How much does the moon really matter in fishing?

As I sat down to write this article, the moon began to come up. For several nights, the moon had been brighter and brighter as it made its way toward a full moon. After many years of gazing into the sky as a kid and now as an adult, I still find myself wondering just how much influence this great object in the sky really has on our lives and the world around us, especially when it comes to fishing. As an angler, I’ve built some unscientific opinions about how the moon affects my fishing, in particular the species that I – and I’m sure many of you – seek on a regular basis. 

Earlier this year, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of putting a man on the moon. Many documentaries were aired on television, recalling that event on July 20, 1969.