Full Moon Fishing

[santaman2000]

Well as I read the forecast yesterday morning (full moon, clear skies, calm winds, relatively cool weather of less than 70f) I thought to myself, "Perfect night for catfishing!" I sat out the bait to thaw and texted Barbara. Once we arrived at the lake two problems quickly became apparent:

1) I'd brought the lantern but had forgotten the fuel HOWEVER! The bright moonlight proved to be more than enough.

2) I'd thawed our leftover bait stash but it was mostly old shrimp and bacon rinds. (note to self: next time be sure we have an adequate supply of chicken livers or live crawfish) We did have just enough chicken livers for a few casts and at least Barbara caught a fiddler (a catfish bigg enough to eat but small enough it needs to be skinned, gutted, and fried whole as it's too small to fillet)

 

[Janne]

Cool. It is a toddler, but will be good eating anyway!

You are a lucky guy that your wife has the same interest as you have! I am blessed with that too.

 

[santaman2000]

Cool. It is a toddler, but will be good eating anyway!

You are a lucky guy that your wife has the same interest as you have! I am blessed with that too.

We aren't married but you're right; I'm a very lucky man.

 

[Janne]

Not many guys have a partner that is also a companion
You have it!

I hope she is a good cook too! How do you guys cook catfish? Breaded and fried?

 

[Big G]

Nice catch

Definitely affects the fishing on a full moon. Brings them on the feed = Hook up rates improve.

 

[santaman2000]

Not many guys have a partner that is also a companion
You have it!

I hope she is a good cook too! How do you guys cook catfish? Breaded and fried?

That's the traditional and most common (although we use cornmeal rather than a batter) Blackened is gaining popularity for fillets as is broiled (the modern health thing) Unfortunately I'll be the cook on this. LOL

 

[Dave]

Nice. Is that a 'thing' over there then? FullMoon Fishing? We have sea trout fishing which takes place at night around now, June

 

[Big G]

Nice. Is that a 'thing' over there then? FullMoon Fishing? We have sea trout fishing which takes place at night around now, June

Dave.. the different moon phases affect a fishes feeding habits : http://www.moonconnection.com/moon_phase_fishing.phtml

 

[santaman2000]

Nice. Is that a 'thing' over there then? FullMoon Fishing? We have sea trout fishing which takes place at night around now, June

Dave.. the different moon phases affect a fishes feeding habits : http://www.moonconnection.com/moon_phase_fishing.phtml

Exactly as Big G says. Particularly with nocturnal or semi-nocturnal species.

 

[santaman2000]

Some more photos from the lake that night:


Sundown Looking west)

Looking east waiting for moonrise

 

[Big G]

Nice lake! what other species is in there.

 

[Dave]

I see. Never been night fishing.

Ive fished before, all afternoon, not caught a thing, then waited by the river until it goes dark, then fished for an hour, with a little sherry spinner, and caught 7or 8 trout in the space of an hour.

 

[bobnewboy]

You should enter the photo comp

 

[santaman2000]

Nice lake! what other species is in there.

It's a man made lake; one of many on Florida State Forest land open to the public. This particular one has two public campgrounds on it (one on the north shore where we were fishing, and one on the south shore) both of which were empty that night (it was a weeknight)Other species include Large Mouth Bass, assorted varieties of sunfish (Blue Gills, Red Perch, Bream, etc.) Eels, Alligators, assorted freshwater turtles, and various snakes and baitfish. Like all public lakes, the State Forest Service periodically restocks it with the more desirable game fish (Bass) and Catfish.

 

[santaman2000]

You should enter the photo comp

Thanks for the generous compliment but alas, they're Barbara's photos, not mine.

 

[santaman2000]

I see. Never been night fishing.

Ive fished before, all afternoon, not caught a thing, then waited by the river until it goes dark, then fished for an hour, with a little sherry spinner, and caught 7or 8 trout in the space of an hour.

Yep. Dusk and Dawn are usually good.

 

[Big G]

It's a man made lake; one of many on Florida State Forest land open to the public. This particular one has two public campgrounds on it (one on the north shore where we were fishing, and one on the south shore) both of which were empty that night (it was a weeknight)Other species include Large Mouth Bass, assorted varieties of sunfish (Blue Gills, Red Perch, Bream, etc.) Eels, Alligators, assorted freshwater turtles, and various snakes and baitfish. Like all public lakes. The State Forest Service periodically restocks it with the more desirable game fish (Bass) and Catfish.

I was thinking is it a stocked lake.. plenty of predatory fish in there I'd love to chuck a lure in.. and see what comes out.