Which Fish Bite at Night? (A Complete Night Fishing Guide)

In many parts of the world, fishing at night is extremely productive, providing opportunities to fish for species you wouldn’t normally see during the day. In addition, the waters are often less crowded, meaning there’s less competition for prime spots and less pressure on the fish.

The best fish to catch at night are catfish, walleye, panfish, bluefish, and striped bass as their predatory habits and excellent reduced light vision give them an advantage over most prey items. Fishing for these fish at night can be incredible.

In this article, we are going to look at several species and break down what time of the day, or night, is best and what conditions to look for to optimize your trip. We are going to answer the question is fishing good at night.

Check out this helpful guide I wrote to the best times for fishing.

Fishing at Night: Complete Breakdown

Are fish active at night?

Fish have more senses than just sight which they use to hunt, one of which is a type of sonar; they are able to sense movements in the water and determine if it is a baitfish or not.

What this means is that, though fish rely heavily on light to hunt, they also have the ability to do so with little to no light.

The activity level of the fish at night depends on several factors, one of which is the moon phase. The moon affects more than just the amount of light in the sky at night.

As the moon goes through its different phases, the tides are going to change, including both when and how much the tides change. That’s why anglers who fish heavily at night pay close attention to the moon to plan their night fishing trips.

For the highest activity level in fish for night fishing, you’ll want to go during the full moon. During this moon phase, fish will be extremely active.

This is also why many anglers will not go fishing the day following a full moon; the fish have been active the night prior and are full and less active following a full moon.

Is fishing really better at night?

Fishing can be better at night for fish like walleye, bluefish, catfish but for most species like bass, trout, pike, and others, nighttime can be the hardest time of day to catch fish.

Many anglers prefer night fishing compared to fishing during the day for many reasons. In areas that see tropical climates, anglers finding fishing at night to be more comfortable. These tropical areas also see a rise in fish activity at night.

Many of the predatory fish in these hotter climates will go to cooler, deeper water during the day where small baitfish are scarce. This causes them not to feed much during the day.

As the waters cool at night these fish move to shallower water to hunt and feed; these are the best times to go night fishing.

Fishing at night has other benefits, as well. For example, fewer people are actually fishing at night. This is not only good due to fewer people to compete with but it’s also easier on the fish.

Fewer people mean less movement on and in the water. In turn, the fish are less jumpy and less skittish, making them more active.

It’s easier to cast precisely at night, too, as the wind tends to be lighter. This makes casting into cover much easier. Click here to see if fish bite during the middle of the day.

Night Fishing Breakdown

Bass (Largemouth & Smallmouth)

Bass are one of the species which relies heavily on their sight for feeding, so fishing for bass at night can be difficult at best.

As the light fades from the water the bass will find a spot for cover and stay there most of the night as moving would cause them to become prey to a bigger fish, such as a catfish.

That being said, the full moon is a great time to fish at night for bass as there’s often enough light for them to see to hunt. When fishing for bass at night you’ll want to use topwater lures as they will be closer to the water’s surface.

Striped Bass

Striped bass are extremely active at night as they tend to not like much light. This makes them really easy to locate and catch at night as you can often hear as they strike their prey, especially when the motors are off, and the water is calm.

Because they are shy towards the light, if you’re fishing for striped bass at night you won’t want to use any form of light; this may actually cause them to not feed at all. This also plays into the moon phase and which moon phase is best.

Don’t expect much action from striped bass during the full moon as this gives off more light than they like. If you are fishing during a full moon, you’ll find the striped bass in the deeper waters.

Catfish

Catfish fishing at night can be excellent as they tend to be bottom dwellers and are accustomed to hunting in low-light situations.

In fact, catfish rely on their sense of smell more than their sight when hunting, which is why many anglers will find the stinkiest bait they can find when going after catfish.

The moon phase doesn’t play much into nighttime catfish fishing as far as the amount of light, but tides can play into how successful your trip is; you’ll want to go when they have access to deeper waters.

Carp

Whether or not you are successful at fishing for carp during the night is going to be most dependent on the time of year you go versus the time of day; carp go dormant in the winter months, more so at night when the water is at its coldest.

Carp are known to be one of the most versatile species of fish as far as when they are active; you’ll find them fishing all day, day and night. If fishing at night for carp you are likely to find them near the bottom.

Pike

Pike are not known to be active much during the night mainly because they also rely heavily on their sight for feeding. That being said, they are extremely active prior to going to bed.

In fact, many who fish for pike at night find the best times to be up to 2 hours after the sun goes down and 2 hours before the sun comes back up.

A full moon, though, will alter this as there’s more light in the water, meaning they tend to feed much longer on a night with a full moon.

Salmon

Salmon fishing at night is best just before the sun rises and immediately after it falls. When it comes to the full moon and new moon phases you’ll find the salmon are active much more in the nighttime.

You are also likely to find them in locations you wouldn’t otherwise due to the higher tide during these moon phases.

Trout

Trout will bite much better during the daytime than at night, however, fishing mouse flies for brown trout at night can be one of the best ways to catch big trout. Trout are known as having one of the sharpest eye sights among fish species.

They rely on this to hunt, as well as to avoid being eaten themselves; the latter being one of the top reasons why fishing for trout at night is not likely to be successful.

This, however, can change with the full moon and new moon as more light will be in the waters. If fishing for trout during these moon phases you’re still more likely to be successful before sunrise and after sunset.

Walleye

Walleyes rely on their site like many other predator fish. However, what puts walleye above the rest when fishing at night is they have some of the best night vision found in a fish.

With even the smallest amount of light available walleye can absorb it and use it to their advantage; this makes fishing for walleye at night good even during the moon’s waning phase. You will find walleye in shallower waters at nighttime on the hunt for dormant prey fish.

