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How to predict the best time and day to go fishing?

Posted: August 21st, 2012, 10:18 am
by DEADLYMNM7
Hello Veteran fishermen
I enjoy saltwater fishing, mainly on St. George Island and off the old bridge.
I try to plan ahead what days I will go to St George and what time.
What do you use to predict the best time /day to go fishing?
Do you recommend any websites?
Please let me know
Always, thanks for the help!

Re: How to predict the best time and day to go fishing?

Posted: August 21st, 2012, 10:45 am
by Badbagger
A good read and I've found this pretty accurate: http://www.theonlinefisherman.com/how-t ... nar-tables

Re: How to predict the best time and day to go fishing?

Posted: August 21st, 2012, 10:49 am
by silverking
That's an easy one. The best time and day to go is anytime you can!

To skew the odds of success, however, a combination of tides, moon and feeding times are good indicators. You'll find most of that information here, along with other fishing-related sites like saltwatersportsman.com or sportfishingmag.com. The Tallahassee Democrat also publishes solunar tables every Friday in the Outdoors section with predicted peak feeding times. There are also apps for smart phones with the same information. I've got one by iSolunar for my iPhone that has turned out to be very accurate.

If I have my druthers, I like to go on new moon periods which have strong tidal flow and peak feeding times, with sea conditions smooth to a light chop and a very light breeze out of the southwest. But if none of those conditions work out, I always resort to the first recommendation--Anytime you can!

Good luck.

Re: How to predict the best time and day to go fishing?

Posted: August 22nd, 2012, 12:08 am
by DEADLYMNM7
Thank you so much for the reply!
Speaking of apps, I have a Android phone.
Do you have any apps to recommend for fishing?

Re: How to predict the best time and day to go fishing?

Posted: August 22nd, 2012, 5:55 am
by SS-342
Some say you need to go three days in a row. You know what THEY say: The fish bite the day before or the day after so three days would cover everything!

I go when I can!

Go early and stay late.

Thanks for a good question.

Re: How to predict the best time and day to go fishing?

Posted: August 22nd, 2012, 6:02 am
by tallykenj
silverking wrote:That's an easy one. The best time and day to go is anytime you can!
True, so true.

Re: How to predict the best time and day to go fishing?

Posted: August 22nd, 2012, 8:11 am
by BeachRum1962
Badbagger wrote:A good read and I've found this pretty accurate: http://www.theonlinefisherman.com/how-t ... nar-tables

It is a good read, but there are some problems with the article as I pointed out here:

http://www.bigbendfishing.net/phpBB3/vi ... =1&t=30816

Re: How to predict the best time and day to go fishing?

Posted: August 22nd, 2012, 8:16 am
by Chalk
Barometer is your friend - moving is good....moving down is better....high is not good.

Spent a lot of time looking at all things together - tide, moon, sun, etc...all mean nothing if the barometer is sky high

Re: How to predict the best time and day to go fishing?

Posted: August 22nd, 2012, 8:48 am
by Gulf Coast
Chalk wrote:Barometer is your friend - moving is good....moving down is better....high is not good.

Spent a lot of time looking at all things together - tide, moon, sun, etc...all mean nothing if the barometer is sky high
Spot on :thumbup: :thumbup:

Re: How to predict the best time and day to go fishing?

Posted: August 22nd, 2012, 9:52 am
by Bullet
We kept a log for a few years. We noted moon, tides (times & height/change), sunrise, sunset, wind conditions, as well as a couple of other condtions we sometimes consider pertinent. It helped us determine the optimal times to plan a 3 or 4 day fishing trip.

I also like going fishing whenever I can go but the log really helped us be more succesful on the catching side of things.

Now that Chalk has thrown another variable into the mix (barometric pressure), it may scale back our fishing days to twice per year. :wink:

Re: How to predict the best time and day to go fishing?

Posted: August 22nd, 2012, 10:55 am
by Beukeboom
The best time to fish is when I ain't there. They stop biting as soon as I show up. :lol:

Re: How to predict the best time and day to go fishing?

Posted: August 22nd, 2012, 11:11 am
by Rainman
Where are you getting the barometer readings? Any good websites or apps?

Regarding feed times:
For the Andriod user, check out Time2Fish it is a great app and I find it to be quite accurate.

Re: How to predict the best time and day to go fishing?

Posted: August 22nd, 2012, 12:44 pm
by Salty Gator
Chalk wrote:Barometer is your friend - moving is good....moving down is better....high is not good.

Spent a lot of time looking at all things together - tide, moon, sun, etc...all mean nothing if the barometer is sky high

Growing up in SE bama. I heard if the cows were laying down, don't even get the rods out of the truck. I heard the cows laid down when the pressure was high. I always look at a cowherd if I pass one on my way to fish and it seems to hold pretty true. Does anyone know if there is truth to this?

Re: How to predict the best time and day to go fishing?

Posted: August 22nd, 2012, 1:52 pm
by Gulf Coast
I always heard that if they were laying down it was going to rain ( low pressure )

Re: How to predict the best time and day to go fishing?

Posted: August 22nd, 2012, 2:58 pm
by FUTCHCAIRO
IF THE COWS ARE LAYING DOWN, THE FISH ARE NOT BITING, IF THE COWS ARE UP AND FEEDING SO ARE THE FISH.
PA
SEMPER FI
GUARANTEED