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General => General Topwater & Jigging Discussion => Topic started by: Stan Konstantaras on May 23, 2009, 11:17:44 AM
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Guys,
Any advice on what roles the moon phases play when trying to select a time to chase GTs in New Cal?
Cheers
stan
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I have been told by a few people (Damon Olsen and LPB) that they tend to come on the bite in the lead up to the full moon, then go quiet right on the full and for a few days following
But..we were there in the lead up to the full and they were not on the chew much at all
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Cheers Scott,
Most fish tend to do the same.
cheers
stan
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Lead up towards the full moon is generally good,same as snapper fishing..GTs i have caught in all diff moon phases but the lead up is always the best..Only times i have found it quiet is around the middle,then the bite time comes back on roughly around 3pm till just befor dark,some stages we have raised big fish at the middle of the day and have hooked them,but it depends on the weather i guess..A mate was recently in the solomons and caught GTs till about half hour after full dark..All on Poppers,some of the strikes he said were not even 20ft from the back of the boat..
Yellowfin love the new moon and full moon..
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New caledonia we have found some big fish threw the middle of the day!! :)
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like anywhere else, NC fishes well during big tides although it doesn't have the tidal movements we're used to here. That said, I think the wind is probably the most important factor there. If you are there over a big tide and you have the Alyzee blowing around 10-15 knots, that's the dream scenario ;D
When conditions are really flat, it's bloody hard work there trying to raise fish.
I just pray for a good wind when I'm there! Anyway, still seven weeks to go.
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I have been told by a few people (Damon Olsen and LPB) that they tend to come on the bite in the lead up to the full moon, then go quiet right on the full and for a few days following
But..we were there in the lead up to the full and they were not on the chew much at all
Where we fish over here in WA I have found that the lead up to the full doesn't have enough tidal movement to really get them excited. The few days following the full moon when the tide is at it's biggest is when we've had the most success. That said, we've had some awesome sessions on the neap with only 1cm of tidal movement!
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I have been told by a few people (Damon Olsen and LPB) that they tend to come on the bite in the lead up to the full moon, then go quiet right on the full and for a few days following
But..we were there in the lead up to the full and they were not on the chew much at all
Well hopefully you're wrong :D We've got our Nomad trip coming up and it's planned for the 2 days leading up to full and two days after - don't know why they'd schedule a trip for then if it's supposed to be quite?
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Jesus, that's as good a time to be out there as you can pick, Travis!
I think you can only ever give yourself the best chance you can and on this tide, you're doing that. Fish simply aren't that predictable in their behaviour. Over the past few years though, I've found both Bugatti and Shoalwater to be downright weird with the tide and current. The first year I was at Shoalwater (George was there too), the tide and current were awesome, just unbelievable. Since then, I've been back over what was supposed to be a full moon with a huge tide and we didn't see much run. Bugatti always has huge tides so it's hard to tell but the current seems to vary a bit. ???
I don't know what it is with GTs that swithes them on and off. Two years ago, we had a session right on the bottom of the tide at Bugatti when they were more agressive than I've ever seen them. There would have been zero tidal movement at that time. I've sen this a few times in different places but that session was unbelievable.
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Good to hear Brandon! ;D
I totally agree. I have been starting to keep a diary of our fishing trips lately, it records ambient temp, water temp, tide times, tide movement, moon phase, weather conditions, daily rainfall, wind speed and directions at 9am and 3pm, 9am and 3pm air pressures, 5 day air pressure trends, relative humidity, water clarity, location and the times of any fish action or captures....it's in it's infant stages but i'm slowly accumulating data.
Just when you think you start to see a trend emerging you get a session that completely writes your new theory off! It is really difficult to put your finger on it.
In regards to the moon phases the diary shows three good trips in the lead up to full (6, 3 and 2 days before), a mediocre trip 2 days before full, a good trip 2 days before half moon and two terrible trips (on half moon and day before half moon). I don't think this helps you though Stan as that not in New Cal ;)
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One thing I can say is that water temperature doesn't seem to be a big factor with GTs. I've had great sessions in everything from very warm water conditions to relatively cool. This of course is the opposite to doggies that seem to switch off completely once it gets cool.
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like anywhere else, NC fishes well during big tides although it doesn't have the tidal movements we're used to here. That said, I think the wind is probably the most important factor there. If you are there over a big tide and you have the Alyzee blowing around 10-15 knots, that's the dream scenario ;D
When conditions are really flat, it's bloody hard work there trying to raise fish.
I just pray for a good wind when I'm there! Anyway, still seven weeks to go.
Brendon,are you heading over to New cal in a few weeks ??
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Hi Nate - no, it's still about seven weeks to go. I wish it was a few weeks!
It is just before the middle of July. I think I need to go fishing badly......... :D
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I subscribe to fishing the new and full moons. Lead-up preferable but anytime around these periods usually produces results as they coincide with bigger tidal influences and stronger currents. There will always be sessions that don't product results and go against the grain - that is simply fishing.
I also believe that variable weatherconditions such as wind and swell will always have great effect on the "bite" as well. GT tend to be more timid and cautious during conditions of no wind, whereas moderate wind conditions seem more conducive for feeding, particularly for larger GT. It's obvious to see that the more turbulent conditions make the GT less spooky and provide for an ideal scenario to hunt prey.
Weather pattern consistancy is also a very big key in my books for success. Highly variable weather patterns and conditions during a trip, jumping from one extreme to another can be quite common in the tropics - unfortunately, it seems to me to be very counterproductive. Better to have consistant weather in general - whatever that weather may be.
