Florida Freshwater Fishing Forecast for August 9-16, 2026

Sunday's Comprehensive Fishing Article for Florida's Freshwater Anglers

Dog Days of Summer Challenges Anglers’ Resolve to Succeed

The Florida Freshwater Fishing Forecast for Aug. 9-12, 2026, gives anglers a 7-day new moon phase and a rainy season weather forecast which predicts bright sunshine, minor thunderstorm activity, but with a non-existent wind factor as the Dog Days of Summer arrive.

All fishing factors considered, anglers will find plenty of active feeding fish this week during the overhead moon period which occurs during the midday hours. However, fish will be in the deeper open water vegetation areas more so than in the deeper shoreline vegetation areas.

Other than bright sunshine and very little cloud cover and very minor thunderstorm activity, there will be no other positive fishing factors. Wind speeds will be weak at best so wind direction changes will not matter. Atmospheric pressure change will not occur enough to cause major fish adjustment activity, and shallow water areas will experience very high temperatures, which means very low oxygen levels.

The hotter the water temperatures the less oxygen it can hold and conversely, the cooler the water temperatures the more oxygen it can hold. So, it is imperative that anglers discover the deeper oxygen producing vegetation. Deeper areas of 12-18’ hold enough oxygen to enable normal feeding activity. Temperatures at those depths at about 10 degrees cooler than in the shallows and more than 5 ppm dissolved oxygen is sustained.

A low-pressure system is predicted to enter the state Tuesday afternoon and forecasted to drop atmospheric pressure, maybe, about 0.10 in hg, which if true, will cause fish to adjust downward slightly over a 24-hr. period—will be minor if at all. So, if you’re able to get out on the water on the day of the new moon, fish will be very active in deeper grass beds and most likely will not be moving upward during the high oxygen period of the day during the afternoon hours to feed in the deeper shoreline vegetation areas.

The Dog Fish Days of Summer usually make anglers to literally sweat it out, in order to achieve success. Sunscreen and hydration are a must when fishing the overhead moon during the new moon phase.

Major Solar-Lunar Period: Today the overhead moon occurs at 10:33 a.m. producing a 6-7 feed rating from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Daily the overhead moon occurs later by an average of 1 hr. and gradually improves to an 8-feed rating by Wednesday. Thursday through next weekend the feed rating gradually declines to a 6-rating when it occurs during the midafternoon hours.

Minor Solar Lunar Periods: Today the moonset occurs at 5:53 p.m. producing a 4-feed rating from 4:30-7:30 p.m. Daily the moonset occurs later by an average of 48 min. and improves to a 5-6 feed rating on Tuesday and Wednesday when it occurs during the sunset period. Thursday through next weekend the feed rating gradually declines to a 3-rating.

A second minor period happens today when the moon is underfoot at 11:05 p.m. producing a 3-feed rating from 10 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. Daily the underfoot moon occurs later by an average of 57 min. and remains at the same feed rating.

A third minor period happens today when the moonrise occurs at 3:09 a.m. producing a 2-3 feed rating from 2-4 a.m. Daily the moonrise occurs later by an average of 72 min. and remains at the same feed rating until Thursday when it harmonizes with the sunrise period and produces a 4-feed rating. By next weekend a 4-5 rating will occur during the midmorning hours.

The only good news the weather forecast provides is that when the highest wind speeds of the day, which won’t be more than 6-8 mph, the fish will be feeding at the highest daily rate, but the heat factor will challenge the resolved to stay on the water.

Best Fishing Days: With the lunar high occurring yesterday and the moon arriving at the orbit perigee Monday and the new moon arriving Wednesday, today through Thursday will produce the best fishing days of the month. And the first half of the 7-day new moon phase will be better than the second half.

Bright sunshine is forecasted to prevail over minor cloud cover this week, which means dissolved oxygen levels will be high, enabling fish to feed at normal rainy season rates………where oxygen production occurs and usually at depths greater than 10 feet.

Lake Istokpoga S68 Spillway and Lake Level Status: Lake level average is currently at 36.96 NAVD88 with 3 of 4 S68 spillway gates open 9” flowing a combined 580cfs. The NAVD88 Offset to NGVD29 is + 1.16 feet = 38.12NGVD29. Current maximum high level is 38.25’ NGVD29 and the low level is 37.50’ NVGD29.

HighlandsBassAngler.com Website News: The expanded Highlands Bass Angler Freshwater Fishing Forecast Article and other fishing content, which includes in-depth detailed analysis, predictions, strategies and more, is published every Sunday. Serving central Florida anglers for twenty years and counting. I invite you to visit my website, save the link in favorites, and enjoy access to all the latest fishing content.

Prime Monthly Periods: August 9-15new moon phase, 25-30 full moon phase, Sept. 6-12 new moon phase, 23-29 full moon phase., October 7-13 weak new moon phase, 23-28 full moon phase. Note: September and October’s last quarter moon phases occur during the lunar high and orbit perigee and will produce a 7-8 feed rating during the sunrise and sunset periods.

Dave Douglass has been an artificial bait only bass fishing guide since 2005, and the writer of the Highlands News-Sun fishing forecast article since Oct. 2016 and previously the writer of the Highlands Today fishing forecast article which began in Nov. 2005. Contact email DavidPDouglass@hotmail.com or phone 863-381-8474.