Fishing Q&A
The questions anglers actually ask.
149 direct answers across 13 clusters — tides, water temperatures, migrations, spawn timing, hatches, stocking, gear, reading water, and farm pond management. Every page links into the live data systems behind Bield: Fish.
Tides & Fishing
14 questions- Cluster anchorWhat tide is best for fishing?
- Do tides affect offshore fishing?
- How do I read a tide chart for fishing?
- How do spring tides affect inshore fishing?
- How does wind affect tides and fishing?
- What is a neap tide and is fishing better or worse?
- What is a tide break and why does it matter?
- What is the best time to fish an outgoing tide at a creek mouth?
- What is the outgoing tide and why do fish feed on it?
- What species bite best on incoming tide?
- Where do redfish go on outgoing tide?
- Where do speckled trout stack on outgoing tide?
- Why do fish bite better on moving water?
- Why does high slack tide slow fishing down?
Inshore Migration Timing
14 questions- Cluster anchorWhen do striped bass arrive in the Chesapeake Bay?
- Do redfish migrate or stay in one area?
- How does water temperature drive fish migration?
- How far do migratory fish travel in a season?
- What is the fall flounder run and when does it happen?
- When do bluefish arrive in the Northeast?
- When do flounder run in North Carolina?
- When do pompano run in Florida?
- When do redfish school in the fall?
- When do Spanish mackerel arrive in spring?
- When do speckled trout move to grass flats in spring?
- When do striped bass move south in fall?
- When does cobia show up in the Chesapeake Bay?
- Why do fish migrate and what triggers it?
SST & Offshore Fishing
12 questions- Cluster anchorWhat water temperature do mahi-mahi prefer?
- How do I find warm core eddies for fishing?
- How do I read an SST chart for offshore fishing?
- How does the Gulf Stream affect offshore fishing?
- What is a temperature break and why do fish stack on it?
- What is a thermocline and does it affect where fish are?
- What is the best SST for wahoo fishing?
- What SST should I look for when targeting yellowfin tuna?
- What SST triggers king mackerel migration?
- What water temperature is too cold for mahi?
- When is the Gulf Stream closest to shore in the Carolinas?
- Why do blue marlin prefer warm water?
Spawn Timing & Fishing
12 questions- Cluster anchorWhen do largemouth bass spawn?
- Do spawning fish bite and should I target them?
- How does spawn timing affect where I should fish?
- Is it ethical to fish for bass on beds?
- What is pre-spawn bass fishing and why is it the best time to catch big fish?
- What water temperature triggers bass spawn?
- What water temperature triggers crappie spawn?
- When do crappie spawn and where do they go?
- When do speckled trout spawn in the Southeast?
- When do striped bass spawn in the Chesapeake?
- When do walleye spawn and how do I fish the spawn run?
- When do white bass run in spring?
Freshwater Trout & Hatches
12 questions- Cluster anchorWhat is a hatch and why does it matter for fly fishing?
- How do I know what insects are hatching?
- How do I match the hatch when trout are rising?
- What flies should I carry for Eastern trout streams in May?
- What is a Blue Winged Olive hatch?
- What is a spinner fall and how do I fish it?
- What is the difference between a dry fly and a nymph?
- What is the green drake hatch and why is it so famous?
- What time of day do most hatches occur?
- What water temperature triggers mayfly hatches?
- When is the sulphur hatch on Eastern trout streams?
- Why do trout get selective during a hatch?
Stocking & Trout Fishing
10 questions- Cluster anchorWhen does my state stock trout?
- Are stocked trout the same as wild trout?
- Do stocked trout survive through winter?
- How do I find out if a stream was stocked this week?
- How long after stocking are trout catchable?
- What is a delayed harvest section and how do I fish it?
- What is a put-and-take fishery?
- What is the best bait for recently stocked trout?
- What is the difference between rainbow and brown trout for stocking programs?
- Where do stocked trout go after being released?
Saltwater Species Behavior
12 questions- Cluster anchorWhy do redfish tail on shallow flats?
- Do bluefish ruin fishing for other species?
- How do I catch pompano in the surf?
- How do I catch tarpon from shore?
- How do I find redfish in a marsh system?
- How do I find snook in a Florida pass?
- What do speckled trout eat and where do I find them?
- What is a black drum and how does it feed?
- What is a sheepshead and how do I catch one?
- Why do flounder lie on the bottom and how do I catch them?
- Why do striped bass stack below dams?
- Why is cobia caught near rays and sharks?
Freshwater Species Behavior
12 questions- Cluster anchorWhere do bass go in summer?
- Do bass bite during cold fronts?
- How do I catch walleye at night?
- How do I catch yellow perch in early spring?
- How do I find fish in a new lake?
- How do I fish for muskellunge?
- What do catfish eat and when do they feed?
- What is a thermocline and how does it affect bass in summer?
- What is the best time of day to fish for bass?
- Where do bass go in winter?
- Where do crappie go after they spawn?
- Why are northern pike aggressive in spring?
Offshore Fishing Tactics
10 questions- Cluster anchorHow do I find fish offshore?
- How do I find offshore structure for fishing?
- How do I fish a canyon for tuna?
- How do I troll for mahi-mahi?
- How important is moon phase for offshore fishing?
- What depth do yellowfin tuna swim at?
- What is a rip current and do fish use it?
- What is a weed line and why do mahi stack on it?
- What is chunking for tuna and how does it work?
- What is the best time of year to fish offshore in the Mid-Atlantic?
Fishing Regulations & Conservation
9 questions- Cluster anchorWhat is a slot limit and why do states use them?
- Are there size limits on redfish?
- How do I properly release a fish for survival?
- How do I report a fish kill?
- What is a bag limit and how does it affect fish populations?
- What is catch and release and does it work?
- What is overfished and what does it mean for my fishing?
- What is the difference between recreational and commercial fishing limits?
- What states have striped bass slot limits?
Fishing Gear & Tackle
10 questions- Cluster anchorWhat size hook should I use for saltwater fishing?
- What hook size for freshwater bass fishing?
- What is a Carolina rig and when do I use it?
- What is a popping cork and how do I fish it?
- What is braided line and what are its advantages?
- What is fluorocarbon leader and when do I use it?
- What is the best bait for catfish?
- What is the best lure for speckled trout?
- What is the best rod for inshore fishing?
- What jig weight should I use for flounder?
Reading Water & Finding Fish
10 questions- Cluster anchorHow do I read water to find fish?
- How do depth changes affect where fish hold?
- How do I find fish in a large reservoir?
- How do I find fish in a tidal creek?
- How do I find oyster bars for redfish and sheepshead?
- How do I use a depth finder to find fish?
- What does a healthy grass flat look like and how do I fish it?
- What is a current seam and why do fish use it?
- What is an eddy and do fish use them?
- What is structure and why do fish relate to it?
Farm Pond Fishing
12 questions- Cluster anchorHow do I improve bass fishing in my farm pond?
- Do cover crops help farm pond water quality?
- How do I aerate a farm pond?
- How do I control aquatic vegetation in a farm pond?
- How do I know if my pond is overpopulated with small bass?
- How do I prevent my farm pond from silting in?
- How do I stock a new farm pond?
- Should I stock catfish in a bass pond?
- What causes pond turnover and how does it affect fishing?
- What is the best time of year to fertilize a farm pond?
- What is the right balance of bass to bluegill in a farm pond?
- When do bass spawn in a farm pond?