Florida Freshwater Fishing Forecast for March 23-31, 2025

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

Warm Weather and a Super New Moon, Produce Excellent Fishing

The Florida Freshwater Fishing Forecast for the week of March 23-31, 2025; anglers will have spring-like weather leading up to a super new moon next weekend. All fishing factors considered; fish will gradually form larger daily feeding migrations as the super new moon seven-day phase begins Wednesday. Warmer spring weather will increase feeding activity numbers and duration and with the super new moon effect beginning Wednesday, anglers can expect to experience the best fishing days of the month during the last five days of the month.

If you would like more than this basic fishing forecast and have access to the complete weekly article which offers comprehensive details and analysis, my prediction of the best fishing days, and best fishing strategies for the next seven days, go to HighlandsBassAngler.com and subscribe for $5 per month or $30 per year.

Solar-Lunar Factor: Solar noon occurs at 1:32 p.m. DST. today, but will decline to 1:29 p.m. DST over the next ten days. Solar noon will continue to decline until it begins to advance again on May 15 when it arrives at 22 minutes and 26 seconds.

The lunar low occurred two days ago. A super new moon seven-day phase begins Wednesday, with the new moon occurring Saturday and the orbit perigee less than twenty-four hours later on next Sunday. And the moon arrives at the lunar high five days later.

Anglers can expect the second half of the upcoming super new moon phase to be better than the first half due to the moon gaining in strength as it approaches the lunar high position within the solar energy path. The rate of ‘Solar Interference’ will be increasing which means a higher level of fish adjustment activity will happen. And the more fish need to adjust, in this case due to a higher level of positive ion in the atmosphere, the more they’ll need to feed.

Weather Factors: Water temperatures will be warming up quickly this week with predominant sunshine occurring every day but Tuesday. When the super new moon occurs Saturday water temperatures will be ideal for fish to feed at will be due to metabolisms and digestion rates being much faster. Add in the fact that solar energy will also be increasing at the same time as water temps increase and you can count on fish needing to feed at high rates than previously.

Pre-front conditions are forecasted for Friday through Saturday morning and possible even later in the day. Again, add this factor to the previously mentioned two factors and excellent fishing is almost certain.

The one factor which is forecasted to not be helpful is atmospheric pressure change. If the predictions result in being true this week and especially during the super new moon phase, pressure change will only be 0.07 in hg within a twenty-four-hour period. Which is not enough to force fish to adjust their depth to maintain proper digestion.

Solunar - Weather Influence Variable: With the super new moon approaching, fish will be participating in the major feeding migration when the moon is overhead. Water temps, a strong moon, and pre-front conditions on the day of the super new moon will create heavy feeding activity. When the lunar perigee occurs Sunday morning just ahead of the overhead period, I expect fish to be feeding at a nine rating for four hours centered on the overhead moon. Water temps will also be reaching peak temperatures at that time.

Major Solar-Lunar Period: Today the moon is overhead at 8:30 a.m. producing a feed rating of five to six from 7-10 a.m. Daily the overhead moon occurs later by fifty-five minutes and remains at the same feed rating until the midweek when the super new moon phase begins. Wednesday through next Sunday the feed rating will climb gradually to an eight rating or slightly better depending on weather factors, during the late morning and early afternoon hours.

A second major feeding period happens today when the moonset occurs at 1:38 p.m. Daily this period moves later by sixty-five minutes. Fish have been feeding during the warmest water period of the day and with the recent cold front of the past week, this feeding pattern has continued. Therefore, from 12-4 p.m. the moonset will help improve the intensity and duration of the feeding activity today through Tuesday. However, during the second half of the week, the super new moon will cause the majority of fish to feed during the overhead moon period, causing this feeding period to decrease to a minor feeding activity, producing a five to six feed rating during the sunset period.

Minor Solar Lunar Periods: Today the underfoot moon occurs at 8:58 p.m. producing a feed rating of four from 8-10 p.m. Daily the underfoot moon occurs later by fifty-five minutes and will decrease to a three rating by the midweek.

A second minor period happens today when the moonrise occurs at 3:23 a.m. producing a feed rating of two to three from 2:30-4:30 a.m. Daily the moonrise occurs later by forty-eight minutes and remains at the same feed rating. However, Thursday through next Sunday it will begin to harmonize with the sunrise and produce a four to five rating.

Best Fishing Days: Friday through Monday the best fishing days of the month will occur. With all fishing factors considered, a feed rating in the eight to nine range is reasonable to expect. If you know where the fish have been holding, then you’ll have a great chance of hooking into a fish of a lifetime on Saturday and Sunday.

Prime Monthly Periods: March 27 – April 1 strong super new moon, 10-14 weak full moon, 24-30 strong super new moon, May10-14 weak full moon, 23-29 very strong new moon, June 9-12 weak full moon, 22-28 exceptionally strong new moon.

Lake Istokpoga S68 Spillway and Lake Level Status: Lake level is currently at 38.20 NAVD88 with all four S68 spillway gates closed. The NAVD88 Offset to NGVD29 is + 1.15 feet = 39.35NGVD29. The current seasonal schedule maximum level is 39.50 NGVD29 and the minimum level is 38.00’ NGVD29. Today the lake is about two inches below the maximum level. Links to the USACE and SFWM websites are provided at HighlandsBassAngler.com.

Dave Douglass has been an artificial bait only bass fishing guide since 2005, and 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 him by email at DavidPDouglass@hotmail.com or by phone at 863-381-8474; please leave a message for a return call.