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Highlands Today

Largest Nighttime Feeding Period Of The Month Begins

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By DAVE DOUGLASS

Highlands Today

Published: January 7, 2009

The full moon occurs on Sunday at 3:47 a.m., while the lunar perigee happens a day later. Both facts combined create the largest nighttime feeding period of the month and if the daytime weather is ideal, perhaps the largest daytime feeding period of the month.

Normally, the new-moon event produces the best daytime fishing experience of the month, but as in all cases with judging which fishing day is better or was better, the weather almost always determines the winner.

Today, however, the major feeding migration of the day occurs during daylight hours from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. with a peak time of 10 a.m., however the amount of fog and clouds or lack of, along with any barometric pressure changes, will influence when exactly the peak period will actually occur.

The secondary feeding migration of the day occurs during nighttime hours from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Expect this to increase in intensity and duration each day over the next week as the moon causes the majority of fish to feed in unison by the light of the waxing full moon.

Considering the projected weather for our area, today's medium to high winds out of the south-southwest will gradually get worse, so fishing from safe-light until conditions get too unsafe works best with the early morning bite happening at the same time. Also this is when the barometric pressure will be dropping triggering feeding.

However, on Thursday the winds are predicted to increase to 25-30 mph and by nighttime calm considerably and shift out of the north-northwest. But the problem here is that fishing after a low pressure system has moved through the area is like putting a hot dog in front of someone who just got done eating two 20-ounce steaks.

Fishing Facts

The nighttime feeding session normally becomes the major feeding migration of the day, over the daytime feeding session, during the full moon-event week. But if the weather produces cloud cover during the night and the barometer rises or remains unchanged, less fish will feed successfully, meaning they will attempt to feed again during the daytime migration period.

At this time, it doesn't look as if the predicted weather is going to provide clouds, but fog might be enough to block out some moonlight. The barometric pressure should also remain unchanged, and this is a good thing if you're planning to fish during the day, not so good if you're planning a night of fishing.

Fact is, if the nighttime anglers suffer, the daytime anglers feel great, and visa versa. And if the nighttime anglers are "not too bad - not too good," so it goes for the daytime anglers.

Fishing Fiction

"Fish don't always feed at night."

This has been proven not true by many various studies which employed fish biologists to tag various kinds of fish with tracking devices in order to chart their yearly seasonal migrations, and daytime feeding migrations.

One of the clear facts with fish in all areas was that they all fed during the night as their major feeding period. It did not matter about the lunar phases, weather patterns, or anything else. It was stated however that both lunar and weather events did have some degree of impact on the intensity and duration of nighttime feeding.

Fishing Flash

Be sure to check out the new Crappie tournament which Outback USA is starting on the Jan. 16-18. Stop in at the store and pick up and fill out your entry form today. See the "Fishing Tournaments" section of this article for more information.

Your Lake Manager's Contact Information:

Clell Ford, Highlands County Lakes Management Specialist - 4434 George Blvd, Sebring, Florida 33875. Phone: 863-402-6545, Email: Cford@hcbcc.org

Vicki Pontius, Highlands County Parks and Recreation Director - 4344 George Blvd. Sebring, Florida 33875. Phone: 863-402-6812, Email: VPONTIUS@hcbcc.org

Steven Gornak, Biological Scientist IV, Aquatic Habitat Restoration and Enhancement Sub-Section, Division of Habitat and Species Conservation - 3991 SE 27th Court, Okeechobee, FL 34974. Phone: 863-462-5190 (SunCom 761-5190), Fax: 863-462-5194 (SunCom 761-5194), Mobile: 863-697-6256, Email: steven.gornak@myfwc.com

Fishing Tournaments

Outback USA Crappie Tournament is open to the public and will be held monthly. The first event will be held Jan. 16-18. Entry fee is $5 and anglers can fish any lake of their choice and weigh-in on any day at Outback USA at 14021 Route 27 South. Application can be picked up at Outback USA which is half way between South Sebring and Lake Placid. Store hours are from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day.

The Monday Morning Lake Jackson Black Bass Fishing Tournament is open to the public and launches every Monday morning at 8 a.m. with weigh-in at 1 p.m. Entry fee is $10 per boat with a "winner-take-all" payout. One person or two per boat, three legal (more than 14 inch) bass per boat, and one bass over 22 inches per angler. For information, call Paul Tardiff at 863-385-8007 (home) or 863-446-1310 (cell).

The Wednesday Morning Black Bass Fishing Tournament is open to the public. Next event is Nov. 26 on Lake June. Time: 7:30 a.m. to noon. Pay at ramp - entry fee $30.00 per boat. One person may fish alone if you do not have a partner. For information, contact Paul Tardiff at 863-385-8007 (home) or 863-446-1310 (cell), email bassbutchie60@aol.com or call Dwight Ameling at -863-471-3305.

Dave Douglass is a bass-fishing guide and bass tournament angler and CEO of S.O.S.-Florida Lakes, Inc. He can be reached at 863-381-8474, or e-mail him at davedouglass@sos-floridalakes.org. His web site is highlandsbassangler.com.

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