Fish are highly sensitive to changes in their environment. This is what enables them to migrate from year to year and to find food each day. Many fish are so sensitive to their environments that weather changes from minute to minute can alter their feeding behaviors.
When you know how fish respond to these different changes and can interpret how weather changes their environment, you can determine when are the best days and times to go fishing and which areas will likely give you the best results when you head out.
Weather Data to Track for NYC Fishing
By knowing the characteristics about the fish you are trying to catch, you can get a good idea of how these different conditions can affect your fishing experience:
- Temperature – Many fish are more active in warmer temperatures when food is plentiful. But temperatures that are too warm require fish to move deeper into cooler water. This is why the NYC fishing season is best in the summer. Larger shifts in temperature over the course of the season will also affect whether the fish are close to shore or further away.
- Tidal Clock – Strong tides will create currents that many fish fish species thrive in. The best times for fishing is when the tide is coming in or going out. A stronger tide, measured by the tidal coefficient compared to the average of 70, can provide better fishing.
- Wind Speeds – Like tides, wind will create currents in the water that will cause fish to more actively feed. The wind direction can also determine which areas around NYC fish will travel to.
- Cloud Cover – Many fish prefer dimmer conditions over bright ones. When there is cloud cover, saltwater fish will often come closer to the surface, making them easier to catch.
- UV Index – Similar to cloud cover, a high UV index can send fish into deeper waters further offshore, making them somewhat more challenging to get to.
- Barometer – A barometer tracks atmospheric pressure which can indicate an incoming storm. Fishing when barometric pressure is rising is usually more successful than fishing during low barometric pressure or falling barometric pressure. In other words, fishing before a storm is usually a good time.
- Rain – A light sprinkle of rain will have no effect on fishing but anything heavier than that will temporarily send fish into hiding.
In addition to weather, you should also pay attention to time of day since the time relates to factors like UV index, tides, and temperatures. All of these factors combine to make hours around sunrise and sunset the best opportunities for fishing, although you should still continue to take into account other weather factors during these times as well.
Marilyn Jean Fishing offers saltwater fishing trips in NYC and we can help you take advantage of the best local fishing conditions. We have trips departing early morning and evening almost every day throughout the summer and we pay close attention to weather conditions in order to take you to the top locations around offshore New York that we know will provide fishing for striped bass, ling, cod, blackfish, and other great fishing experiences in the area. Check out our upcoming fishing trips and reserve your tickets in advance online.