Fishing Moon Chart: Phase by Phase Fishing Impacts

The best moon phases for fishing are typically the New Moon and Full Moon phases. During these times, especially at night, fish tend to be more active and feed more, making them optimal for fishing.

This table represents a fishing moon chart and explains how each phase impacts on fish behavior.

New Moon

This phase occurs when the moon is between the Earth and the sun, making it invisible from Earth. The lack of moonlight makes fish more active, especially in the cover of darkness when predators have a hard time spotting them.

Because of this, I usually swap out my standard lures for ones that create more noise and vibration. These lures attract fish because they mimic the movement and sound of prey. Casting and retrieving the lure in a quick, rhythmic motion often attracts fish during this phase.

• Best time to fish: Nighttime
• Best color lures: Dark or bright colors that contrast with the water
• Best type of lure: Noisy and vibrating lures
• Best bait: Live bait such as nightcrawlers or minnows
• Best techniques: Quick, rhythmic casting and retrieving

Waxing Crescent

During the Waxing Crescent phase, the moon is starting to become visible from Earth again, and the increased light can stimulate feeding activity among fish.

To capitalize on this, I stick to lures with more movement to attract the fish’s attention. A slow, steady retrieve of the lure often yields the best results, as fish are attracted to the lure’s movement.

• Best time to fish: Late afternoon to evening
• Best color lures: Bright colors
• Best type of lure: Spinners or jerkbaits
• Best bait: Live bait such as worms or small fish
• Best techniques: Slow, steady retrieve

First Quarter

At the First Quarter, the moon is half visible. Fish activity can be unpredictable during this phase, but they feed in the early morning and late afternoon.

I usually use a mix of light and heavy lures depending on the time of day and activity level of the fish. Precision and patience in casting are key during this phase, as fish may be more wary due to the increased light.

• Best time to fish: Early morning and late afternoon
• Best color lures: Natural colors
• Best type of lure: Crankbaits or soft plastics
• Best bait: Live bait such as crickets or leeches
• Best techniques: Patience and precise casting

Waxing Gibbous

As the moon becomes more than half visible during the Waxing Gibbous phase, fish may become less active due to the brighter moonlight.

I use brighter lures to stand out in the increased light to overcome this. I’ve found that varying the retrieve speed and including occasional pauses can help attract fish during this phase.

• Best time to fish: Early morning or late evening
• Best color lures: Bright or metallic colors
• Best type of lure: Spoons or spinnerbaits
• Best bait: Live bait such as worms or minnows
• Best techniques: Slow retrieve with occasional pauses

Full Moon

At Full Moon, the moon is fully visible and the brightness can make for excellent night fishing. However, the fish are often more cautious due to the increased visibility. I opt for lighter, more subtle lures closely mimicking the fish’s natural prey. Long, slow retrieves are usually the best approach during this phase, as fish can be wary and more likely to investigate before striking.

• Best time to fish: Nighttime
• Best color lures: Light or glow-in-the-dark colors
• Best type of lure: Topwater lures or soft plastics
• Best bait: Nightcrawlers or live minnows
• Best techniques: Long, slow retrieve

Waning Gibbous

As the moon decreases visibility during the Waning Gibbous phase, fishing can be challenging as fish activity levels can drop. Despite the decrease in light, I still use bright lures to attract fish. Experimenting with different retrieval speeds can help determine the fish’s activity level and what they are most likely to respond to.

• Best time to fish: Early morning
• Best color lures: Bright or metallic colors
• Best type of lure: Crankbaits or jigs
• Best bait: Live bait such as worms or shrimps
• Best techniques: Varying speeds of retrieve

Last Quarter

During the Last Quarter, the moon is again half visible. Fishing during this phase can be variable. Like the First Quarter, I often find the early morning and late afternoon are the best times to fish. I typically experiment with a mix of lures and retrieval techniques based on the fish’s activity level.

• Best time to fish: Early morning and late afternoon
• Best color lures: Natural colors
• Best type of lure: Soft plastics or spinnerbaits
• Best bait: Live bait such as crickets or leeches
• Best techniques: Experimenting with different retrieval speeds and methods

Waning Crescent

As the moon becomes just a sliver in the sky during the Waning Crescent phase, the decreasing moonlight can stimulate fish to feed more frequently. During this phase, I return to lures that create more noise and vibration to draw fish out. Quick, rhythmic casting and retrieving can often yield good results, as fish are more likely to strike at something that mimics the erratic movement of wounded prey.

• Best time to fish: Late afternoon to evening
• Best color lures: Dark or bright colors that contrast with the water
• Best type of lure: Noisy and vibrating lures
• Best bait: Live bait such as nightcrawlers or minnows
• Best techniques: Quick, rhythmic casting and retrieving