The Moon's Illumination level influences fish feeding patterns and activity. Fishing Points provides detailed moon data to help you analyze and find perfect lunar positions for fishing.
Understanding Moon Illumination in Fishing Points
When you check the Solunar section in the app, you'll see:
- Current moon illumination percentage
- Moon age (days since new moon)
- Visual representation of the current moon phase
- How illumination is changing (increasing or decreasing)
This information helps you understand exactly how much moonlight will be present during your fishing trip.
How different moon phases affects fish
Fish behavior changes notably with varying levels of moon illumination:
- High Illumination (75-100%): During a full or nearly full moon, nighttime visibility increases dramatically. Many predatory fish take advantage of this extra light to feed more actively at night. The increased illumination also affects tidal strength, creating stronger currents that can trigger feeding.
- Medium Illumination (25-75%): During quarter moons and transitional phases, fish often maintain moderate feeding patterns with less dramatic shifts between day and night activity.
- Low Illumination (0-25%): During a new or crescent moon, the night sky remains dark. Some fish species may feed more actively during daylight hours when visibility is better, while certain predators specially adapted for low-light hunting may become more active.
Using Moon Illumination data for better fishing
To leverage this information effectively:
- Full Moon Periods: Plan night fishing trips when targeting species that feed in moonlight, such as walleye, striped bass, or snook
- New Moon Periods: Focus on dawn and dusk fishing during these darker phases
- Transitional Phases: Watch for feeding activity when illumination is changing rapidly day-to-day
Combining Illumination with other factors
For the most complete picture:
- Check moon illumination percentage
- Refer to the tide charts (strongest during full/new moon)
- Consider Fish Activity score for that day
- Adjust your timing to fish during Major and Minor times