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Hi Nate - no, it's still about seven weeks to go. I wish it was a few weeks!
It is just before the middle of July. I think I need to go fishing badly......... :D
not to worry Brandon, the time will fly and before you know it you will be there getting stuck right into the monster's. :) :)
I can remember waiting ages to go to New Cal and before i knew it we were on the plane on our way.
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...GT tend to be more timid and cautious during conditions of no wind, whereas moderate wind conditions seem more conducive for feeding, particularly for larger GT. It's obvious to see that the more turbulent conditions make the GT less spooky and provide for an ideal scenario to hunt prey.
I only disagree in that if you take the rough conditions thing too far then in big/heavy seas the poppers just dont have enough presence to get the fishes interest I think. To that end though I think some moderate wave action is definitely beneficial and won't kill the lures attraction/action, add in low light/cloudy conditions as well though and I think that provides the extra cover that will bring the bigger fish to the surface to hunt.
Weather pattern consistancy is also a very big key in my books for success. Highly variable weather patterns and conditions during a trip, jumping from one extreme to another can be quite common in the tropics - unfortunately, it seems to me to be very counterproductive. Better to have consistant weather in general - whatever that weather may be.
That's an interesting one Luke. I keep records of the 5 days previous Air Pressure but not general weather conditions. Definitely food for thought.
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This raises another question I've had for some time and I probably should start another thread on it.
What exactly can GTs see from below during rough conditions on the surface? The reason I ask this question is I used to fish with a friend who loves using pencils (well, he couldn't fish chuggers that well either) and he used them in any conditions, including really rough water such as casting them into washes and into three metre seas.
The thing is, he used to still catch fish! It used to amaze me when he'd cast the pencil into foaming white water and hook up. Obviously, the fish can still see the lure?
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...GT tend to be more timid and cautious during conditions of no wind, whereas moderate wind conditions seem more conducive for feeding, particularly for larger GT. It's obvious to see that the more turbulent conditions make the GT less spooky and provide for an ideal scenario to hunt prey.
I only disagree in that if you take the rough conditions thing too far then in big/heavy seas the poppers just dont have enough presence to get the fishes interest I think. To that end though I think some moderate wave action is definitely beneficial and won't kill the lures attraction/action, add in low light/cloudy conditions as well though and I think that provides the extra cover that will bring the bigger fish to the surface to hunt.
Hi Travis,
The only thing I take into account is the safety issues present when fishing such conditions, other than that I say let her ride baby!
I've had some of my most productive big fish sessions in such conditions. I am sure there would be loss of visibility as discussed but this is what the GT thrives on - I guess it's debatable as to whether this is harder work for the GT but my results conclude that they are very active during these conditions, and what a better time to hunt? Yes it is harder and more taxing to get the popper working in these conditions, but definitely possible - all about technique and timing. If anything, this added movement of water and current will help to keep the popper looking natural rather than causing a spook in terms of the angler waiting or taxing on a wave crest to pass before working the lure.
GTs spend plenty of time in the washes holding in schools or feeding so they must be using that environment to their advantage. The popper and action itself must be giving a different sound and vibration signature to that of the waves that the fish also home in on - nothing new....salmon, tailor, kingfish will easily sniper a stickbait or popper that can barely be seen by the naked eye in the wash of southern bommies and ledges. It's uncanny I acknowledge but they definitely are aware of an intruder or potential prey when millpond conditions will rarely initiate a strike.
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Travis,
I'm with you, big tides to help the fishing, small waves to help the fisherman.
Our area is pretty different to most being deep rocky stuff rather than coral reef. A calm day against the big headlands still has plenty of surface movement, a rough day and I'm not leaving port! I also wonder if our local lack of water clarity overcomes shyness on calm days. Most of the GT's are in water with say 3 to 5m visibility, no more.
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I have seen bigger tides (full or new) preform the best.
During these times, on the East Coast of OZ, a big tide + a pressure build up from the SE has generally produced outstanding results.
The chop associated with a SE'erly of up to a fishable 20kn in open waters causes enough messy chop to make big GEE's hunt without fear.
Most good GT spots are rough from wind against current, that I like to fish.
Fishing the coming change combined with big tides is about as good as it gets.
I have seen in areas of the Coral Sea where even big tides + wind have no positive effect due to high (29 degree +) water. It pushes the bait and therefore the GT's into deeper water and generally, out of popper & stick bait range.
Glass-outs are worse in the middle of a tropical Aussie Summer from what I have seen.....only a good dose of wind aerating (and cooling) SE'ers helps..
Yep......its more than just water movement that needs looking at.....
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Once again there are no hard and fast rules, when I fished Otter reef NQ its was about as glassed out as it can get and hot!! Fusiler schools could be seen from hundreds of meters away and the GT action was great! Visibility was also great, could see the sandy bottom in 10m of water.
Have to admit tho it was just after a weather change and also around a full moon. Cant remember what size the tides were but there wasnt much water movement.
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I think I can summarise this thread,
There are things we know we know...
There are thing we know we don't know...
and there are things we don't know that we don't know!!!
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I think I can summarise this thread,
There are things we know we know...
There are thing we know we don't know...
and there are things we don't know that we don't know!!!
:D
How true.
It comes down to the sea conditions for me, if its calm enough to get out and back safe Ill go fishing no matter what the other variables are ;)
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I think I can summarise this thread,
There are things we know we know...
There are thing we know we don't know...
and there are things we don't know that we don't know!!!
Thanks Donald Rumsfeld! ;D