If you decide you want to fish, night fishermen have a trick up their sleeve which makes them more apt to catch while fishing at night. It's dusk and the waters are calm in the back of the spillway off the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Many fishermen are at the bait shop buying their live bait or whatever they choose to fish with (i.e. dead/live bait or lures...) and head on out to their fishing spot by the time the sun goes down. Below are the main reasons as to why do fishermen fish at night: Luminescent fishes To prevent sunburns To avoid fees at night Fish are more active Why do Fishermen Fish at Night? Whether than going out during the day, go night fishing if you've never tried it. There's a good reason for those fishermen whom seek the night setting for catching their fish. Fishing from shore can show some beauties. These fish are simply neon colored fishes that glow at night. You wouldn't be able to see them unless you're fishing at night. They are considered "bio-luminescent dino-flagellates." They are creatures that are algae-like which show off a neon glow color only when they are agitated. They look beautiful if you are night fishing offshore from a beach. While the waves come in you can actually see them in the wave. It's true that some fishermen burn more easier than others. This is another reason why fishermen enjoy fishing at night. Because of the hot, burning sun, sometimes depending on where you are at, you may enjoy it a lot better during the night. When it's 90 to 100 degrees near the water still, it is common sense to fish at night. Some fishermen agree with the fees, that's great, but for those who barely can afford their tackle at times, not to forget their cold beverages and food, this money can come in handy. Therefore, fishing at night may cut costs at some fishing piers. In fact, it's may even be cheaper in some regions because of all the crowds during the day. This makes fishing at night better. There's the debate when it comes to this and naturally fishermen have noticed they are more active at night. The species vary though and since the moon phase does contribute to this, as well as the tides, its safe to say that fish are more active at night. Therefore, common sense will tell any fisherman to fish at night. Do not forget that different experts will encourage different methods for fishing in the dark, and this is mostly dependent on a number of factors including the species of the fish, season, and the region in which you choose to do the fishing activities. Therefore, the things you need to fish in the dark may vary depending on the mentioned factors. You must understand that some people have their own methods, which they are used to. But these are definitely not the best there is when it comes to fishing during the night. Some of the most common solutions you might have come across include using glowing lures or even fishing while in a boat equipped with a lantern. In all these options, one thing is clear, and that is the fact fishing after the sun goes down is different from fishing during the day and therefore you cannot approach both with the same techniques. Here are some guidelines that are focused on fishing while it's dark that you might find useful: Adapt to Darkness: Daylight fishing is easier as you can see everything you are doing including the positioning of the lure. At night, this is not possible and in some cases you have to rely on assistive devices that help to light your surroundings. You might be lucky to have the moon on the day you are fishing, but if that is not the case you would have to use lighting solutions like black lights, which allow you to see fluorescent lines. However, only a handful of anglers use fluorescent lines today. At night, you need intuition and the ability to feel your tackle. It is recommended to choose a sensitive rod Depending on the type of fishing you are doing, sometimes you would have to keep external lighting at minimum. Your usage of this type of lighting is dependent upon how sensitive the species you are fishing is to light, more specifically artificial light. Some tests have shown that some locations that are likely to get more light (e.g. bridges, piers, docks...) will easily attract small fish, something that also leads to large predators gathering around. There are people who don’t need any lighting at night, and this might be because they are used to the waters or are very skilled. But if you are just learning, it is good to use a small headlamp. If you are to use a lamp, the best option would be ones that emit green or red colors because these colors don’t alert the fish when you are moving towards the water. See for yourself how green light attracts fish: Guidelines for night fishing It might take some time before you get used to fishing at night without an external source of light. Seeing in the dark is a challenge to many of us and therefore the idea about fishing without some external source of light might not be possible. But this does not mean you cannot do it. It is a matter of how well you are able to familiarize yourself with the practice and the kind of baits you use. Fishing flies are a common bait option and one of the easiest ways to seduce the fish to come near the hook. Even in the dark, provided the fishing flies are in the water, fish will always rush to the bait. The biggest challenge would be your safety and estimation so you only pull when you are sure there is something to be caught, which calls for some mastery that you may not have if you are a beginner. Tips to Boost Success While Fishing at Night: While fishing in darkness, there are few things you could do to enhance success: The first option you have that will allow you to emerge with more accuracy is to first familiarize yourself with the surroundings. It is quite easy to fish if you are familiar with the place. Work on one area and avoid wandering across as you might not get the results you are looking for by poking every corner of the waters. Also avoid noise as this could distract your target and make it more difficult to capture anything. Ensure there are no movements or noises from those around you. Turn operating motors off to have a stealth and quiet environment. While in the boat, it is advisable to approach the region silently from a distance. Driving into the area with your motor running is not a good idea, so you need to work methodically for maximum effectiveness. Go slow - While fishing in clear water, it would be advisable to use a slow-moving lure like a plastic worm. Occasionally lift the worm slowly then release it back in the water to descend to the bottom. Be prepared - Night fishing is different as pointed earlier, so your preparation should include things that will be assistive in this kind of environment. Make sure to keep the deck clean as this will help you prevent mishaps. Arrive early - Arriving early gives you the opportunity to explore and learn about the waters before you embark on the fishing once darkness sets in. Pay Attention to Safety: One of the challenges you will encounter while fishing at night is unhooking fish that is captured on lures by several hooks. The fish is always restless and in the process of trying to unhook it you might lose balance and fall into the water. It is also easy to collide with objects as you cannot see what is coming, so your boat might bump into something. Some of the things you could do to help enhance safety include ensuring nothing is left on the underfoot of the boat. Check if there are any hooked fishing flies lures. While fishing in shared waters, it would be wise to have a high-powered flashlight that you can use to warn other motorboats about your presence. Most importantly, don’t fight forces of nature as you obviously will lose. In case you get into problems, alert those near you to give you the help you need. Just like with conventional daylight fishing, night fishing requires tactics. The ideas shared above might come in handy especially if you are not skilled yet to know where to begin when fishing at night. Finally, if you decide that you want to try out fishing with friends at night, go for it since it never hurts to try if you've never have. You can try it for a few weeks and see how it goes, if it's not your thing, then you can always go back to your daily rituals. Although it's open for debate, it seems night fishing is something we all should try at some point in our lives as fishermen. I hope information in this topic was useful and now you have an idea as to why do fishermen fish at night.
