Barometric pressure and fishing

[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.

[t.orlando]

I try to always fish when the pressure is dropping and a front is coming. Seems like they do go crazy for whatever reason.

[Mike P]

Some of the best nights I ever had on the Vineyard were associated with passing fronts. Before the front passes, you have a very strong SW flow. As the front moves in, the fishing can explode. I usually retreat to the truck when lightning (often associated with an oncoming cold front in summer and early fall) moves in, then directly after the front passes, while the water is still roiled from the strong SW, the fishing is often right where I left it for an hour or three. However, once high pressure builds and the wind swings around to the N or NW, it just dies. Is it pressure-related, or due to the wind shift flattening the rip and killing the movement of the water--who knows But that's an observation based on what I've seen happen an awful lot.

[CowHunter]

Barometric Pressure definately effects fish...As far as winds and tides go...I am just about ALWAYS fishing wind with tide, boat or surf. I usually travel a long ways to fish so I have to pick and choose the areas with the best conditions for me and my best shot at some cows, them little tweeners dont interest me much, but then agian those are my prefferences.

[bassmaster]

Originally Posted by Mike P

Some of the best nights I ever had on the Vineyard were associated with passing fronts. Before the front passes, you have a very strong SW flow. As the front moves in, the fishing can explode. I usually retreat to the truck when lightning (often associated with an oncoming cold front in summer and early fall) moves in, then directly after the front passes, while the water is still roiled from the strong SW, the fishing is often right where I left it for an hour or three. However, once high pressure builds and the wind swings around to the N or NW, it just dies. Is it pressure-related, or due to the wind shift flattening the rip and killing the movement of the water--who knows But that's an observation based on what I've seen happen an awful lot.

damn skippy.......
I follow the barometric pressure and some great fishing can be had , i like around 29.7
when the pressure goes up the fish go down so a boat is a good thing to have But at other times I have got alot of fish with the pressure up.
any way I have my sweet spot for catching fish. and dnothing beats a front moving in and fishing stormy weather.
some of You boat guys may know that the bones chow hard as a squall moves in,
alot of nuances are involved and alot comes from exp on the water. some nights all can be just right yet no fish only to find them on the other side of the tide or another beach yet at the same time that high front can shut down all the beaches. and thats when its time to hit up the bays and estuarys to take a look.
another point for some of You, in a full moon, bays are usually holding fish busting on top or slapping sand eels.
Here are the top plugs that will catch
1.,,,.. yellow and white bomber ( you may swap out patterns and shades of yellow)

2,.,.,.. black and chrome bomber
the next few bombers are after these , pearl white or bone I have tricked out bombers that are hued pearl that scream they have there hooks hopped up to.
wood..
1.,,.,.,. 1 a yellow danny worked on top
2,., a yellow pike (John R knows this one from fishin with Me) worked on top
3.,.,. for needles I have some light colord ones , tsome colors I will tell You though for needles are white and variants of white and pink.
I toss a flesh colord needle and a yellow needle the most along with others
(hey I cant tell all)

FOR YOU EEL Guys.,.,.,.,.
whilt the eel is alive and spunky nail it down the throat or use a 3/8 rubber core above the swivel to get it down.
this is where the art begings as You want to keep the eel out there yet keep line control You want the only time You bring it in is when it hits the wash line. I find high pressure and or full moon or both this will land You fish.
as the eel calms down un weight it and toss it out and keep control, You want this thing on the bottom Yet moving at its own with out hindering the eel. agen" let the eel come in with the wash.
whats this got to do with barometric pressue.
ALOT!

[spence]

I know you can get the pressure info online, but I actually own a baragraph. It measures relative air pressure and records it on a rotating drum with red ink. But one component left over from when my grandparents used to sell all sorts of weather equipment. Perhaps I'll actually plug the thing in

-spence

[Raven]

great info .....especially about allowing the eel to chill out....first.