Solunar calendar for fishing

What solunar is and how to use it

Solunar theory, popularised by the American John Alden Knight, starts from the idea that fish and many other animals are more active at certain times of day, linked to the position of the moon. The calendar does not replace the weather or experience, but it helps you pick the hours when it is worth having your bait in the water.

Major periods last about two hours and are centred on the moments when the moon passes overhead (at its zenith) or exactly on the opposite side of the Earth (at its nadir). Minor periods, about an hour long, fall around moonrise and moonset.

Days around the full moon and the new moon are considered the best, and those around the quarter moons weaker. When a period overlaps with sunrise or sunset, the chances rise even more, which is why the calculator gives those days higher ratings.

In practice: pick the day with the best chances, get to the water before the major period and set up your rig in advance. Combine solunar with the weather forecast: a major period on a day with stable pressure is worth much more than one in strong wind or right after a cold front.