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Saltwater Fishing: What makes a fish bite?

If you've done much saltwater fishing, chances are that you've had days when you didn't get even a single nibble. Then the next day or so, you might have fished the same spot with the same bait and caught the legal limit. Perhaps you've even walked a pier over clear water and seen plenty of fish feeding around the pilings, but couldn't get one to even notice your bait. Of course, fish bite when they're hungry in order to get food. But why do they bite sometimes and totally ignore perfectly good baits at other times?

Weather, tides, and currents have a lot to do with the feeding patterns of fish. Fish have lateral lines that detect barometric pressure. They know when a storm is coming, and instinct tells them to feed heavily before a storm. They somehow know that immediately following a storm, the water will be murky, and hunting will be difficult. The same thing holds true for currents and tides. Fish feed much more actively during tidal movement because baitfish and particles of food are easier to find then. That's why it's often difficult to catch fish at ebb tide. There's just not enough water movement.

Water temperature also has a major impact on whether or not the fish are feeding. Since fish are cold-blooded creatures, their metabolisms decrease significantly during cold weather, so they don't need to consume as much. Plus, they're not nearly as active. Although species differ, many fish become very active when the water temperature is between 80 and 90 degrees. If the water gets much warmer, there's not as much oxygen available, so again, feeding activity declines.

Water clarity plays a role in feeding patterns, too. Fish that are sight hunters usually remain fairly inactive until the water is clear enough for them to hunt effectively. For example, flounder are often difficult to catch in murky water. On the other hand, the water can be too clear at times. Most fish are easily spooked, and if you can see them clearly, they can probably see you. In clear, shallow water, you need to make long casts from a point a good distance away from the fish, cast beyond them, and retrieve your bait through the school.

In addition to biting to satisfy their appetites, fish also bite sometimes as a defense mechanism. If they're protecting their territory, they'll often bite almost anything they perceive as a threat. Lures that make rattles and clicking noises play on this. Some species also get into a "feeding frenzy" when chum or small bits of food get them excited. At times like these, some fish will bite anything, including a bare hook. It's a natural response mechanism.

Some fish species also have a built-in response in respect to wounded prey. They'll often consume a wounded minnow even if they're not particularly hungry. Instinct tells them this is an easy meal that won't expend much energy or many calories. That's why most artificial lures are designed to mimic a wounded baitfish.

Before you drop a line in the ocean, bay, estuary, or tidal creek, check out the weather patterns, the tides, the water clarity, and the water temperature. If you keep all these in mind the next time you plan a saltwater fishing trip, you'll greatly increase your chances of "catching" instead of just "fishing."

Learn more about this author, Holle Abee.
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