Ultimate Guide To Dock Fishing At Night
Dock fishing at night? Oh, it’s an absolute blast! Imagine this: the peaceful twilight vibes mixed with the rush of snagging a catch beneath a starlit sky. But hey, it’s not all about the chill atmosphere or the soothing lull of the waves—it’s also about nailing those savvy fishing tactics and gearing up with the right stuff to boost your fishing game.
1. Be Quiet!
When you’re out night fishing, channel your inner library voice and keep those movements sleek and minimal. If you need to shuffle around, think ninja—soft and stealthy steps. Since the waterways are like ghost towns at night (yep, fewer boats and way less hustle and bustle), the fish are on high alert.
Imagine it like this: You’re chilling at home, and suddenly there’s a loud BANG in the dead of night. Jump scare, right? Fish feel the same way! So, keep it down and move slow; think of it as keeping the peace in the underwater neighborhood during your night fishing escapade.
2. Use Scented Bait or Live Bait
Guess what? Fish aren’t exactly night owls, and their nighttime peepers aren’t the best. That means scented or live bait is the way to go—they’re like neon signs compared to plain ol’ lures. Predator fish can totally vibe with the shimmies and shakes of wriggling live bait, feeling those dance moves through the water. And even if your bait isn’t busting a move, if it’s scented, fish will catch a whiff and come sniffing around. Just make sure your bait hasn’t turned to the dark side (you know, gone off). If you want to be the center of the fishy universe, make your bait a sensory party!
3. Bring Lights
Believe it or not, it’s pitch-black at night! Who knew, right? You definitely don’t want to be bumbling around in the dark while you’re setting up or switching gear. A headlamp is a total game changer. Just a heads-up though—keep that beam away from the water’s surface. Shining lights on the water is like sending a VIP invite for the fish to scoot away. So, light up your life, just not the water!
4. Avoid Casting A Shadow
We get it, it’s easier said than done! But hey, if you’ve got those go-to spots that rock during the day, why not give them a whirl at night? No favorite spots yet? You might need to play a bit of trial and error to uncover the primo night fishing haunt. As you scout locations, aim for spots with flowing water and some cool structures. Predator fish are total socialites around bridges, docks, or rock piles, where the bait fish love to mingle in large numbers. Give these spots a try and see where the night takes you!
5. Find A Good Spot
This is easier said than done, we know. But if there are any spots you have success during the day, try visiting those at night! If you don’t have any spots in mind, you might have to deal with a little trial and error before you find the best place for night fishing. While you’re looking for spots, you’ll want to find one with moving water, and some type of structure. Predator fish like to hang out near bridges, docks, or rock piles. These areas typically have larger amounts of bait fish.
6. Use Fish Lights!
Placing an Underwater Fish Light in an area that already has good fish activity is a GAME CHANGER when it comes to night fishing. If you’ve found a spot you like, try throwing one of our Fish Lights in. Fish lights reflect off the particles in the water. This, in turn attracts more baitfish. More baitfish means more predator fish for you to target.
If your favorite fishing spot already has a fish light, then you’re golden! The longer you can leave a fish light in the water, the better. It starts to build a feeding cycle with the fish, and will bring them back every night. That’s why fishing off docks with dock lights works so well. The lights stay there year-round, so the fish are used to eating dinner there every night.
7. Use The Right Leader
Oh, the leader on your line is a big deal! You’ve gotta keep it on the down-low. When you’re hanging around those fish lights, opt for a slick, slender 20-30lb fluorocarbon leader. If you go with a bulky 40-80lb or, heaven forbid, a steel leader, those fish are going to spot it from a mile away and steer clear. But a 20-30lb fluorocarbon? It’s like ninja gear for your line – practically invisible, so the fish are way more likely to go after your bait. Dive in and watch them fall for it, hook, line, and sinker!
8. Try Night Fishing From A Boat
When night fishing from a boat, ensure the motor is turned off. After arriving at your chosen location and powering down, allow some time for the fish to gather in the area. If you’re operating a trolling motor, it’s essential to keep it on a low setting to minimize disturbing the fish. However, anchoring in a spot with a swift current is preferable. Fish tend to be lethargic and will more likely drift with the current instead of actively swimming in calm waters during the night.
9. Use The Tides
We’re based in Florida, but watching the tides is important anywhere. We prefer fishing during outgoing tides, although incoming tides are also effective. The key is to fish in water that is flowing. When the water moves, so do shrimp, baitfish, and crabs, which attracts predator fish. These predators follow the tides, seizing the opportunity to catch bait carried by the currents.
10. Moon Phases
A night with a full moon is a great night for fishing. Fish can see a lot better and will feed all night long. A full moon also brings stronger tides, which bulls the baitfish in (and out) farther. Our favorite place to fish on a full moon is large bridges with deeper channels. Full moon nights are also great for shrimping. Full moons aren’t all great. Daytime during a fool moon will have slower tides. So, if it’s a full moon, save the fishing for nighttime!
Appreciate the advice !