Moon's Influence
By: Doug Hannon
It is only presumption on my part, but I suggest that there are many possible reasons for the retention of a lunar clock in fish and wildlife, long after they left the ebb and flow of Earth’s tidal oceans behind. These include but are not limited to the undeniable fact that organized activity, whatever its focus (from spawning to feeding), is generally more productive than the disorganized. The number-one organizing influence for everything from animals to people is timing or is based on a time frame or cycle. Also let me advance the presumption that the best definition of life itself is that which can respond to a change or force within its environment.
Tidal influence is one of the strongest natural forces in the world. The uninformed person might be tempted to conclude that the tide is highest when the moon is directly above us and lowest when it is underfoot on the other side of the globe. This is completely untrue, because, even though the tide may be at its peak where you are standing, the same high tide is occurring on the antipodes at that same moment. It seems that, at any given time, the lack of gravity on the side of the earth opposite the moon allows the water to rise a precisely equal amount to that of the water that is pulled up by gravity on the side of the earth facing the moon. Thus, it has long been known that tide is caused not just by the amount of gravitational force, but from the difference between the forces on either side of the planet. As a result, the relatively tiny moons of Jupiter cause much more tidal influence to that planet than does our moon upon the earth, just because of the huge diameter of Jupiter and the consequent disparity of lunar gravitational pull from one side all the way across to the other. |
For this reason, it has always been true that the high and low tides are virtually the same on full moons, when the force of the sun and moon are in direct conflict (opposite sides of the earth), or on new moons, when the two forces are combined. If gravity were the only factor, we should expect an 80% difference between high tides during the phases of new verses a full moon.
It might interest people to know that when the moon first slammed into the earth some three and a half billion years ago, and we know that positively from dated debris brought back from the Apollo missions to the surface of the moon, it settled into orbit only 14,000 miles away. At that time, upon rising and setting, it occupied one third of the distance from the horizon to the summit of our sky. At this distance, it would exert around 300 times the gravitational influence it does today. Now imagine the disparity of gravitational force, coupled with a much stronger force to begin with, that our 8,000-mile diameter would make. The forces were so strong that they sucked the lava and magma up in a hellish tide that occurred every 5 hours, or two times every 10-hour day. We now know to a scientific certainty that this brought gasses and elements to the surface in such abundance and variety that the moon is considered responsible for the elaborate array of life on this planet, whereas so many similar globes remain barren, with their very elements of life locked deep inside. The moon, while having moved away to its present position at a rate of 2½ inches a century, should be presumed by no one to have or have had only a residual effect on fish, animals, or even mankind.
Caught up in the synthetic routines of their everyday existence, few people realize the intense gravitational influence that the moon exerts on the earth. For the sake of simplicity, we'll limit this discussion to the moon and not complicate matters with the sun. Granting as fact that there is some real cycle of gravitational flux, you still might be tempted to ask, "Why should the whole animal kingdom hang its behavioral hat on an otherwise insignificant force field?"
Consider this historical perspective:
At one time, most of today's land was covered by oceans, and tidal flows were much more extreme. Survival of many species may have depended heavily on sensitivity to the forces governing tides. It is also accepted fact, at least among knowledgeable anglers, that most fish spawning activity is somehow keyed to the full or dark moon. Did you know that records confirm these as being the periods of not only strongest tides but also volcanic eruptions and earthquakes? I checked IGFA world records set over a 10-year period for which I had complete lunar data and found that 73% were caught within a three-day period either side of the day of full or new moon. In fact, the longstanding 1932 world record largemouth came just two days before a full moon.
It follows that, if the days of the month with greatest lunar influence produce more big fish, then the time of high tide on any day would represent the period of peak activity. This is born out by the fact that so many anglers rely on the plethora of monthly lunar-activity charts published in outdoor magazines, calendars, watches calculators, and other electronic devices.
Given all the differing theories and confusing array of products, we present here a practical and simple way of productively incorporating the influence into your fishing strategy. First and foremost, chose a device or table that limits its scope to moon phase and moon-up/moon-down daily periods and does not include the added effects of computer models, traditional preconceptions regarding dawn and dusk, seasons, or the influence of the sun. Each month, consider the three days either side of the days of the full and new moons to be the best, with a special emphasis on the three days leading up to the full moon and the three days after the new moon. Plan your vacations and expensive trips with these times of the month in mind. This is the time to emphasize larger, more realistic lures fished at a slower, more seductive pace, and is the best time of all to fish live bait. Soft plastics are a great choice, but trolling large minnow type lures like 6 to 7 inch A. C. Shiners or Rapalas can be effective as well. This is the time of the month when the best daily (moon-up/moon-down) periods occur around noon, and the good visibility makes a realistic or live bait approach your best chance for big bass.
As a general rule, on all other fishing days remain conscious of the time the moon is either straight up or straight down. Regional and seasonal standards will always dictate your choice of lures and bass holding areas, but special concentration and emphasis is merited on the most productive fish holding areas. The daily activity periods last an average of two hours each, so make this your time to slow down and go to the plastic worm, jig, tube-lure, soft jerkbait, or any of the other more realistic, finesse presentations.
I will say about science, that while it has proven itself a worthy yardstick to measure and collate the many advances in human culture and technology, it would be dangerous to rule out all other accumulated knowledge and tradition, simply because it had not yet been upheld by that standard. Many people tend to dismiss cultural lore and traditions because they are expressed fables, yet they forget the nights they stayed up listening for reindeer on the roof. In the end it was only important that the gifts were under the tree in the morning, not how they got there.
Over the years I have come to believe that the more mythology and folklore that is attached to something, the truer it may be. Ancient man did not have the benefit of books and libraries. The only way they could retain and pass on important information was by word of mouth, and the more outrageous a story the more likely it is to be passed on. These people knew that setting their traps on the high ridges and in the open on the dark moon and setting them in valleys and low places on the full moon could mean the difference between survival and starvation. They, like the wishful child of our youth, did not have to know why; they simply needed to pass the tools of survival on to their children.
I now believe too strongly in the effects of the moon to be able to study it objectively, even if I wanted to. I will have to be content just to enjoy it. When I built the first weedless propeller, the engineers told me it broke every law of hydrodynamics. That is why they have the diplomas and I do not. It worked, and that was enough for me. When it comes to the power of the moon over all of Nature, I leave that too for the scientists to figure out why. |
