Solunar Tables
Why are they important?

Article by: Andy Popham

The fact is that the moon does have an influence on the earth and it's life forms. Its over head and it's underfoot positions generate the tides each day and it even lifts the earth's crust a whole foot or so each day. A human baby's time from conception to birth is exactly 9 lunar months, and its a fact that more of us are born during the new moon and full moon phase than any other phase. A study done by Dr. Frank A. Brown a biologist from N.W.University who had live oysters flew in to his lab in Chicago. Oysters open their shells each night with the high tide. Dr. Brown wanted to see if this was due to the change in ocean levels or from a force from the moon itself. He put them in water and removed them from all sun light. For the first week they continued to open their shells with the hight tides from their ocean home. But by the 2nd week they had adjusted their shell openings to when the moon was directly overhead or directly underfoot in Chicago.

Many predatory fish have eyes that adjust to changes in light faster than their prey's eyes. This means that most gamefish know from experience that they can catch baitfish more easily at dawn and dusk, the two key solar periods. Fish like most other wildlife including humans, are directly influenced by lunar phases and lunar possitions. More than three-forths of the record gamefish are caught within three day's before, three days after, or during a new moon or a full moon. That is why many anglers buy calendars that show moon phases.

The moons gravitational pull seems to directly affect gamefish appetites. When the moon is directly overhead it creates the highest tide of the day (called a "spring tide") and for some reason it makes fish active and hungry. When the moon is directly underfoot of your location it creates the second high tide of the day (called a "neap tide") it also makes fish hungry. These moon positions influence fresh water fish as well as ocean fish. Fish are also influenced by weather and by barometric pressure. When the weather man talks about high or low pressure moving in they are talking about barometric pressure. Fish are more active during periods of low pressure and less active during periods of high pressure. If its hot and muggy with very few clouds, its a high pressure period and the fish will be less active. If its getting colder, clouds are moving in,, or its starting to rain or snow, it's a low pressure period and the fish will probably be more active. It goes without saying that if there are no fish present you will not be successful. But if you want to catch more and bigger fish plan your day's on the water so that you are where the fish are most likely to be during the peak of the Solunar Periods.

We hope that we have been able to improve your understanding of the Solunar Theory-and how you can use it to improve your angling success.

But always remember... the best time to go fishing is whenever you can!

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