Guide to When to Fish

Seasons

Fishing can be affected by the season and the time of year. Let’s take a look at three seasons that you might fish and the best times.

SPRING

Early morning: Fish won’t bite. Because the sun is low, the water isn’t going to warm up. It is a good idea not to heat the water for more than a week after it has thawed. The temperature will rise due to spring’s turnover.

From Late Morning to Early Evening: Fish will eat & continue. Because the sun is shining on the water, the water is getting warmer. Fishing along the shoreline should be done downwind as the winds will push the surface water and food to this spot.

Evening to Afternoon: Fish will be eating lots, as their metabolism and digestion are very high. Because the sun is directly overhead, the water is warmer.

SUMMERS

Early morning: Fishing between sunup and mid-morning is fantastic. It’s difficult to find hungry fish when there is so much cover and food.

From Late Morning to Early Evening: Fishing during the summer is not a good idea. To cool down, the fish will head for deeper water.

From Afternoon to Evening: This time is great to fish. The water is cooling and the fish are moving up to warmer areas.

FALL

Early morning: Fish won’t eat much between sunup and early morning. Because the sun is low, the water is cooler and the rays aren’t able to penetrate the water.

Fishing in shallower, warmer waters will yield fish once in a while. Because of the season, water is usually cooler.

From Afternoon to Evening: These hours are great for fishing. The sun is directly overhead for a few minutes and the water is much more comfortable closer to the surface. Seasonal fishing will be great because the fish will gain weight in preparation for winter.

Wind

The wind often plays a major role in whether it’s a good day to fish or whether you will be successful. Wind can push water and surface food to the other shore. The game fish and the bait fish will follow each other. If you are fishing from the shore, you will need to fish against the wind. Your lure will move in the wind, just like other surface foods. When fishing from a boat, you should cast in the wind’s direction towards a protected shore.

Storms

Fishing success is affected by weather patterns and storms. This is because fish are able to detect changes in barometric conditions. A lot of fish will eat more during the hours before it turns cold, but they will eat less during a storm or front.

Fishing after cold fronts is not recommended. The water quality will be very poor for at least one to two days. Warm fronts will raise the water temperature. This will encourage fish to eat. This is especially true in winter, when warm fronts can cause fish to become more active and sluggish. Most of the feeding will take place near or on the warmer surface.

Cloudy Days

Fishing when the sky is cloudy is a good idea. The clouds prevent sunlight from reaching the fish. Overcast skies are a sign that it’s time for fishing. They will cause fish to seek out food more often than when it’s bright outside. Overcast or cloudy days are less likely for fish to be near certain structures, and they’re more scattered throughout the waterway.

The article was written by a professional charter captain at Salty Knots Fishing Charters with 15+ years of experience in the Gulf of Mexico. https://stpetersburgfishingcharters.com/ is a local fishing charter service based out of St. Pete Beach, Florida. “We know what it takes to catch a giant trophy fish!”