Panfish

Panfish, such as crappie and bluegills, eat day or night. Because their diet consists mainly of bugs, you’ll find panfish at night near a light source.

Even during the full moon, the panfish will still gather around the brighter lights of the dock or boat lights as this is where their prey will be hanging out.

For a complete breakdown on if crappie bite better at night, how to catch bluegills at night, how to catch yellow perch at night, ice fishing for perch at night, and ice fishing for bluegills at night, please check out these helpful articles I wrote.

Redfish

Fishing for redfish during the night is good, but you’ll do it differently than you would during the day. At night, the redfish tend to seek out shallower waters where their prey goes to, as well as cover from their predators.

The best time to fish at night for redfish is going to be as the tides are changing, with the best chance being during the full moon.

Tarpon

Nighttime is some of the best times to fish for tarpon as they are considered to be a nocturnal species. Fishing for tarpon at night is best between April and July as this tends to be when the moon is closest to earth in the areas where tarpon are normally found, meaning high tide is higher than during other months.

Tarpon fishing at night can be less enjoyable, though, as the thrill of seeing a tarpon tailing in calm waters is less likely to happen.

Still, fly-fishing is the best way to catch tarpon at night and many guides will use bright lights to pinpoint where the tarpon is at.

Grouper

Grouper are sight predators with very poor night vision, so they aren’t as active during the nighttime hours. If you go during dusk and dawn, when the prey fish is most active, you’ll find grouper become more active as well.

This, however, changes during the full moon as more light penetrates the water’s surface. However, as grouper like to be around structure, even the full moon doesn’t bring much increase in their activity at night.

Bluefish

Bluefish are some of the most sought-after fish during the nighttime. This is because they are just as active, if not more so, at night as they are during the day. They do tend to go to the deeper waters at night time, often to depths of 100 feet or more.

Contrary to many of the other species we’ve looked at, though, blues tend to not be as active during the full moon phases, at least during the summer months.

During these months, the full moon will send the blues into spawning mode where they actually shut their mouths for up to four days at a time.

For a complete breakdown of bluefish fishing at night, please check out this helpful guide I wrote.

Flounder

Flounder fishing at night is good, but requires more work. Flounder will often settle into the sand at night to rest and let the current cover them up with sand as to avoid becoming prey themselves. With that being said, during a full moon, they do tend to remain active at night for several days.

However, the ones you are more likely to catch at night are going to be small juvenile flounder rather than the bigger fish.

King Mackerel

Fishing for king mackerel is not often done during the night time simply because they aren’t very active. That being said, it is possible to catch one during the night. The key is to go when the skies and water are calm and during the full moon.

You’ll find them at night closer to piers and harbors with easy access to deeper waters. You will want to be sure the local regulations allow for fishing mackerel at night as some make it off-limits.

What are the best fish to catch at night?

Walleye seem to be one of the best fish to fish at night. Their feeding patterns tend to line up more with the nighttime hours. Furthermore, they have exceptional night vision, allowing them to both allude predators and find prey easier than other fish at night.

Panfish are also popular fish to go after during the nighttime as their prey, which is mainly bugs, are attracted to the artificial lights of boats and docks. You’ll want to use jigs and aim for the area just outside the light’s glow where the bigger fish will be hanging out.

Catfish are another popular fish to fish for at night as they hang out at the bottom anyways and are accustomed to the low light waters.

Catfish are also active at night during any moon phase as they rely on the sense of smell just as much as they do their sight. Using cut bait is a popular way to attract a catfish.

While many bass species aren’t popular during the night, striped bass are an exception. In fact, they are much more active during the darker hours of the night than they are during the daytime as they don’t like light as much. You will still want the waters to be calm and the area quiet so you can hear the explosion as they strike their prey.

Benefits of fishing at night

Fishing during the nighttime is more popular in the southern, warmer places, and especially during the summer months, as it provides a cooler experience without the worry of the sun beating down on you. That being said, there are not nearly as many anglers on the water during the night as there are during the day.

Many of the species we’ve discussed peak during the summer months which happens to be prime vacation season. That equals more anglers on the water when these fish are peaking. That’s why many choose to go at night versus during the day.

The experience is completely different at night, as well, and often takes more skill and finesse. This leads many to try their hand at night fishing and use it as a test of their skill and abilities.

Fewer people on the water also equals less pressure on the fish. This is also true in the case of predators being less active at night.

With calm waters during the full moon, many species will come out of hiding at night to avoid their predators and eat under the cover of darkness.

Best time of night to go fishing

Night fishing is best in the hours just prior to sunrise and just after sunset because these are transitional periods of both light and fish activity.

Even those species of fish that are active at night need to sleep at some point. And, even on a full moon, there are times where very little, if any, light is penetrating the water’s surface. That’s why night fishing is best in the hours before the sun rises and the sunsets.

Tides play a role in this being the most opportune time as the changes in the tide cause the prey fish to stir in the shallow waters, causing a surge in activity. While few of the species can be caught in the midnight hours, most of your luck will be had at dusk and dawn.

Lures or natural bait for night fishing?

The debate between lures or natural bait is even stronger when it comes to night fishing. In truth, it depends on the species you’re going after. For example, though it’s possible to catch a catfish on a type of lure or artificial bait, your best choice is going to be pieces of cut bait. The same is going to be true for walleye and grouper.

Lures, on the other hand, will work for many of the species we’ve listed. During the nighttime, you’ll find the darker lures work better.

In general, you’ll want to gauge which type of bait to use on where you fish are; if the species you are going after is in the deeper waters, you want your bait to be still, so cut bait is best. However, shallower water fish tend to go for lures best as the movement excites them.