Moon & Tides
Moon & Tides
By Randall Bryett
Feb 8, 2005, 19:09

Tides and moons have varying effects dependent on location and fish species. In major fishing destination locations such as the Northern Territory, Cape York, Fraser Island, Western Australia's Broome, Exmouth and the Kimberly system the effects of certain tides can be really "chalk and cheese" different.
As can the size of these tides vary with the amount of water moved at various moon/tide cycles.
For instance Darwin can have tidal movements up to 8 metres in size on a large spring tide where as at Cape York you might have only 2.5 metres. This can also be unusual tides in the Gulf of Carpentaria where there are only 2 tides a day. Try this link for understanding that Dr Karl on Dirunal Tides
Bone-fisherman understand the importance of having water on the flats to optimize their fishing time during the daylight hours (it also has a large effect on water temperature) and this can be of use when finding tides to fish at Cape York, Fraser Island, Exmouth and such places. Those Striper fisherman from the San Francisco area also understand the use of neap tides when fishing there. Neap tides are the best tides for fishing the Northern Territory systems as you will get the least flow and disturbance of the muddy banks in turn giving clearer conditions. Take it from me fishing the Top End tidal reaches on spring tides can be a exercise in frustration for a flyfisherman. Lure users might not have the same problems due to the "noise" produced by large plugs. Note however some of the better inland freshwater Barramundi and Saratoga fisheries are not so effected by this but full moons are not my favorite time to fish either. Some of the better times are neaps building to springs in the Northern Territory and Springs changing to neaps on Cape York. Once again though if I was to fish the reef systems to the NE of Cobourg Peninsular and Arnhem Land I would choose springs for pelargic species. However sometimes the best time to fish is when you have the time to do it and that virtually sums it up for those who can not always schedule to synchronize prime times! Most all operations that have scheduled fishing trips do so because they have planned the use of these tides for full advantage for their clients.
Below is a animation which shows the effect of the moon on the tide cycle which may help clear the murk from understanding lunar effects on fishing efforts and make it a little transparent.

Tide Cycle Animation

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