated that in general fish will often move deeper with a higher pressure front that has moved in, but not because of the pressure, but IMO it is because of the other changing events associated with the new frontal system.

Ed

[Krispy]

Barometric pressure effects evrything around us, from the tides to our bodies.
I have heard both ends, high pressure pushes plakton down, where baitfish and prey follow. Or low pressure allows fish bladders to expand, so they move into a deeper water column to equalize the pressure.
Both sound plausible, and I think everyone has experienced exceptional fishes either before or after a front moves in or leaves.
So.... I have no idea what that means

[Bronko]

I had my best day ever right before a major summer storm/hurricane moved in years ago. The front end of the storm was amazing fishing as was the tail end before a high pressure system filled in behind the low. I have targeted a couple of weather patterns like this in the recent past and have noticed a similiar pattern. If its not something you have targeted in the past, it is something you should try this season. We can all compare notes in the fall.

[RIROCKHOUND]

Ed..
I think you hit it on the head.. not bad for an engineer
I think it's a cummulitive effect of the conditions, and what that triggers in the fish as to what they should eat, where they should go etc..
Then again what do I know I'm a dirt and rocks guy

[PaulS]

I agree w/Ed. Read an article about this - Pressure at the surface is 1 atmosphere, equal to the weight of all the above air. At 32.8 feet below, pressure is 2 atmospheres. Normal barometric pressure is about 30 inches. Strong pressure is about 32.7 inches. A hurricane can drop it to 28 or so. The difference of 2.7 inches of barometric pressure is about equal to .09 atmospheres. That’s equivalent to a fish moving up the water column 3.28 feet! The pressure in the ocean is much greater (about 800 times) than atmospheric pressure.

[bassnbear]

Just want to give a quick Hello to you guys since I'm a newbie to the site. I like topics like this so I figured I'd make it my first post. Like the site and hope to contribute something useful. anyway.................

I agree with Raven...The smaller the organism, the more affected it is by barometric pressure. It's not the fact that fish higher in the food chain are affected ( though they are ), the bigger factor is that their food is. Stripers seem to zip their mouths during high pressure because since the food is not active or has left the area searching for their own dinner, they lower their activity to preserve energy stores until the bait comes back and it is more feasible to expend energy when it can easily be replenished and stored to a greater capacity than before. Stripers will still hit when given the opportunity, they just won't chase as much. This is why slow and low techniques work so well at this time for fish that don't follow the bait to deeper water.

[Plug]

Some good info here but there is an exception to the passing of the front/rising barometer/hard NW wind = lousy fishing.

In the fall, deepwater inlets that empty shallow back bays can be phenomenal under those conditions.

The NW wind brings cold air and the short chop that develops on the back bays cools the water very quickly. This either moves bait to the warmer, more stable water of the inlet or it flushes the bait out of the back bay on into the ocean and on towards its fall migration. I've seen IRI choke with mullet, spot and 'nuts during those times.

Give me a snot s#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&' blue norther in mid-fall and I'll have good fishing.