Popular solunar tables fail to predict fishing success in North American recreational freshwater trout fisheries

The solunar theory proposes that the position of the sun and moon can be used to predict activity rates in fish and game species. Several free and premium services use this theory to provide tables predicting optimal dates and times for fishing and hunting success. The efficacy of these services was tested by comparing catch per unit effort (CPUE) in a recreational freshwater trout fishery with daily solunar values and coincidence of fishing trips with peak solunar times. CPUE was also compared to environmental variables including lunar phase, lunar illumination, and wind speed. Values predicted by each of the solunar services were strongly correlated to each other and to lunar phase, however, no significant relationship was found between CPUE and any of the solunar values tested, lunar phase, or lunar illumination. Ambient air temperature showed a positive relationship with CPUE, and was a more effective predictor of fishing success than any of the solunar tables tested. Article highlights Solunar calendars that use the lunar phase and the positions of the moon and sunshow no correlation to increased fishing success. Fishing success showed no correlation to moon phase or percent illumination. Of all variables tested, ambient air temperature was the only one that showed asignificant correlation to catch per unit effort.