Moon Phase and Fishing: What Changes, Plus the 2026 Moon Calendar
The moon is the oldest fishing forecast there is, and the hardest to pin down. Here's what it measurably changes, what anglers claim it changes, and every new and full moon of 2026 in one table.
Three things move with the moon, and only two of them are in dispute.
Tides. At new and full moon the sun and moon pull in line and tidal range is at its biggest — spring tides, a day or two behind the phase itself. On saltwater and in tidal rivers that's a real, measurable change in how much water moves and how fast.
Night light. A full moon lights the water all night; a new moon leaves it black. That plainly changes when nocturnal feeders hunt.
Feeding urge. This is the claim solunar theory rests on, and it's the one nobody has settled.
What each phase is said to do
| Phase | What actually changes | What anglers commonly report |
|---|---|---|
| New moon | Biggest tides; darkest nights | Strong daytime feeding; a favourite for saltwater and for daylight sessions |
| Full moon | Biggest tides; brightest nights | Fish feeding heavily overnight and slower by day — the classic reason for a poor morning after a bright night |
| First and last quarter | Smallest tidal range (neap tides) | Quieter, more ordinary fishing; conditions matter more than the moon |
| Crescent and gibbous days | Moon overhead and underfoot shift through the day | The days most anglers judge by the solunar windows rather than the phase |
2026 new and full moon calendar
New and full moons, 2026 (UTC)
| Month | New moon | Full moon |
|---|---|---|
| January | 18 Jan, 19:52 | 3 Jan, 10:03 |
| February | 17 Feb, 12:01 | 1 Feb, 22:09 |
| March | 19 Mar, 01:23 | 3 Mar, 11:38 |
| April | 17 Apr, 11:52 | 2 Apr, 02:12 |
| May | 16 May, 20:01 | 1 May, 17:23 and 31 May, 08:45 |
| June | 15 Jun, 02:54 | 29 Jun, 23:57 |
| July | 14 Jul, 09:43 | 29 Jul, 14:36 |
| August | 12 Aug, 17:37 | 28 Aug, 04:18 |
| September | 11 Sep, 03:27 | 26 Sep, 16:49 |
| October | 10 Oct, 15:50 | 26 Oct, 04:12 |
| November | 9 Nov, 07:02 | 24 Nov, 14:53 |
| December | 9 Dec, 00:52 | 24 Dec, 01:28 |
Times are UTC. A moon that turns full at 01:28 UTC on 24 December is still the evening of 23 December in North America — check the phase against your own clock before planning a trip around it. May 2026 carries two full moons, on the 1st and the 31st.
If you fish tidal water, the practical takeaway isn't the phase itself but what follows it: the biggest tides run a day or two after the new and full moon. Plan around the tide table those dates produce, not the moon icon.
Does moon phase actually affect fishing?
For tides and for night light, yes — those are physics, and they change fish behaviour in ways you can watch. For the broader claim that fish feed harder on particular phases regardless of water, the evidence is thin and the anecdotes are endless.
Which is a good reason to stop arguing about it. The phase is recorded automatically on any decent log, so after a season or two your own catches settle the question for the water you actually fish — and that answer is worth more than any general rule, because rules like these are averages across the whole world's fishing.
Test the moon on your own water
- Log every catch with its date and time — the phase comes from that, so you don't have to think about it.
- Fish across the month rather than only the days a calendar says are good.
- Log the blanks too, or you'll only measure the days you chose to go out.
- After a season, compare your catch count per phase against how many hours you fished in each. It's the hours-fished half that most 'the full moon is best' claims quietly skip.
Anglerly saves the moon phase with every catch, along with sunrise, sunset, moonrise, moonset and the day's major feeding windows — all worked out on your phone from the date and location, so it still works with no signal at the water. See also solunar theory explained.
Frequently asked questions
What moon phase do fish bite best?
The traditional answer is the new moon and the full moon, when tides run biggest and solunar theory counts the days as strongest. What's better supported is the specific version: on tidal water the days around new and full move the most water, and on a bright full moon night fish often feed after dark instead of at dawn.
Is a full moon good or bad for fishing?
Both, depending on when you fish. Full moon nights are widely reported as excellent; the following morning is widely reported as slow, on the theory that the fish already fed. Big tides come with it either way.
When is the next full moon?
The 2026 full moons fall on 3 January, 1 February, 3 March, 2 April, 1 and 31 May, 29 June, 29 July, 28 August, 26 September, 26 October, 24 November and 24 December (UTC). Local dates can be a day earlier depending on your time zone.
How many new moons are there in 2026?
Twelve — one per calendar month, from 18 January to 9 December (UTC). May is the month with two full moons rather than two new ones.
Does Anglerly show the moon phase for a catch?
Yes. Every catch keeps the moon phase and the solunar snapshot for the moment and place it was logged, computed on the device. Logging and viewing that is free — Anglerly is a one-time purchase with no subscription.