Fishing has so many tricks. The amazing secrets of nature and fish are revealed only if we dig deep into the experience built up in fishermen through time. There are so many things a fisherman needs to know if they want to be successful every time they go by the dock.
One of these things is the effect of barometric pressure on fish. Although living inside water prevents direct contact of fish with winds, storms, and the different weather conditions in the air. Still, what’s happening above water directly affects life underneath it.
The weather above affects the pressure that weighs on the water. That’s what we’re talking about in this article. How barometric pressure and weather conditions affect fish, and how fishermen can gain from knowing these facts. Keep reading to learn all about this.
1. What is barometric pressure?
Barometric pressure is the same as atmospheric pressure. The weight of the air around us presses on everything we see – the earth and the water. Although the ocean is huge and has a bigger density than air, it is still affected by the weight of trillions and trillions of tons of air.
We may not really feel this pressure, but fish certainly does. Various weather conditions and season changes throughout the year will affect the pressure and dramatically change the behaviour of all living beings under the water surface.
2. Why is it important for fish?
Fish feel every difference in the pressure even though they are under the water. We probably won’t feel it unless we measure with a specially designed device, but they will because they have what is called lateral lines that detect every vibration and change in the water system.
When the pressure rises, fish start feeling uncomfortable. They’ll start looking for a place that has lower pressure by swimming around. If they don’t find one, they’ll simply swim down into the depths and go as low as possible.
In these moments of pressure changes, fish won’t be interested in feeding, and fishing is not recommended. However, finding the spot with adequate pressure, while other places have a pressure that is not good for the fish, may be beneficial for anglers.
3. What is the standard barometric pressure?
If the weather is fair, you’re facing normal weather conditions, and you can fish depending on the type you’re aiming for. The normal air pressure is between 29.7 and 30.4 inHg. However, different places in the world may have different measurements. For example, if you’re fishing at a lake in the mountains, the normal pressure will be lower, so you’ll need to check the local average barometric pressure to be sure.
4. Aiming for the right barometric pressure can be beneficial when fishing
If you know the right barometric pressure, you’ll know whether you should fish or not. You can’t go wrong in aiming for the average pressure. This is when fish are in their natural habitat and are relaxed without feeling any outside effects.
If the pressure is lower, you can still fish, but the fish will bite slowly. You’ll need to adapt and ensure you give them the right bait. Avoid fast baits and make them chase and be aggressive. This is not going to happen.
If the pressure is high, you should avoid fishing. If you still push to do it, you need to look for fish deep under the water, but they will also be slow. You’ll also find them near covers, like under bridges, docks, and similar.
5. What weather is ideal for fishing?
Weather changes can dramatically affect fish behaviour. When the weather changes, fish feel it and will feed more aggressively or pull back from it entirely. For example, fish will stop eating before the cold wave and go into deeper waters to maintain the temperature. It’s best to avoid fishing in this situation.
However, when it is summer, and the waters are extremely heated, a cold wave that cools the waters will make fish eat more. That means you need to perfectly pick the right moment when it’s time to go fishing and when to stay home.
6. How to measure the pressure?
Do it by simply using a barometer. You can’t measure if it will rain for certain, but you can guess by measuring the barometric pressure. Simultaneously, measuring the pressure will tell you if fish are ready to eat or not.
This device is available in all fishing stores, on the internet, and in other places. Today, many smartphones also have apps that measure atmospheric pressure, so find the one that fits you perfectly and measure the barometric pressure to know if it’s time to go fishing or not. Professional anglers do it, so why won’t you do it too?
