March 19 2011 - the lunar perigree

[Mark Harris]

There is a fair bit of (very) woolly science and astrology-babble flying around about the lunar perigree on March 19th.

In case any of you have missed this, a lunar perigree (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apsis) occurs when a full moon is unusually close to earth. Tomorrow's will apparently be closer than at any time since 1996. So there is an increased effect of the normal magnetic forces associated with a full moon. That should equal higher high tides, lower low tides and stronger currents.

It struck me that this could be an especially good time to be fishing for GTs. I will certainly be out throwing lures into the spin cycle currents tomorrow.  Anyone else planning?  It could be very interesting to see if results during this phenomenon are notable in any way.

[Jay Burgess]

Hi Mark, interesting read, hopefully will be heading down to Ningaloo Reef here in WA for a few days popping. Personally I much prefer a new moon for popping but still definitely worth a crack. My tide chart shows the most tidal movement around tuesday next week so aiming to get down there on Monday at this stage.

[David Noble]

Not to mention plenty of nut jobs running around like lunatics.. 

With a life cycle governed by the moon I'm sure the potential impact of this on fish activity is too important not to exploit.  Let us know your results!

[Mark Harris]

Good luck at Ningaloo Jay. A place I have dived and to my shame, not fished .  Full Moon and just after seems to provide better fishing more often than the New Moon cycle up here.

Sure David,  nut jobs everywhere!  Trying to cut through all that and look at the science.  Logically, extreme tide levels and the strongest of strong currents = all the right things. Locally here, we also have a very convenient mid morning high tide time, and wave direction running opposite to the forecast surface winds. Can't think of a better set of circumstances really.

It will be interesting to see the results for sure.

[Travis Heaps]

Out and about today, 2 boated, 10 or so missed...same as a couple of weeks ago, slower actually.

[Mark Harris]

Cheers for that Travis.  Are moon cycles usually a big factor in your usual fishing spots?

[Travis Heaps]

Out again today, nothing out of the ordinary.  Mark, the tidal run is the important part so since that's so strongly linked to the moons then yeah our fishing is dependant on the moon phase I suppose.

[Ben Furness]

How did you fare today Mark?

[Sachin Chaudhry]

2 to 3 days out from the full moon has always got the biggest fish for me. Especially in the morning. YFT go nuts as well for surface lures.

[Mark Harris]

Well I set myself up for a fall right?    Bloody awful fishing, the worst full moon day for a long time.   2 little Wahoos and a Barracuda to show from the effort of 3 solid anglers.   1 missed GT strike, that was it.

We did notice a definite phenomenon though. There were FAR more baitfish at the surface than is usually the case, probably the most I  have ever seen at this site in Bali. Also truly huge numbers of schooling fish on the finder at depths of 10 to 25 metres. How all of that equals GTs refusing to come out to play beats me.

[Ben Furness]

Probably the same reason why I have to unbutton my belt and limp away from seafood smorgasbords! 

[Graham Scott]

Mark,

I agree with Ben....Maybe they still had room for sweets though?

I worry about the size of the tide rather than the particular moon phase. Lots of run needed for local spots, mid to neap tides further north towards Shoalwater Bay as a big tide up there is just too big and dirties the water too much....so we basically have somewhere to go every weekend....yeah!!!!

[Narc]

I'm more wary of low atmospheric pressure than the moon phases... personally

[Mark Harris]

I'm more wary of low atmospheric pressure than the moon phases... personally

I would agree with you there boss. Low or sharply falling pressure so often equals hard fishing.

At sites where getting GTs to the surface seems to be all about strong currents and high tidal range though, Full Moon and New Moon normally help a lot.

[Kaiser Pro Shop]

Hi Mark,

Check this out. Recent monster class GT caught by Fumio Suzuki in Bali.

This is a FISHERMAN advert in the current issue of Saltworld, the full report was in previous issue.

Huge! Captain is Pak Salin from Serangan Dive.

Tight lines
MarkR