A fishing forecast estimates when fish are most likely to feed, so you can plan your trip around the best windows instead of guessing. FishRadar scores each spot from 0 to 100 by combining the conditions that actually drive feeding activity: tide state and timing, solunar major and minor periods, barometric pressure trend, moon phase, water temperature, and wind and waves. No single factor decides a bite — the score weighs them together so a strong tide can offset a so-so moon, and a falling barometer can lift an otherwise quiet afternoon. It is guidance for timing your trip, not a guarantee of a catch.
Solunar major and minor windows. Solunar theory holds that fish feed more actively at predictable times tied to the moon's position. Each day has two longer 'major' windows — roughly when the moon is overhead and underfoot — and two shorter 'minor' windows around moonrise and moonset. These periods are when many anglers report the strongest activity, especially when they line up with sunrise or sunset.
Tide timing. In saltwater and tidal estuaries, moving water usually triggers feeding. Bites often pick up during the incoming (flood) and outgoing (ebb) tides and in the first hour after slack, when current pushes bait past waiting fish. The change of tide matters more than high or low water itself, so check when the tide turns, not just its height.
Barometric pressure trend. The direction pressure is moving tends to matter more than the absolute reading. A falling barometer ahead of a front often coincides with a strong feeding window, stable high pressure can mean slower, more selective fishing, and a sharp rise right after a front frequently brings a tough bite. Watch the trend over the coming hours.
Moon phase. The new and full moons produce the largest tides and the most pronounced solunar windows, which is why many anglers favour the days around them. Brighter nights around the full moon can also shift feeding earlier or later, so it pays to factor moonlight into your timing as well as the phase.
Water temperature. Each species has a comfort range, and temperature shapes where and when fish are active. As water warms or cools toward a species' preferred range, feeding tends to increase; outside it, fish slow down or move to find better conditions. Seasonal trends and the daily warm-up matter as much as the exact number.
How they combine. The best days are when several factors stack up — for example a solunar major overlapping a moving tide and a falling barometer near dawn. FishRadar's score blends these live signals into a single 0–100 reading per spot so you can compare windows at a glance, then drill into the details in the app.
Want to go deeper on any one factor? These plain-English guides explain the science:
The 24 highest-scoring spots on FishRadar today, ranked by live conditions. Updated 2026-08-12.
Get the FishRadar app
Live scores update through the day. Get the full forecast, bite windows, and your own saved spots in the FishRadar app.
A fishing forecast estimates when and where fish are most likely to feed, based on conditions like tides, solunar windows, barometric pressure, moon phase, water temperature, and wind. It helps you time your trip — it doesn't predict an exact catch.
The best windows are usually when a solunar major or minor period overlaps with moving water (a tide change) and a favourable, often falling, barometer — frequently around dawn or dusk. FishRadar shows today's top-scoring windows for your spot in the app.
Solunar timing is a useful planning tool, not a law. Many anglers find fish feed more during major and minor windows, but local conditions — tide, weather, and water temperature — can override them, which is why FishRadar weighs solunar alongside the other signals rather than relying on it alone.
FishRadar's 0–100 score is built from live weather and ocean data and reflects how favourable conditions are for feeding, not a guaranteed result. Treat it as guidance: higher scores mean more of the factors are aligned, but fishing always involves variables no forecast can capture.