So how's the fishing mate? Not a bite all day huh? Ever wondered why?

Anglers all over the world have asked the question time and time again; What makes fish bite? An angler will know how it goes, they sit upon the rocks with live bait, top quality lures, the best fishing rod money could buy and still don't get a bite. Oh yes, they can see the elusive devils beneath the aquamarine waters, but they're not even taking a small nibble. Why aren't they biting? Perhaps one should ask why they do bite.

In actual fact, the answer may simply be that they are not hungry. As most anglers will know, fish often go into a feeding frenzy. Larger fish may espy a school of sardines and go ballistic, thus gorging themselves. Fish get hungry like all animals do, yet they also have gullets a particular size, once that is filled to the brim they no longer need to feed. Yet there are some factors which make a fish strike irrespective of weather they are full or not.

We all know that when we have an empty stomach we will seek food. But what makes a fish strike when the feeding urge is not there? Savvy anglers will tell you that fish feed much more in moving water. Therefore, when we fish in tidal water where there is consistent movement, the fish will drift with the current. These are the major keys to fish feeding. Have you noticed that the fish are biting when the tide is going out? All of a sudden they stop, it's as if someone has placed a barrier between you and them. If you were a savvy angler you would know that the current has stopped with the tide change. Lack of current actually stops the fish from biting unless they have empty stomachs.

This happens offshore as well. Although the lack of current will have your bait sinking to the bottom easily, it seldom has you gaining any bites. Even your fish finder lets you down when there is no current, it may show a host of fish, but they won't bite. Weather conditions come into play as well and affect the feeding habits of the fish. The barometric pressure may drop, a storm may be on the way or low pressure conditions are present and all of a sudden the fish are dancing on the end of your line. When a storm or hurricane is present this causes low pressure areas, the water will become stirred up and the fish will actually feed ahead of the storm. Therefore they definitely sense a storm approaching and prepare for that.

Go out and check this fact out for yourself prior to a thunderstorm. These are basically low pressure cells which entice the fish. But when a cold front is present it's almost as if the fish's jaws have been glued. This is because they usually have a feeding frenzy prior to the low pressure. They're full now and will ignore anything on your line. Even water clarity can play a role in catching a fish or heading home via the fish and chip store. In shallow water long casts which are a fair way from the fish are required.

Why? Because the fish tend to get spooked otherwise. It's said that if you can clearly see a fish, you will have a battle to get it to bite. Just remember that they have eyes as well and can see boats, feet dangling in the water and so forth. Often fish will strike out at bright lures, this is because they often mistake the lures for smaller fish flashing past them. When an angler jigs their line, fish will often think that this is a fish in distress and strike at it.

When the tide stops and the fish clam up, head elsewhere and move with the tide. Take the weather conditions into account too, then you may not need to head to the fish and chip store on the way home, nor lie about the humongous one that got away.

Learn more about this author, Russell Waldron.
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