How to Determine The Best Fishing Days in August

By Debbie Hanson

Aug 02, 2015

If your family is like most, you aren't usually able to get the whole crew together to go fishing as often as you'd like.

If your family is like most, you aren't usually able to get the whole crew together to go fishing as often as you'd like. So, when you do plan a family trip, you want to try to pinpoint the best fishing days and then plan accordingly. Below are some suggestions on how to determine the best fishing days for this month (or for any month of the year).
 

  • Research fishing seasons and migration patterns. Do some research on fish species, feeding habits, mating behavior and water temperature. You'll learn that most game fish species have a specific season or time of year when they are more commonly found in certain waterways or areas. Consider these types of factors when determining which time period during the month would include the best fishing days.

  • Look at a solunar calendar for the month of August. Lunar phases play a role when it comes to fishing in a couple of ways. First, a full or new moon shines additional light on the water at night, which can affect the feeding patterns of fish in either fresh or saltwater because it’s easier for them to see and feed. Second, during a full or new moon, saltwater tides are stronger due to the pull of gravity. Additional water movement and stronger saltwater tides often mean more active baitfish or other types of natural prey that game fish feed upon. Search for a solunar calendar online and look at which days are rated the highest throughout the month.

  • Review tide charts if you plan to go saltwater fishing. Are you making plans for a saltwater fishing trip? If so, review a tide chart for the area you plan to fish. Saltwater tides will fluctuate daily and are important in determining when the best times will be to go fishing in saltwater spots. Look for high variances between high and low tides. This will mean more water movement, more bait movement and more fish to be caught.

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  • Read local fishing reports online or tune into an outdoors radio show. One of the best ways to find out which fish are biting in your area during any given time frame is to read an online fishing report or tune into an outdoors show on a local radio station. Local reports will give you an indication of how the fishing has been in your area, and will often mention which upcoming days are predicted to be good.

  • Check the weather. The arrival of a front that brings significantly cooler or warmer air temperatures will have an affect on the fishing. If you are looking for a good time to fish saltwater, try a day or two before a front comes through. Just before a front, the barometric pressure is falling and there is cloud cover. Following a front, you'll see clear skies and the fish will need to re-adjust to the change in temperature before they will actively feed again.

Now that you know how to determine the best fishing days for this month, all you have to do is decide on a spot and buy your fishing license online before you go. Tight lines and happy fishing!

Debbie Hanson
Debbie Hanson
Debbie Hanson is an award-winning outdoor writer, women’s sport fishing advocate, IGFA world record holder, and freshwater guide living in Southwest Florida. Hanson’s written work has appeared in publications such as Florida Game & Fish Magazine, BoatUS Magazine, and USA Today Hunt & Fish. To learn more about her work, visit shefishes2.com or follow her on Instagram @shefishes2.