These charts were developed over the centuries by the ancient Polynesians, whose lives literally depended on their ability to catch fish. The Maori discovered that the biological clocks of all life forms resonate in predictable relationships with the sun, moon and Earth. Consulting these charts, the Maori were able to forecast the times of heightened activity for all forms of sea life wherever they were. Today, we can use them to predict the most productive times-and days-to fish anywhere in the U.S.
How to Use the Charts
If you will be fishing within the next week, look up the date on our Maori Forecast Box on the top of this page of when you will be fishing and make a note of the times indicated. Now locate your fishing spot on the map (below). Identify the applicable time zone, and using the chart times for that day, add or subtract the number of minutes shown on the nearest vertical map line.
Check the calendar below to find the date when you will be fishing and make a note of the times. Now locate your fishing spot on the map, identify the applicable time zone, and using the chart times for that day, add or subtract the number of minutes shown by the nearest vertical map line. For example, Lake McConaughy is located as shown on the map in the Mountain time zone. The time correction for the nearest map line is minus 10 minutes. Therefore the corrected moon and sun times for Lake McConaughy on Saturday, 11 May 2002 are calculated as shown below: Moon Up: 11:25 am – 10 mins = 11:15 am
Moon Down: 11:47 pm – 10 mins = 11:37 pm
Moonrise: **04:36 am – 10 mins = 04:26 am
** Moonset: 06:23 pm-10 mins = 06:13 am
Sunrise: **04:49 am – 10 mins = 04:39 am
** Sunset: 07:04 pm – 10 mins = 06:54 pm
Best Fishing Times: Major Peak Periods occur for approximately an hour to an hour and a half either side of the Moon Up and Moon Down times, while the Minor Peak Periods occur for about half an hour around Moonrise and Moonset. Note: Sunrise and Sunset times are calculated for 40 degrees north latitude and may differ in your area. Add 1 hour to all times if daylight saving applies. Also, all times are standard, so add one hour for daylight saving time. Sunrise and sunset times are calculated at 40 degrees north latitude.
**Major Peak Periods occur for up to1.5 hours either side of the Moon Up and Moon Down times. Minor Peak Periods occur for about half an hour either side of the Moonrise and Moonset times. The Peak Activity Periods and Moontimes are standard time. Add one hour for daylight saving.
JULY Date Phase Day Prediction Moon Up Moon Down Moonrise Moonset Sunrise Sunset 1 Â Tue Gd 01:48pm 02:14am 06:10am 09:20pm 04:35 7:33 2 Â Wed Good early 02:40pm 03:05am 07:12am 09:59pm 04:35 7:33 3 Â Thu Only fair 03:30pm 03:55am 08:17am 10:33pm 04:36 7:33 4 Â Fri Mostly poor 04:19pm 04:42am 09:24am 11:02pm 04:36 7:32 5 Â Sat Bad to fair 05:06pm 05:29am 10:32am 11:28pm 04:37 7:32 6 FQ Sun Fair to good 05:53pm 05:29am 11:41am 11:54pm 04:38 7:32 7 Â Mon Fair 06:42pm 06:17am 12:52pm 12:21am 04:38 7:32 8 Â Tue Evening fair 07:33pm 07:07am 02:04pm 12:21am 04:39 7:31 9 Â Wed Bad to fair 08:27pm 07:59am 03:17pm 12:53am 04:40 7:31 10 Â Thu Morning fair 09:26pm 08:56am 04:30pm 01:31am 7:32 7 Â Mon Fair 06:42pm 06:17am 12:52pm 12:21am 04:38 7:32 8 Â Tue Evening fair 07:33pm 07:07am 02:04pm 12:21am 04:39 7:31 9 Â Wed Bad to fair 08:27pm 07:59am 03:17pm 12:53am 04:40 7:31 10 Â Thu Morning fair 09:26pm 08:56am 04:30pm 01:31am